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Opinion

What can we expect from a Democratic Congress?

Forum Friday: Tuesday night takeover

On Election Day, voters handed victory to the Democratic Party. With a new House and Senate, what will be the Democrats' next move?

Congrats to the Democrats 

Congratulations to the Democrats for gaining power in Congress on Tuesday night. Now that the fun part is over, the Dems need to step up to the plate and implement the changes they bragged as a minority party. The Democratic earthquake sent tremors through the nation, but such a victory should not be wasted because the Dems are winners again.

Majority leader-to-be Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., (the scandal of Reid giving Christmas bonuses to his staff from campaign funds will remain untouched for now) said, "It's time for a change. It's time for bipartisanship; it's time for open government, transparency, and it's a time for results," on Capital Hill right after the Senate was officially given to the Democrats. It's a wonderful goal, but the prospect of obtaining bipartisanship is left to the Republicans. 

President Bush has acknowledged that a fresh look is needed for the war in Iraq, so that's a first step in bridging the gap between parties. To get anything done, our elected officials need to stop the petty bickering and get down to doing what they were elected to do. 

In Thursday's press conference between Bush and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Pelosi promised the Democrats won't try to impeach Bush despite claims by some in the party, and the Dems wouldn't seek to get even with the GOP. 

Pelosi said the GOP had previously excluded Democrats from committee hearings and blocked them from introducing amendments to legislation. It's easy to be honorable when you're in power. 

Just like in Star Wars, Dems shouldn't get too cocky: Don't blow up the congressional control over petty stuff. Besides, 2008 could prove to be another downward slump for the Democrats. -- Christian Ochoa

Change in power will fuel new bipartisanship 

With their majority, Democrats now will be in charge of all the House committees, including the Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Government Reform, Intelligence and Judiciary committees. 

What they can do with this -- considering the executive branch is Republican -- is offer oversight.

Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, the likely head of the Judiciary Committee, has already discussed creating a special committee to investigate intelligence leading up to the war in Iraq. Democrats will not seek impeachment, however. In the first few weeks of their control, they will probably push through two bills, one involving an increase of the minimum wage and the other bill making college tuition tax deductible. 

More than anything, however, this completely changes the environment of Washington. We now have a real two-party government. I hope we can have bipartisanship. 

-- David Salinas

Dems must show backbone if they want progress

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will be one of the few Republicans cowardly enough to quit instead of face heat from the other side of the aisle.

That said, Democrats need to refrain from doing anything stupid in the next two years if they want to have a serious shot at the presidency, and that may be hard with America's eyes on Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House.

Anybody who wasn't scared of Newt Gingrich when he was the speaker of the House is probably a little frightened of Pelosi.

Bipartisanship isn't the answer. The party in power should do the best it can to get its issues to the forefront of American politics -- that's why Americans choose candidates from that party. At the same time, it needs to be reasonable about things.

Getting revenge on Republicans for a dozen years out of the spotlight would be the biggest mistake Democrats could make.

It's been a while since the Democratic Party had a backbone, and it should prove it finally has it before it does anything else. 

-- Zach Lee

New Congress will be practical

While cynics will say that nothing will change with Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress, those cynics will be eating crow alongside the supporters of Kinky Friedman. Although the reforms that will take place in the next two years will pale in comparison to the New Deal, tangible change will occur under a Democratic Congress.

Pelosi has said that impeachment is not on the table, so a Democratic majority will not run to the far left. Pelosi will work across the aisle to enact common sense reforms. 

By implementing the full recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, the United States will begin to address serious national security concerns that have been swept under the rug by the Bush administration. 

In addition, an increase in the minimum wage will affect millions across the country and will stimulate an economy that has only produced prosperity for the top 1 percent. Also, substantial reform in immigration policy is likely, since right-wing extremists who refused to give up middle ground have to find new jobs.

The next two years can be a time when common sense ideas become policies. 

Here's hoping the "thumpin'" results in a victory for average Americans. -- Isaiah Warner

Send comments to dccampus@mail.uh.edu