1.   Any compromise plan enacted this year would have to be hammered out in time for final floor action before Congress adjourns for the holidays.

2.   Because this makes floor action difficult, most deals are made in offices and meeting rooms outside the Senate chamber, and explained later on the Senate floor.

3.   A similar bill awaits floor action in the Senate.

4.   A Senate committee has already approved an overhaul bill that is now awaiting floor action.

5.   After that, other spending bills that were being considered for floor action were pulled and members of Congress went home for the weekend.

6.   But Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., who sets the agenda for floor action, made it clear that the committee vote would be final.

7.   Faced with this rebellion, the House leadership quickly delayed floor action on the bill.

8.   Floor action is scheduled for mid-March.

9.   Floor action is scheduled the following week.

10.   Floor action on the bill, scheduled to begin Tuesday, will mark the first time Congress has voted on details of a Republican plan for defense spending.