As 111th Congress convenes, Republicans set to take aim
By: Susan Ferrechio
Chief Congressional Correspondent
January 6, 2009
WASHINGTON D.C. — Republicans will not have much power in the 111th Congress when it convenes today, but they will have enough leverage to play a role in shaping the agenda.
Despite their sizable majorities in the House and Senate, Democrats cannot afford to ignore the loyal opposition, especially since they will be working hard to rebuild their party and make a comeback in the 2010 elections.
And President-elect Barack Obama has indicated he wants bipartisan support for key legislation, particularly the stimulus package, now approaching $1 trillion, that Democrats want Congress to clear in time for Obama¹s swearing-in on Jan. 20.
But Republicans are already showing signs of resistance to the stimulus and will likely throw up more roadblocks for other important bills, which could force Democrats to compromise, particularly in the Senate where they will be at least one vote shy of a 60-vote supermajority that would prevent Republicans from blocking legislation.
"With Democrat one-party rule, there should be plenty of internal party conflicts that will allow Republicans to contrast themselves," said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean, a former top aide in both the House and Senate. "The GOP will most likely be learning how to reconnect with the American people on issues like energy, spending and taxes." House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have questioned the estimated $1 trillion cost as well as the content of the plan and are demanding time to debate and study the legislation. House Republicans have put forward their own proposal to help the economy that calls for doubling the child tax credit and increasing U.S.oil production, among other things.
The House GOP will be formulating a more specific agenda in the coming months and promoting it with new faces like Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, who is the new minority whip, and conference chairman Mike Pence of Indiana.
Both men are prominent members of the House Republican Study Group, which will likely mean the leadership will promote a more conservative social and economic agenda.
With George W. Bush out of the White House, congressional Republicans will be free to construct their own game plan without suffering the political damage inflicted from having to vote for unpopular legislation, like the Wall Street bailout bill that some believe cost the party a dozen seats in November.
"We will no longer be held hostage by an unpopular Bush administration," one top House GOP aide said. "That's a very liberating thing for both Senate and House Republicans."
