Democrats' aggressive agenda stalls in Senate

[Robbien]

. . .

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.

. . .



Republicans counter that they are preserving the rights of the minority party, in a body that's designed to move slowly. Republicans have not yet used the ultimate Senate blocking tool, the filibuster, despite the fact that Democrats made it part of their legislative playbook when they were in the minority, said Senator John Thune , a South Dakota Republican.

"They want to get on to Iraq as soon as they can. We're reserving the right of our members to offer amendments on minimum wage," Thune said. "We know it's going to pass. It's not that we're trying to kill things, and I'd draw a distinction between the way the Democrats used the rules in the past, which is to kill, to block, to obstruct."

Late last week, Republicans told Democratic leaders that they would force a series of procedural votes on the minimum wage measure, even though both sides were certain of the outcome of those votes.

In addition, Republican members filed more than 100 amendments to the measure and said they would insist on formal votes on an unspecified number of them. That forced the Senate to consume most of this week on the minimum wage bill, and Democratic leaders had to postpone consideration of any Iraq-related resolutions until next week.

. . .


The minimum-wage bill, which would raise the federal minimum from $5.25 an hour to $7.15, is expected to pass the Senate today. But the Republican-backed changes inserted in the bill will force it to go to a House-Senate conference committee before it can go to the president's desk, delaying the final passage by weeks or even months.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/02/01/democrats_aggressive_agenda_stalls_in_senate/

[Superman Returns]

1. obstructionists!!!!

wasn't that they called us? The only difference is that the 100 hours agenda of Pelosi is overwhelmingly popular with the American people and laregely instrumental in the 2006 elections.

[rodeodance]

2. and to top it off-------we will have the Surge--& a watered-down version

of a Resolution.

[katsy]

3. Democrats need to keep republicant's obstructionism in front of

the cameras, in front of the people.

This obstructionism will seal the republicants fate in the 2008 election.

Bet on it.

[fidgeting wildly]

4. "Republicans counter that they are preserving the rights of the minority party."

:spray: :rofl:

[sm409]

5. At least we know

who's holding up the business of America now. It's in the light of day.