meganmonkey
02-01-2007, 10:16 AM
Gee, I really hope they get that "strong message of disapproval" passed :whatever:
Democrats' aggressive agenda stalls in Senate
GOP thwarting a range of bills
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | February 1, 2007
WASHINGTON -- The aggressive agenda that Democrats pushed through with great fanfare in the House has become bogged down in the Senate, where Republicans have used various stalling strategies to thwart Democratic momentum on issues ranging from healthcare and homeland security to a resolution opposing President Bush's troop "surge."
None of the bills approved in the first 100 legislative hours in the House of Representatives last month has passed the Senate. The only one close to passing -- an increase in the minimum wage -- has consumed more than a week of floor time, and Republicans succeeded in attaching a series of small-business tax breaks favored by the White House.
On the Iraq war, Senate Republicans have so far blocked Democrats from offering a resolution that would express Congress' s disapproval with Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq.
Republican leaders are pressuring GOP senators who have expressed misgivings about the troop escalation to nonetheless vote against a resolution, contending that non binding statements would be motivated by politics and could harm troops' morale.
"It accomplishes no constructive purpose," said Senator David Vitter , a Louisiana Republican who strongly supports the increase in troops. The Democrats' proposals amount to "nonbinding words that don't stop anything in terms of troop movement, troop funding, but that do clearly hurt our morale, turn off our allies, and embolden the enemy."
The Republicans' stalling tactics have frustrated Democratic leaders. Senate majority leader Harry Reid , a Nevada Democrat, has accused the Republicans of prolonging debate on the minimum wage mainly to keep a war resolution off the Senate floor for as long as possible.
Still, Democrats say they will eventually succeed in passing their main priorities, including a strong message of disapproval with the president's war strategy.
more...
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/02/01/democrats_aggressive_agenda_stalls_in_senate/
Democrats' aggressive agenda stalls in Senate
GOP thwarting a range of bills
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | February 1, 2007
WASHINGTON -- The aggressive agenda that Democrats pushed through with great fanfare in the House has become bogged down in the Senate, where Republicans have used various stalling strategies to thwart Democratic momentum on issues ranging from healthcare and homeland security to a resolution opposing President Bush's troop "surge."
None of the bills approved in the first 100 legislative hours in the House of Representatives last month has passed the Senate. The only one close to passing -- an increase in the minimum wage -- has consumed more than a week of floor time, and Republicans succeeded in attaching a series of small-business tax breaks favored by the White House.
On the Iraq war, Senate Republicans have so far blocked Democrats from offering a resolution that would express Congress' s disapproval with Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq.
Republican leaders are pressuring GOP senators who have expressed misgivings about the troop escalation to nonetheless vote against a resolution, contending that non binding statements would be motivated by politics and could harm troops' morale.
"It accomplishes no constructive purpose," said Senator David Vitter , a Louisiana Republican who strongly supports the increase in troops. The Democrats' proposals amount to "nonbinding words that don't stop anything in terms of troop movement, troop funding, but that do clearly hurt our morale, turn off our allies, and embolden the enemy."
The Republicans' stalling tactics have frustrated Democratic leaders. Senate majority leader Harry Reid , a Nevada Democrat, has accused the Republicans of prolonging debate on the minimum wage mainly to keep a war resolution off the Senate floor for as long as possible.
Still, Democrats say they will eventually succeed in passing their main priorities, including a strong message of disapproval with the president's war strategy.
more...
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/02/01/democrats_aggressive_agenda_stalls_in_senate/