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PrintEconomic crisis, Obama response face new Congress
Tue Jan 6, 2009 11:45 AM EST
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WASHINGTON — The new Congress opened for business at the stroke of noon on Tuesday, eager to join President-elect Barack Obama in tackling the worst economic crisis in generations. Democrats celebrated last fall's election gains in the House and Senate.
Vice President Dick Cheney called the Senate to order at midday, then began the ceremonial duties of swearing in 32 senators who triumphed in November elections.
Democrat Roland Burris of Illinois was not among them — informed he would not be seated because his paperwork was not in order. He pledged a lawsuit, the latest twist in a political drama that began when he was appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, charged with having attempted to sell the seat.
Across the Capitol, Lorraine C. Miller, clerk of the House, rapped the opening gavel, prelude to a day of ceremony highlighted by Nancy Pelosi's re-election as speaker. "We need action and we need action now," she said minutes after taking the gavel, symbol of her authority.
Democrats looked ahead to two years of increased strength after picking up seats in both houses — at least seven in the Senate and 21 in the House. With their gains — as well as with Obama in the White House after Jan. 20 — they looked forward to an agenda of fixing the economy, ending the war in Iraq, expanding health care and more.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid celebrated the approaching end of the Bush administration in remarks on the Senate floor that also called for bipartisan cooperation.
"We are ready to answer the call of the American people by putting the past eight years behind us and delivering the change that our country desperately needs," he said.
And yet, he told Republicans, "we are in this together," when it comes to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economic crisis and more.
The day was heavy on ceremony.
The Senate galleries were crowded as Cheney administered the oath to senators in groups of four. Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware was among them, taking the oath of office for a seat that he has held for more than three decades, and will relinquish in a matter of days to become Obama's vice president.
The atmosphere in the House was family-friendly as children, grandchildren and other relatives joined lawmakers in the large chamber, lit for television.
Sean and Tommy Rooney, ages 5 and 7, wore T-shirts with their last name on the back. Their father, Rep. Thomas Rooney, is a freshman Republican from Florida.
Apart from Biden, at least two lawmakers won't be there for long. Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., was nominated as secretary of labor in the Obama administration, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is departing Congress to become Secretary of State.
For the lawmakers just settling in, and the veterans returning, the work was already well under way. Aides to Obama and senior congressional officials have been at work for weeks crafting an economic stimulus plan that could reach $1 trillion or more. Tax cuts, federal spending, aid to the states, all designed to inject cash into an economy where consumer spending has plummeted, manufacturing withered and job losses grown.
Obama spent much of the day Monday in Congress, meeting with leaders in both parties and pledging to consider ideas advanced by Republicans.
They, in turn, said they believed his pledge of bipartisanship.
Amid the ceremony, Burris was at the center of a remarkable piece of political theater.
Informed in advance he would not be seated, he traveled to the Capitol, met inside with Senate Secretary Nancy Erickson, then emerged in a downpour to tell reporters, "My credentials were not in order, I will not be accepted, I will not be seated."
He pledged a lawsuit to win the seat.
Said Reid: "If Mr. Burris takes possession of valid credentials, the United States Senate will proceed in a manner that is respectful to Mr. Burris while ensuring that there is no cloud of doubt over the appointment to fill this seat."
One other Senate seat was in limbo as the new Congress convened.
Democrat Al Franken holds a 225-vote lead over former Sen. Norm Coleman in Minnesota, a result certified on Monday by the state Canvassing Board. He has not yet received a certificate of election, and with Republicans threatening to protest, Democrats made no attempt to seat him.
In a bit of housekeeping, Democrats also were repealing the six-year term limit for committee chairman. It was a legacy of the Republican Revolution that swept through Congress in 1994, and in erasing it, Democrats evinced confidence in the strength of their majority status.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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 | Senate Democrats yield to Obama, retreat on Burris | Associated Press | Fri Jan 2 | 21 |
| New Congress opens pledging to rescue economy | Associated Press | Tue Jan 6 | 1 |
| Clubby Senate finds a way to reject Blago's pick | Associated Press | Mon Jan 5 | 2 |
 | The Rod and Roland Show | The Economist | The Economist | Tue Jan 6 | 4 |
| In distraction for Obama, chaos stalks new Senate - Yahoo! News | Yahoo! News | Mon Jan 5 | 0 |
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{"commentId":4684652,"authorDomain":"nater"}
democrat party is the party of racism
{"commentId":4684652,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"nater"}
- 2 votes
#1 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:18 PM EST{"commentId":4685560,"authorDomain":"jradmacher"}
Nate,
I apologize to you for accidentally voting for your above post. For everyone that is reading this I also apologize. Nate's post is simple and silly at best.
