WASHINGTON — With Senate Democrats still struggling to line up support, the success or failure of President Obama's four-month campaign to overhaul gun laws will most likely revolve around a single provision: a proposal to expand federal background checks for gun purchases.
The proposed legislation aims to save money by increasing workers' contributions to pension and healthcare provision, both proposals that the unions have agreed to accept.
In addition to the health insurance changes, Verizon has called for a pension freeze, reduction of sick days and elimination of all job security provisions — a proposal workers fear will lead to far more layoffs and outsourcing, especially of call center workers.
Two other provisions – a proposal that would have prohibited the concealed carrying of firearms on college campuses, and a bill to hold gun makers liable for the violent acts committed by those "negligently entrusted" with assault weapons – were dropped in Colorado after it became clear they lacked political backing.
In the final session of the committee's consideration of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill, the education secretary introduced an amendment allowing "special provision" for proposals to close rural schools.
Not only are the House and Senate far apart on how much should be cut, the House-passed measure includes a number of ideologically charged provisions like proposals to roll back the new health care law, end financing for Planned Parenthood and restrict the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate emissions.
The Senate has traditionally operated through majority rule, and there is no provision that a proposal must meet a higher threshold just because a senator deems it controversial.
The other provision of the proposal — the requirement that lobbyists working for foreign-owned companies make fuller disclosures — could have even broader impact.
One committee member, Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried of Manhattan, a Democrat and the chairman of the Assembly's Health Committee, doubted that a key provision in the proposal to create the spending cap would even be constitutional.
Ms. Bair also recommended that the Fed eliminate a so-called safe harbor provision in the proposal that protects lenders who fail to verify the income or assets of a borrower in some circumstances.
