(by Arthur Headner)

U.S. Congress approved an increase in the federal debt limit with $800 billion.

Republican Senator Arlen Specter said he would give President Bush’s judicial nominees "quick committee hearings and early committee votes."

This is the third increase in several years and is 37% higher since the time President Bush took the office in 2001 with the total of $8.184 trillion as a result of political liability for Republicans.

The biggest factor in the year-end bargaining over spending is fiscal pressure, and the $388 billion-plus package taking shape provides only a 1% to 2% lift over 2004 for domestic spending.