Posted on 01/08/2007 2:11:47 PM PST by presidio9
Notice to those tracking the progress of the new Democratic-led House of Representatives: Get ready to start the clock -- but only after Monday's big football game.
With some critics already jeering, Democrats on Tuesday kick off their "first 100 legislative hours," during which they vow to pass much of the agenda that helped them win control of Congress from President George W. Bush's Republicans in last year's elections.
The newly elected House convened on Thursday with plenty of fanfare and the majority party vowing to put it on a five-day work week after ridiculing the Republicans for having worked just three days a week in the legislative chamber.
But Democrats pushed back until this week the start of votes on their much ballyhooed agenda. And everyone got Monday off for the college football championship game between Ohio State and the University of Florida.
"When you're in control, it (the first 100 hours) starts when you say it starts, includes what you say it includes and ends when you say it ends," said House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (news, bio, voting record) of Missouri, who with fellow Republicans had been in charge of the House the previous 12 years.
Democrats' "first 100 legislative hours" agenda includes measures to bolster national security, increase the minimum wage, cut the interest rate on student loans, reduce the price of prescription drugs, overturn Bush's restrictions on embryonic stem cell research and end some subsidies to big oil companies.
Democrats used much of last week to implement promised new rules on how lawmakers do business and help stop deficit spending.
"SPIRIT OF COMITY"
And with Bush expected to announce an increase in U.S. troop levels in Iraq in a prime-time television address on Wednesday, leaders moved up plans for oversight hearings on the war as they push their call for a phased withdrawal.
A Democratic aide said House Republican Leader John Boehner (news, bio, voting record) of Ohio had asked that there be no votes until Tuesday.
"There is a very important event happening Monday night, particularly for those who live in Ohio and Florida," said House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer (news, bio, voting record).
"In the spirit of comity," Hoyer told colleagues, the House would not return to work until Tuesday. While many appreciated the move, some criticized Democrats.
"We all know the big national championship game is on Monday night," said Rep. Tom Price (news, bio, voting record), a Georgia Republican. "But taking an entire day to watch the game isn't what we should spend part of our five-day work week doing."
House Democrats have also been accused of backing off their promise to give Republicans more of a voice in the legislative process than Republicans had given them.
Republicans complain the initial legislation is being brought up for votes without first being subjected to committee consideration and possible amendments.
Hoyer brushed off the suggestion.
"We view the first 100 hours essentially as a mandate from the American people," Hoyer said.
"We said to the American people, 'if you elect us, if you put us in charge, this is what we are going to do and we are going to do it in the first 100 hours,' which is essentially two weeks if you have a 40-hour working week, and that is what we are going to do," he added.
Welcome to the Nancy Pelosi 100 hour taxathon!!!
This is insane.
I bet it's been more than 100 hours since I heard about this 100-hr stuff...
Git that veto pen warmed up boys...
"Can I count it off?" "Go 'head!"
"Can I count it off?" "Go 'head!"
"Can I count it off?" "Go 'head!"
Count it off, already.
How many hundred hours are they going to get?
The first order of business will be to devour babies:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1764325/posts
So it takes the DemocRATS 132 hours to after swearing in the 110'th Congress to coordinate the "first 100 hours"?
This is what you call "lying by omission". President Bush has not placed any restrictions on embryonic stem cell research because it's not within his authority to do so. Private individuals can perform all the research on embryonic stem cell lines that they want to pay for. What President Bush has done is restrict the amount of taxpayer money wasted on this sort of research. Thank you, rant off.
"during which they vow to pass much of the agenda that helped them win control of Congress from President George W. Bush's Republicans in last year's elections."
Is this an editorial?
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? This was supposed to start last Thursday, after the Pelosi coronation. But they did not do squat and blew the first 100 hours, so now they just moved back the starting line? Sorry there are no do overs.
LOL... the 100 hours is doled out on a stopwatch... in 5 second installments. It should be over around November of 2008.
What will they "kick-off"? There's really nothing to fix. They can and will add some things like allowing every blood-thirsty illegal on god's green earth in with amnesty. They can and will raise taxes, even though our economy is about as robust as it can get. They can and will raise the minimum wage, which will cause more harm than good to the very same people that dems claim it will help. So what exactly will they "kick-off"? And how in the name of all that's sacred could ANYONE be excited about it?
Another "100-hour" ping.
Rooters only does editorials.
LOL. A mandate that they invented wholecloth in the final days before the election when the polls were clear what was going to happen. They didn't campaign on this stuff.
wonderful
Fashionably late.
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