Democrats Won’t Allow Republicans to Try to Stop Newest Law Changes
Posted in H.L. News, Main Blog (All Posts) on January 2nd, 2007 9:54 am by HL
Democrats To Start Without GOP Input
Washington Post
Excerpt
House Democrats intend to pass a raft of popular measures as part of their well-publicized plan for the first 100 hours. They include tightening ethics rules for lawmakers, raising the minimum wage, allowing more research on stem cells and cutting interest rates on student loans.
The episode illustrates the dilemma facing the new party in power. The Democrats must demonstrate that they can break legislative gridlock and govern after 12 years in the minority, while honoring their pledge to make the 110th Congress a civil era in which Democrats and Republicans work together to solve the nation’s problems. Yet in attempting to pass laws key to their prospects for winning reelection and expanding their majority, the Democrats may have to resort to some of the same tough tactics Republicans used the past several years.
For several reasons, House Democrats are assiduously trying to avoid some of the heavy-handed tactics they resented under GOP rule. They say they want to prove to voters they are setting a new tone on Capitol Hill. But they are also convinced that Republicans lost the midterms in part because they were perceived as arrogant and divisive.
“We’re going to make an impression one way or the other,” said one Democratic leadership aide. “If it’s not positive, we’ll be out in two years.”
House Republicans say their strategy will be to offer alternative bills that would be attractive to the conservative “Blue Dog” Democrats, with an eye toward fracturing the Democratic coalition. They hope to force some tough votes for Democrats from conservative districts who will soon begin campaigning for 2008 reelection and will have to defend their records.
“We’ll capitalize on every opportunity we have,” said one GOP leadership aide, adding that Republicans were preparing alternatives to the Democrats’ plans to raise the minimum wage, reduce the interest on student loans, and reduce the profits of big oil and energy companies.
In the House, Louise M. Slaughter (D-N.Y.), who will chair the Rules Committee, said she intends to bring openness to a committee that used to meet in the middle of the night. In the new Congress, the panel — which sets the terms of debate on the House floor — will convene at 10 a.m. before a roomful of reporters.
“It’s going to be open,” Slaughter said of the process. “Everybody will have an opportunity to participate.”
H.L.s Take:
The article says that Republicans are getting angry that the democrats won’t let them in on the decision making process in the house. Awww, gee thats too bad guys, maybe if you had done the same for the Democrats for the past 12 years they might be a little more willing to include you in the process. The Dems in the house say they will allow the Republicans the chance to take place in the processes of Governing that Republicans never gave Democrats. Thats great, and when the republicans come back into power because the Dems allowed themselves to be pushed around like little girls, do you think the GOP will do the same for you. Never. Stomp on them all with an iron foot every chance you get.