Here we go again¿The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved on June 20 the ergonomics bill (S. 2184) sponsored by Senators John Breaux (D-La.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) that would force OSHA to set a new ergo standard within two years of the bill's enactment.

That's still a long shot. A vote by the full Senate will be the next stop for the bill. It also must be approved in the Republican-controlled House. If it got that far, President Bush would most likely veto the measure, which flies in the face of the voluntary guidelines approach he favors. Right now, there are not enough Democrats in the Senate to override a veto (two-thirds majority vote is needed).

These political dominoes could be rearranged after the fall elections, if Democrats capture control of the House and gain a two-thirds majority in the Senate.