DOLE'S LINE IN THE SAND

Bob Dole today said Republican legislators returning from August recess were in no mood for an "autumn of compromise" as controversial GOP proposals on Medicare, welfare, and the budget come up for votes over the next few weeks. But congressional correspondent Karen Tumulty says that's probably just what Republicans will do: "Welfare reform could come up as early as next week, but they probably won't get very far on it," she says. Instead, the GOP may "attempt the impossible" by lumping Medicare and welfare together in a mammoth budget reconciliation bill.