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Republicans and Democrats find common ground in new Congress
The 111th Cong-ress began on Tuesday with debates over how to ease the nation's worsening recession and to fight a pair of wars overseas, adding a sense of gravity and purpose to a day normally dedicated to symbolism and the swearing-in of members.
- By Paul Kan, Los Angeles Times-Washington Post
- Published: 23:38 January 7, 2009
Washington: The 111th Cong-ress began on Tuesday with debates over how to ease the nation's worsening recession and to fight a pair of wars overseas, adding a sense of gravity and purpose to a day normally dedicated to symbolism and the swearing-in of members.
Veterans as well as newcomers to the House and Senate said the immensity of the problems the nation faces created an opportunity to move beyond the bitter partisan battles of the last decades or, conversely, to descend into legislative gridlock that would further damage a body already suffering from historically low approval ratings.
"There's something transformational happening here," said Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd, a 34-year veteran of Congress. "It's the kind of year historians will write about. ... Can this institution deal with it?"
While the mood in the Senate was one of bipartisan consensus, Republicans in the House accused Democrats of rewriting the rules to strip away what little power they have left.
Quick action
Brushing aside the criticism, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowed quick action on an economic stimulus plan, universal health care and climate change legislation, among other issues that have stalled during the Bush administration.
"We need action, and we need action now," Pelosi said repeatedly. With a minimum of 256 members in her caucus after Election Day provided big gains for Democrats, Pelosi swore in the largest majority either party has held since 1993.
In the Senate, seven seats had to be physically removed from the right side of the chamber and bolted down on the left side of the aisle to accommodate Democratic newcomers.
Democrat Al Franken, who has been certified as the winner of a Senate seat from Minnesota, did not join his colleagues after Republican Norm Coleman announced he would file a legal contest to the ruling by state election officials that Franken defeated him by 225 votes.
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