In Barack Obama’s meetings with congressional leaders this week, his fellow Democrats have been eager to talk about using their expanded majority to finally get done what Republicans had blocked in the Bush years.
But Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their teams know they won’t be able to start by tackling universal health care and global warming. Obama needs his former colleagues on the Hill to move quickly on a stimulus plan.
But once the stimulus work is through, congressional aides say lawmakers will push for quick passage of items vetoed by President Bush or blocked by Senate Republicans.
That includes expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. In 2008 Bush vetoed legislation that would have expanded CHIP’s reach and increasing it from a $25 billion program to a $60 billion program over the next five years and adding 10 million children to its rolls. Hill staffers indicate that the increase could be twice as big this time around.
Also heading for reversal is expanded offshore drilling. Congress last year allowed the ban on drilling to lapse, but Democrats will move quickly to rein that in.
Rep. Nick J. Rahall II, D-W.Va., who is chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, told The Examiner that drilling will be at the top of his committee’s agenda and he will hold hearings to determine whether “Americans really want oil and gas leasing just 3 miles offshore with no further fiscal accountability in royalty management and without dedicating those leasing revenues to alternative fuels.”
Some key items on the Democratic agenda:
Preventing mortgage foreclosure – Democrats are crafting legislation to ensure emergency funds given to Wall Street help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure.
The environment – Even with the economy teetering, legislative leaders are intent on limiting the amount of carbon that energy companies can emit in an effort to reduce global warming.
Health care – The first step seems to be making health care more accessible and reducing its cost, starting with a $35 billion expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Equal pay – Legislation that would lift certain exemptions on pay discrimination suits is ready to go.
D.C. voting rights – Many in Congress believe this is the year a bill that would award full voting rights to the District’s lone representative in the House will pass.
Stem cells — The Democratic Congress will also move quickly to pass a bill that would allow federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Obama is also expected to overturn Bush’s 2001 order banning such funding.