{"commentId":4685560,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"jradmacher"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4685471,"authorDomain":"BeMyJellyfish"}
Democrats will use their bolstered majority to push through several changes to House rules, including a repeal of the six-year term limit for committee chairmen. That rule was imposed when Republicans seized control of Congress in 1995, after decades in which autocratic chairmen dominated the House. That era is mostly over, however, with power concentrated in the office of Speaker Pelosi.
OK, so it looks like the Dems are planning to stay for a while and change the rules, so they can return to the days of the "autocratic chairmen."
Is anyone really surprised that the Democrats would refuse to seat a senator who, although appointed by a knucklehead, was in fact lawfully and properly appointed? I've tried to beat the drum for years that the Democrats are the party of division along racial, ethnic, class and religious lines. They are the party who have doomed the minority population in this country to a life of second class status and paultry government hand outs. They are elitists who prey on the plight and ingorance of the poor and disadvantaged to secure their own political power. When are people going to learn? The Republican party is no better.
Until the people in this country unite, as Americans (not African-Americans, Irish-Americans, etc - simply AMERICANS) the political party machines will continue to conspire with their lobbyists and special interest groups to co-opt the economy, the land and the very people of this country for their own power and purpose. The true corruption and the true danger in this country is not big business, small business, the poor or immigrants. The true corruption and danger to this republic is the political ruling class. They are present, on both sides of the aisle, waiting their turn for the next level of power and influence.
I am tired of them all - Bushes, Kennedys, Clintons, Romneys and all the rest. The government's biggest enemy is an educated, united and voting population. The tools of their power are ignorance and self-interest.
{"commentId":4685471,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"BeMyJellyfish"}
#2 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:57 PM EST{"commentId":4685629,"authorDomain":"meganrandall"}
What proof is there that the Senate's decision not to seat Burris was racially motivated? I thought it had to do with the fact that Blagovich is a criminal and any appointment by him would be questionable.
{"commentId":4685629,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"meganrandall"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":4685915,"authorDomain":"BeMyJellyfish"}
Mego,
I don't think that it is racially motivated at all. Blogojovich has not been convicted of anything. Is he a creep? Certainly! Has he been found guilty of anything? No! Did he follow legal procedure for appointing Burris? He absolutely did make that appointment within his legal authority as governor. There is NO reason for the Senate not to seat Mr. Burris. Whether it is racial or not, I don't think it is.
{"commentId":4685915,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"BeMyJellyfish"}
{"commentId":4686119,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
Most people are clueless what "Americanism" is....but we do know what the Constitution, Rule of law and International laws are about...except by the knuckle heads who put "Americanism" above these principles mostly the idiots who voted for Bush twice and the democrats who appeased them.
{"commentId":4686119,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":4686210,"authorDomain":"meganrandall"}
I've tried to beat the drum for years that the Democrats are the party of division along racial, ethnic, class and religious lines.
I took this above statement to insinuate that you meant that, as nate above, I decided to respond to your comment because it actually had substance. Sorry if I was mistaken. Being from Illinois, I want my senators to represent my interests and that of the general population. I am concerned, given the recent events, that any appointment by Balgojevich is tainted and thus not representative of the people of Illinois. I would feel more comfortable if the Illinois congress held a special election to choose the new Senator. No question of scandal, no opinion of a corrupt governor under investigation...just a senator elected by a group of people committed to serve their constituency (in theory, but that you assume that of your governor too.)
{"commentId":4686210,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"meganrandall"}
{"commentId":4686242,"authorDomain":"b-shaughnessy"}
Is anyone really surprised that the Democrats would refuse to seat a senator who, although appointed by a knucklehead, was in fact lawfully and properly appointed?
