The country is just three days into 2007 and it appears that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has already broken her New Year's resolution for civil and unified leadership in Congress. Before her official swearing in, she and the rest of the incoming House Democrats are facing a tough homecoming in the nation's capital, where even The Washington Post maligned the leaders for their plan to implement their "100 Hours" agenda by shirking House rules and procedures in their pursuit of misguided lobbying reform, increasing the minimum wage, and expanding taxpayer-funded embryonic stem cell research. "Unfortunately, [Pelosi's] plans don't include getting those provisions passed in the democratic fashion that the Democrats promised to adhere to once in the majority," write The Post editors. Rather than heed the established committee process, Pelosi and company are hoping to fast-track the measures without allowing Republicans to offer amendments on the floor or introduce alternate legislation. In response to the charge that they've betrayed the trust of voters by abandoning their pledge for a "full, open debate," the party promises to make it right after the first order of business is complete. Ironically, what tops the agenda is a policy designed to increase civility in House proceedings--something this Congress may desperately need. Also possibly included in the lobbying reform package is an attack on legitimate groups, such as Family Research Council, which would make it virtually impossible for them to inform people like you about what's transpiring in Washington and what you can do about it. The FRC team will be canvassing Capitol Hill this week to ensure that both sides of these debates are heard.
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