OK, folks, it's finals time. Two-part question. The following statement was propounded by former CBO Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin on a recent conference call in his capacity as economic adviser to one of the three presidential candidates.

Contracting -- House OKs Three Accountability Bills: The House voice voted three bills yesterday requiring those seeking federal contracts to disclose information about their companies:

• Close the Contractor Fraud Loophole Act (H.R. 5712) -- requiring prosective federal contractors disclose their involvement in administrative and legal proceedings initiated by the federal government

Supplemental -- Hoyer Expects Bill Late Next Week: Amid reports that congressional Democrats haven't settled on a strategy yet regarding the president's $108 billion war spending supplemental request, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told reporters yesterday that the House and Senate could take it up on the floor by the end of next week. "Democratic leaders have repeatedly said that, in the end, US troops in the field will be funded. But expectations are high that finally Congress will be able to extract a significant policy concession for that money." Story.

In Congress This Week -- Farm Bill, Contracting Reform:

• Farm Bill -- Following a one-week extension of the farm bill signed at the end of last week, Senate and House conferees plan to resume negotiations Tuesday, April 22 to reach a compromise on the five-year package which would renew U.S. agricultural programs. The sticking point remains finding $10 billion in new revenues to offset new spending in the bill.