Republicans in the US House of Representatives are debating among themselves whether to vote on a legislative compromise to enact the September 11 commission's terror-fighting recommendations, despite Democratic assurances the bill would pass.

　　"If the bill isn't passed this week, it dies," Rep Jane Harman of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on Sunday. But "if it's put up for a vote in both houses, it will pass with bipartisan majority."

　　Democrats in the House and Senate say the bill to overhaul the intelligence community by creating a national intelligence director will pass if House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, brings the compromise up today, when the Republican-controlled House returns for a year-end wrap-up.

　　But Republicans say objections from House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, and Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, Wisconsin Republican, have held up the bill and could force the issue to wait until next year.

　　Hastert refused to bring the bill to a vote before Thanksgiving because of their objections and has yet to reveal his plans.

　　Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, said he supports the House-Senate compromise, but "I do believe it can be improved."

　　Aside from the intelligence bill, the House must put the final touches on a US$388 billion spending measure that was not completed when lawmakers left town before the US Thanksgiving holiday.

　　While they are working on that, Hastert will decide whether to force a House vote on creating a national intelligence director position to coordinate the nation's spy agencies and enacting other anti-terror measures. If the House passes the bill, the Senate will reconvene to do the same.

　　(The Associated Press)