House Democrats wrap up their “first 100 hours” in power this week, assuring the public they’ve kept their campaign promises and changed the way Washington goes about its work.
The Democrats promised a parcel of legislation that would make it easier to pay for college and health care, take America’s energy policy out of the hands of foreign potentates, overhaul Congressional ethics and adopt all of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
Versions of all those bills had passed or were ready to pass by Tuesday. Democratic leaders said they were proud not just of what they passed, but how they passed it.
“I think we’ve laid the foundation for a return to consensus, compromise and cooperation in the People’s House,” Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said in an e-mail to The Examiner.
Republicans disagree. They’ve said that they’ve been cut out of legislative deliberations. They’ve also complained, privately, about the Democrats’ pledge to work a five-day week.
Congress has been in session for two full weeks. It has worked a full five days in neither of them.
