While health legislation received a great amount of attention, few health measures were passed during the last Congress. Will the 96th Congress, which convened in January of this year, achieve a fuller record of accomplishment? Or will frustration and inaction mark healthrelated activities of this Congress in the days ahead—as was the case during the 95th Congress?
A variety of forces—many uncontrollable—undoubtedly will continue to impede congressional actions, initiatives, and objectives. These same forces will control and limit administration initiatives as well. Both Congress and the administration recognized that the government can no longer ignore the economic ravages of excessive deficit spending. Even the traditional liberal view is calling for retrenchment. What are these forces or conditions that will circumscribe governmental programs?
Foremost, perhaps, are the depressed economy and the rising rate of inflation. Equally important, however, are the increasingly recognized limitations and failures of government performance amidst revelations of