The 110th Congress is Now in Session
Yesterday, the Democrats took their position as the controllers of both houses of Congress. The first item on the agenda for the House was to elect the new Speaker of the House. As expected, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was elected as the first woman Speaker in the history of the country. John Boehner (R-OH) was offered up as the other candidate for Speaker as a formality. Pelosi was elected perfectly along party lines, 233-202.
The Senate was sworn in by the President of the Senate (also known as the Vice President of the United States), Dick Cheney.
With the beginning of the new Congress, the House will begin on its "first 100 hours" campaign that will take place over the next couple of weeks, according to the first 100 legislative hours, remarkable in its size considering January is normally a quiet month for Congress (lobbyist scandals such as last year's Jack Abramoff blowup not included).
The 100 hours' plan, according to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's office:
The House passed a new package of internal rules changes last night that, according to the Washington Post, "prohibit House members or employees from knowingly accepting gifts or travel from a registered lobbyist, foreign agent or lobbyist's client. Lawmakers could no longer fly on corporate jets. In addition, congressional travel financed by outside groups would have to be approved in advance by the House ethics committee and immediately disclosed to the public."
The changes passed by a vote of 430-1, with Dan Burton (R-IN) being the only vote against, making him the frontrunner for Douchebag of the Week.
Today, the House will attempt to rein in earmarks/pork-barrel spending and implement the Pay-Go system, restricting new spending and changes to tax measures that increase the federal deficit.
The Senate will spent its opening days tackling ethics and lobbying reform as well as the proposal to increase the federal minimum wage. Additionally, they will need to deal with the measures that come out of the House, especially given the blitz of legislation that is expected to come through this month.
The celebration of the new Congress was interrupted shortly after Nancy Pelosi took the gavel from John Boehner and was sworn in as the new Speaker when Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ) addressed the Congress to verbally establish that the swearing in of Florida Republican Vern Buchanan to the Congress does not prejudice against the challenges by the Democratic candidate, Christine Jennings, in the extremely close race to replace Katherine Harris in the House. Buchanan was called the winner of that race by a margin of only 369 votes. However, some 18,000 votes in the congressional district had no votes recorded with many of those ballots having other votes recorded.
Holt's comments elicited several boos from other people in the chamber. Guys, can we at least wait until next week before the fighting begins again?
The Senate was sworn in by the President of the Senate (also known as the Vice President of the United States), Dick Cheney.
With the beginning of the new Congress, the House will begin on its "first 100 hours" campaign that will take place over the next couple of weeks, according to the first 100 legislative hours, remarkable in its size considering January is normally a quiet month for Congress (lobbyist scandals such as last year's Jack Abramoff blowup not included).
The 100 hours' plan, according to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's office:
Tuesday, January 9 - Implement the 9/11 Commission Recommendations
Wednesday, January 10 - Increase the Minimum Wage
Thursday, January 11 - Expand Stem Cell Research
Friday, January 12 - Allow Negotiation for Lower Prescription Drug Costs
Wednesday, January 17 - Cut Interest Rates on Student Loans
Thursday, January 18 - End Subsidies for Big Oil and Invest in Renewable Energy
The House passed a new package of internal rules changes last night that, according to the Washington Post, "prohibit House members or employees from knowingly accepting gifts or travel from a registered lobbyist, foreign agent or lobbyist's client. Lawmakers could no longer fly on corporate jets. In addition, congressional travel financed by outside groups would have to be approved in advance by the House ethics committee and immediately disclosed to the public."
The changes passed by a vote of 430-1, with Dan Burton (R-IN) being the only vote against, making him the frontrunner for Douchebag of the Week.
Today, the House will attempt to rein in earmarks/pork-barrel spending and implement the Pay-Go system, restricting new spending and changes to tax measures that increase the federal deficit.
The Senate will spent its opening days tackling ethics and lobbying reform as well as the proposal to increase the federal minimum wage. Additionally, they will need to deal with the measures that come out of the House, especially given the blitz of legislation that is expected to come through this month.
The celebration of the new Congress was interrupted shortly after Nancy Pelosi took the gavel from John Boehner and was sworn in as the new Speaker when Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ) addressed the Congress to verbally establish that the swearing in of Florida Republican Vern Buchanan to the Congress does not prejudice against the challenges by the Democratic candidate, Christine Jennings, in the extremely close race to replace Katherine Harris in the House. Buchanan was called the winner of that race by a margin of only 369 votes. However, some 18,000 votes in the congressional district had no votes recorded with many of those ballots having other votes recorded.
Holt's comments elicited several boos from other people in the chamber. Guys, can we at least wait until next week before the fighting begins again?
Labels: Democrats
posted by Will at 1:20 PM
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