What to look forward to in politics for 2013

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Gun control legislation proposalsA fresh Obama cabinetBaby steps toward 2016Fiscal cliff falloutCritical Supreme Court decisionsContinued Republican soul-searchingGubernatorial and mayoral electionsIncreased concern over Iran's nuclear programA renewed battle over immigration

Though Congress was able to pass a belated compromise to alleviate the measures set into action by the ¿fiscal cliff,¿ don¿t expect that to mark the end of the budgetary battles in the House and Senate. The so-called sequestration cuts haven¿t been eliminated, only delayed by two months, and the debt ceiling is again looming on the horizon. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told lawmakers in a letter that, though the ceiling has been reached, he¿ll be able to delay default for several weeks. But don¿t expect congressional Republicans to allow an increase to the nation¿s borrowing without a fight.

Fiscal cliff fallout

( Alex Brandon / Associated Press / January 1, 2013 )

Though Congress was able to pass a belated compromise to alleviate the measures set into action by the ¿fiscal cliff,¿ don¿t expect that to mark the end of the budgetary battles in the House and Senate. The so-called sequestration cuts haven¿t been eliminated, only delayed by two months, and the debt ceiling is again looming on the horizon. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told lawmakers in a letter that, though the ceiling has been reached, he¿ll be able to delay default for several weeks. But don¿t expect congressional Republicans to allow an increase to the nation¿s borrowing without a fight.

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