Just a Bump in the Beltway

An insider's guide to the upcoming week

Monday, April 30, 2007; A02

Iraq Funding Showdown

The showdown between the White House and the Democratic Congress over Iraq will intensify this week when Congress sends a war spending bill to President Bush that includes a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Bush has vowed to veto the bill, which may be sent to his desk tomorrow -- the fourth anniversary of his appearance with the "Mission Accomplished" banner.

Also on the president's agenda are talks with European Union leaders and business leaders today and, later in the week, meetings with the presidents of Yemen and Colombia and the prime minister of Singapore. Tomorrow, Bush will visit the military's Central Command headquarters in Tampa, and on Thursday he is to discuss immigration at a gathering of Hispanic evangelical Christians in the District.

GOING HEAD-TO-HEAD: The Republican presidential candidates will gather for their first debate on Thursday at the Ronald Reagan library in Simi Valley, Calif.

A ROYAL INSPECTION: Queen Elizabeth II arrives in the United States on Thursday for a two-day event celebrating the founding of the Jamestown settlement in Virginia 400 years ago. She will head to the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, returning Sunday for events in Washington.

PRESCRIBING CHANGE: The Senate is scheduled to take up this week a bill to overhaul Food and Drug Administration safety practices, including looking at the fees pharmaceutical companies pay for the government to review drugs and treatments.

The left-leaning Brookings Institution, the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute and the University of Pennsylvania will team up today for a Capitol Hill conference on "Civility and American Politics." An 11 a.m. panel in the Hart Senate Office Building brings together House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Penn President Amy Gutmann.