Dems to seek GOP help on health care, wages, taxes (Obstruction Works Both Ways)

CNN ^ | 11/18/2006 | AP

[tobyhill]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats will seek Republican help to raise the minimum wage, cut taxes for working families and make health care and college more affordable, incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Saturday.

"We intend to reach out to President Bush and our Republican colleagues in Congress," the Nevada lawmaker said in the weekly Democratic radio address. "The last four years ... have shown that a political party in Congress acting alone can accomplish nothing."

Bush has signaled his readiness to consider Democratic priorities such as a federal minimum-wage increase and to find compromise on renewing the No Child Left Behind education law and overhauling immigration policy.

Speaking in the wake of GOP sex and corruption scandals that contributed to the Democratic sweep of both houses of Congress in the midterm elections, Reid emphasized his party's plans for open and scandal-free government.

"We need transparency, new restrictions on lobbying and lawmakers, and a commitment to fiscal responsibility," he said.

Democratic victories in close races in Virginia, Montana and Missouri gave Senate Democrats a 51-49 edge over Republicans, changing Reid's title from minority leader to majority leader in January. Democrats will have at least a 29-seat advantage in the House.

[glorgau]

Give them NOTHING.

[VeniVidiVici]

Democratic victories in close races in Virginia, Montana and Missouri gave Senate Democrats a 51-49 edge over Republicans...

Thanks, Joe. You've proven to have just as much character and principle this time around as you did in 2000 when you disavowed your values to pursue the Vice-Presidency.

[spokeshave]

"cut taxes for working families and make health care and college more affordable"

Cut taxes for working families eh....I guess most families are working unless on welfare......tax cuts for all sounds OK.

As for making college affordable.....can we get honary illegal immigrant status so our children can get low cost instate tuition at the outstate university of their choice.

[CindyDawg]

No Deal!!!!!!!

[petkus]

Reid did not cooperate on nothing the last 4 years.

Don't trust REID!!!!!!!

[queenkathy]

"The last four years ... have shown that a political party in Congress acting alone can accomplish nothing."

Right Harry. Because the dems obstructed every single day of the last 4 years. Now we're supposed to "work" with dems? Sure thing. Let's see how they like to be at the other end of obstruction.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

And so the two years of being completely inept and worthless begins. For both parties.

RYMB!

[I_Like_Spam]

Are the Democrats willing to work with the GOP in this new Congress to get conservative judges confirmed and permanentize the tax cuts?

If not, where's the motivation to help the Dems get their agenda passed?

[queenkathy]

Doesn't matter much. There doesn't seem to be a stomach on the republican side to fight anything. They'll roll over once again and give them everything.

Like Trent Lott did before. Let's share things! There's a good idea now that dems are in charge!

[rightwingextremist1776]

Now is the time that Republicans need to prove they GREW A SET after the last election. If they haven't, they are destined to stay in the minority!

[technomage]

Gridlock is good.

If Congress is gridlocked, the Dims cannot pass any of their ridiculous legislation or new laws.

And we know how politicians love to pass laws. We have maybe 10-20 million laws on the books in this country.

To give you perspective: If you laid each law end to end, there are so many that they would almost completely circle Ted 'The Swimmer' Kennedy.

[CindyDawg]

If we have 2 years of do nothings, I'm ok with that. It's much better than the alternative. No Deal Harry.

[EagleUSA]

America is NOT a socialist country, even though half of America is rotting in the "entitlement mentality" --- no socialism, no Dems, no deal.

But just watch what they get handed - IMHO.

[BusterBear]

Reid emphasized his party's plans for open and scandal-free government. "We need transparency, new restrictions on lobbying and lawmakers..."

Harry Reid? What a clown.

[EagleUSA]

Giving in on anything, forgetting plain ole socialism, will put fodder in the Dems bag for 2008 -- is Bush smart enough NOT to set them up for 2008 ???

[calcowgirl]

Bush has signaled his readiness to consider Democratic priorities such as a federal minimum-wage increase and to find compromise on renewing the No Child Left Behind education law and overhauling immigration policy.

What? No Global Warming?

[rhombus]

The will purposely set up confrontations and run against Republican obstuctionism...ironic ain't it?

[tobyhill]

Grid lock will be good and then in about a year and a half the Republicans can yell,"Do Nothing Democrats!" when tuition for college has still gone up, gas prices are steady at $3 a gallon due to a hurricane or two and the border fence that is law isn't built because the Rats won't fund it.

[vetsvette]

"Bush has signaled his readiness to consider Democratic priorities such as a federal minimum-wage increase and to find compromise on renewing the No Child Left Behind education law and overhauling immigration policy."

Bush will cooperate because these liberal agenda items are also his liberal agenda items. Hopefully, Congressional conservatives will keep the Dim's and The Prez in check, but I doubt that will happen - many of them are Rino's as well.