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Democrats Vow Changes in Next Congress »
Posted by: STONERS 1 year, 8 months agoWASHINGTON (Dec. 9) - The 109th session of Congress , frustrated by partisanship and criticized for its meager record of accomplishment, ended with flurry of bill-passing and promises of change when Democrats take over the House and Senate in January.
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Comments: 36
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mozzer
Dec. 11, 2006, 1:09 p.m."...all 100 senators will hold a private session on Jan. 4 to kick off what they hope will be a new era of civility and less partisanship"
That's all I ask.
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uncle-dave
Dec. 11, 2006, 1:14 p.m.Hopefully this new congress will do something to address the plight of the diminishing middle class and the growing poor in this country rather than extending more economic benefits to the privledged class.
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agentX
Dec. 11, 2006, 6:47 p.m.I just want them to do SOMETHING, other than act as a Bush rubber-stamp. I get that sense from most of the newly elected, even Health Shuler, a Repub in Demo clothes, doesn't appear to be a rubber stamp.
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combatinfantry91
Dec. 15, 2006, 8:20 p.m.No, they already said that they are taking back the tax cuts..that includes the cuts the middle class recieved.
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stephen-johnson
Dec. 11, 2006, 1:17 p.m.One change, however, might not be ethics reform:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-ed
Some congressional Democrats have amnesia on ethics-reform pledge.
Posted December 10, 2006
Only a month after their victory, some members of the incoming Democratic majority in Congress are beating a retreat on their party's promise to battle corruption on Capitol Hill.
Those Democrats are resisting controls on earmarks, the projects that lawmakers slip into legislation for special interests or their districts. Anything less than full transparency and ample opportunity to debate earmarks is pointless.
Some Democrats also are balking at creating an independent body to investigate lawmakers' ethical breaches. That body would take over from committees in the House and Senate hand-picked by party leaders. Those committees have lost their credibility.
Democrats might try to forget their pledge for ethics reform, but voters won't
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uncle-dave
Dec. 11, 2006, 2:11 p.m.We have to continue to hold thier feet to the fire Stephen Johnson, I've already emailed my Rep. and told him that the patience of the electorate is running thin.
It's my understanding that the true cost of earmarks is exponentialy greater than the price of the earmark itself. These earmarks are attatched to larger spending bills that in some cases would not be considered if not for the attatched earmarks.
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STONERS
Dec. 11, 2006, 1:23 p.m.But this Congress could not move ahead on promised lobbying and ethics changes; failed to reach a consensus on the administration's warrantless eavesdropping program; and did not develop a plan to deal with the 12 million illegal immigrants in the country.
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stephen-johnson
Dec. 11, 2006, 1:25 p.m.Listening to the Sunday morning news programs yesterday, there was more interest in who is going to run for President in 2008 than in what Congress is going to do. Maybe that will change after the State of the Union address, but I'm not holding my breath
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stephen-johnson
Dec. 11, 2006, 2:12 p.m.http://politics.netscape.com/story/2006/12/11/demo
William Jefferson Retains La. House Seat
Congressman Defeats Fellow Democrat Despite Ongoing Bribery Investigation
(AP) U.S. Congressman William Jefferson easily defeated his fellow Democratic opponent in a runoff vote despite an ongoing federal bribery investigation.
In complete but unofficial returns, Jefferson - Louisiana's first black congressman since Reconstruction - received 57 percent of the vote over state Rep. Karen Carter, who had 43 percent.
Carter was unable to capitalize on a scandal that included allegations the FBI found $90,000 in bribe money in Jefferson's freezer.
Throw in Murtha and Hastings, and it looks like the Culture of Corruption is open under new management in Congress
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Bacalao
Dec. 11, 2006, 6:16 p.m.I liked this line
"The next House majority leader, Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., says there will be a return to five-day workweeks"
How many of us get to only work two or three days a week?
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The18Zulu
Dec. 11, 2006, 7:44 p.m.Time will tell if things are better for the United States. I hope they are, but I have my reservations.
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not2needy
Dec. 11, 2006, 9:46 p.m.Here's hoping they are aware that the public is tired of the same old song and dance, we want results, not talk!
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Illuminate
Dec. 12, 2006, 2:28 a.m.We may be tired of it but its gonna be the same SOP.... tell the public what they wanna hear then toss awa the vasaline
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KrazyKapt
Dec. 11, 2006, 11:47 p.m.So the house will meet 5 days a week,big deal if they don't tackle the tough jops. illegals,trade,and the uncontroled spending. And ethics,THAT will not happen there would be more dem's out on there ear then the rep's.
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topperjax
Dec. 12, 2006, 1:26 a.m.And thus opens the dog and pony show again this year. What has changed? Very little. What will change? Even less, is my thought.
Jordan11 mentioned "I guess the obvious solution to this would be not allowing earmarks attached to other bills." Yes, it seems obvious that would be the best answer to the situation, but it will most likely never be a change that will be made.
It is SOP that they "slide one in" to get bills signed that add unnecessary or unpopular items as part of the bill, and that will probably always be the case.
Good topic you found, Stoners, and definitely one that will open heated debate.
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AJaye
Dec. 12, 2006, 9:35 a.m.If they don't make changes in 2 yrs we will change the congress...Until we get the ones who will work for the people...
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johnnyt
Dec. 12, 2006, 11:45 a.m.then get use to change.
the ONLY thing that the dems and repubs have agreed on was to create legislation to get the two parties in power. they set it up where they could government funding but not smaller independant parties. why? to prevent anyone to rise in power that is not hand selected by them. i dont think i will ever see a three party system here in the the US in my lifetime. they have effectively made it where all we (as citizens) do is argue between the dems and repubs. and never realize that they are both screwing us for their own gain.
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1rooster
Dec. 12, 2006, 10:37 a.m.Cynthia Mckenney tried to do something positive (start impeach Bush proceedings) but Nancy Palozi shot that down. That was a good start from Cynthia. Now I wonder if the dems are going to do anything positive. None of them have the guts of Mckenney. I think it will be business as usual for Bush.
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johnnyt
Dec. 12, 2006, 11:47 a.m.if you think the problem started with bush you are mistaken. the problems with the government started way before bush and will continue on when bush is gone in 2 years.
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Harbeas
Dec. 12, 2006, 12:02 p.m.I am neither republican or democrat, but I sure hope they do something. Let's see if the two parties can work together to start solving some of the serious problems this country has. I think the first party to show partisanship will face a tough road in the next election(at least I hope so).
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jzinkjazz
Dec. 12, 2006, 12:17 p.m.Any one who beleives what any politican ,Republican or Democrat,says has a very severe problem.Politicans are nothing but professional liars who will say any thing and do any thing to get elected.Once elected they do what they are told.
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joemont
Dec. 12, 2006, 12:49 p.m.The phrase; "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely.", comes to mind here.
Will be interesting to see what if any changes are made. See where Charlie Rangel and Robert Reich are both talking about raising taxes already. Geeezzzzz. Where does one go to school to learn how to be a Politician?
Go Chiefs!!!
(:>)
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combatinfantry91
Dec. 15, 2006, 8:31 p.m.they have been talking of raising taxes all along. Nothing has changed, except they hold more cards now. They will raise taxes (to help the poor, and social programs...) This is MY money they are playing with...lol, oh I forgot the only money I have is what the dems deem to leave me.
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combatinfantry91
Dec. 15, 2006, 8:19 p.m.WOW, the demas are the reason for the bickering and partisain behavior. They have blocked and stonewalled every chance they could. Oh well, even if the repubs gain the balls to do the same thing back..they(repubs) will be deamonised in the press.
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