You've got to be kidding me... conspiracy to commit wire fraud and solicitation of bribery are major felonies, Blagojevich is governor in the only the loosest of meanings.
{"commentId":4686242,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"b-shaughnessy"}
{"commentId":4688194,"authorDomain":"BeMyJellyfish"}
More than Happy,
As I said, he has been accused of those things, not convicted. Innocent until proven guilty, remember. I know its maddening sometimes, but think of the frightening alternative! (Think Robespierre and the French Revolution)
{"commentId":4688194,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"BeMyJellyfish"}
{"commentId":4688237,"authorDomain":"BeMyJellyfish"}
Mego,
I didn't mean to insinuate that it was due to a racial bias in this case. I was just making a provacative statement to go on a rant. Sorry for the confusion, but that's what I get for trying to talk on the phone, read and send e-mails, write reports AND get my two cents in on the Vine! :)
{"commentId":4688237,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"BeMyJellyfish"}
{"commentId":4688431,"authorDomain":"b-shaughnessy"}
Jelly, have you read those transcripts of Blagojevich? 'Innocent until proven guilty' has no meaning in the political world, and the rest of the Democrats want none of the stench of Blagojevich upon them.
{"commentId":4688431,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"b-shaughnessy"}
{"commentId":4692286,"authorDomain":"rainkiss"}
Actually, Burris wasn't seated because his credentials were NOT valid. The Secretary of the State didn't sign 'em, per Senate rules, the appointment wasn't valid. Burris claims it's just a paperwork formality, however, without the formalities, it isn't an appointment.
Pretty simple, really.
{"commentId":4692286,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"rainkiss"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":4695919,"authorDomain":"meganrandall"}
Thanks for the clarification Rainkiss.
{"commentId":4695919,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"meganrandall"}
{"commentId":4685521,"authorDomain":"meganrandall"}
I hope they can get Illinois and Minnesota seats cleared up soon. Blagovich should be impeached and removed from office, the state congress should elect the next senator, and Franken should be given his seat.
{"commentId":4685521,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"meganrandall"}
- 1 vote
#3 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:59 PM EST{"commentId":4685950,"authorDomain":"BeMyJellyfish"}
I heard that a couple of the counties or districts that went for Franken, had more votes counted than there are residents of those districts. I wouldn't count on Franken sitting down in the Senate anytime soon.
{"commentId":4685950,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"BeMyJellyfish"}
{"commentId":4686107,"authorDomain":"aarias"}
Mego, why can't the PEOPLE elect the next senator. Do you think any politician is going to appoint a Senator without wanting something in return?
{"commentId":4686107,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"aarias"}
{"commentId":4686361,"authorDomain":"meganrandall"}
I heard that a couple of the counties or districts that went for Franken, had more votes counted than there are residents of those districts. I wouldn't count on Franken sitting down in the Senate anytime soon.
If this is legitimate than the investigation should continue.
Mego, why can't the PEOPLE elect the next senator. Do you think any politician is going to appoint a Senator without wanting something in return?
Well, I assume the "people" can't elect the next senator because that is not the way the process works. I am not sure if this a process regulated by the federal or state government, but my guess is it would take a constitutional amendment at least at the state level to change it. I think a politician who is out for his or her own personal gain would always look for their benefit. Should that person hold a political office? No. But I didn't vote for Blagojevich, so I did my part to prevent him from being in office again.
{"commentId":4686361,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"meganrandall"}
{"commentId":4688275,"authorDomain":"BeMyJellyfish"}
Mego,
I wish I could direct you to a source on the population versus votes cast situation. I was half listening to one of the cable news channels when it was mentioned last evening. I'm sure that Coleman will have it all brought out in court.
{"commentId":4688275,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"BeMyJellyfish"}
{"commentId":4688525,"authorDomain":"meganrandall"}
I know that very little of the eligible population actually votes. I did vote, just not for Blagojevich. By the way, you make good points about "innocent until proven guilty." Still, I think the congress should vote.
{"commentId":4688525,"threadId":"462147","contentId":"2279346","authorDomain":"meganrandall"}
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