[TheDon]

Let's hope "if it reaches his desk" is the operative part of his statement! Perhaps he doesn't expect that to happen.

[mabelkitty]

A much bigger issue would be the Senate. They don't want to see it over there at all.

Maybe Hastert is playing games with the Senate in exchange for something else? Tax cut maybe?

[hobbes1]

if it reaches his desk" is the operative part of his statement! Perhaps he doesn't expect that to happen.

And Pray Tell, exactly what are the House Majority Leaders Statements on the matter?

On Tuesday, DeLay, R-Texas, said that the votes "are not there" in the House to extend the ban. DeLay's spokesman, Stuart Roy, later said Republicans have "no intention" of calling the bill up for a vote.

Fleischer told reporters this week the White House is working with Congress on issues such as tax cuts and AIDS, and added, "The president doesn't set the congressional calendar or schedule. We'll continue to work with the Congress, and they know the president's position."

Hastert voted against the ban when it cleared the House in 1994 on a vote of 216-214, but told reporters at a news conference he was "reserving my personal opinion" in the event of another vote.

All you need to know.