Policy Road Ahead: Beyond The First 100 Days

Next Major Legislative Challenges

Obama: "If we don't get health care reform done this year, we're not going to get it done."

Following the Memorial Day break, Congress returns to a political environment largely defined by $1.4 trillion in spending bills to revive the economy as well as sweeping efforts to address global climate change and reform the nation's health care system — two critical areas affecting all Americans.

With few expecting bipartisan cooperation, the success or failure of these measures appears to rest with President Obama and the Democratic leadership in Congress. Yet with fewer than 50 legislative days before the August recess, which is slated to include a lengthy Supreme Court confirmation process, swift passage of such controversial legislation seems unlikely.