by Congressional Quarterly

ortified by wider House and Senate majorities and the prospect of working in tandem with a new president who shares their legislative goals, congressional Democrats assembled Tuesday to begin the 111th Congress. In the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, the first woman to hold the post since its advent in 1789, was re-elected easily. Democrats made a net gain of 21 seats in the Nov. 4 elections and now hold 256 seats to 178 for the Republicans, with one vacancy — the seat left open by Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., who will serve as President-elect Barack Obama ’s White House chief of staff. “We will hit the ground running,” Pelosi vowed. Congressional leaders of both parties met with Obama on Monday to discuss his top priority, a giant economic recovery package of tax cuts and new spending. The Senate convened at noon, with its membership still unsettled. Legal challenges surrounding the appointment of Democrat Roland W. Burris of Illinois and apparent election of Democrat Al Franken of Minnesota could keep those two seats vacant for weeks. Three other Democratic senators will soon be resigning to join the Obama administration — Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Interior Secretary-designate Ken Salazar of Colorado. The Democrats promise quick action on Obama’s plan for a massive economic stimulus package, but they now concede they are unlikely to be get it to him by Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, mainly because of the package’s sheer enormity and complications.

Subscribe to CQ Midday Update »
Subscribe to C-SPAN Alert! »

   by Congressional Quarterly

Democratic leaders are expanding their tax cut plans for a planned economic stimulus package — and slowing their timetable — as they prepare to usher in the 111th Congress on Tuesday. Both moves may attract more Republican support for the measure as President-elect Barack Obama makes the rounds on Capitol Hill Monday and meets with leaders of both parties. Obama met first with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., for about an hour. He next meets with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., before sitting down with a larger bipartisan group from both chambers that includes Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky., and House Minority Leader John A. Boehner , R-Ohio. Obama and Democratic leaders have been discussing a stimulus package totaling $700 billion to $1 trillion that would include individual and business tax cuts, funding for infrastructure projects and aid to states for Medicaid costs. But Democratic leaders are retreating from their earlier vows to have the economic package ready for Obama to sign shortly after he is sworn in Jan. 20. Republican leaders in both chambers had repeatedly protested that timetable, saying it did not allow sufficient time for public hearings and committee consideration of the giant package. The tax portion of the stimulus plan is growing, with the Obama team now working with Democratic leaders to fashion a $300 billion package of tax cuts targeting businesses as well as the middle- and lower-income Americans Obama promised to help during his campaign. A transition team source said the package is expected to include a payroll tax credit, a key part of Obama’s campaign platform; tax incentives for companies that hire new workers and avoid layoffs; and a net operating loss carryback provision that would allow businesses to use losses from 2008 or 2009 to offset taxable income from five prior years and receive an immediate refund. Currently, the carryback loss provision applies to two years’ prior taxable income.

Challenges Could Keep Two Senate Seats Open for Weeks

December 31, 2008

   by Congressional Quarterly

Senate Democratic leaders say they will block Illinois Democrat Roland W. Burris from taking his seat next week, but how they will do it is still up in the air. Senate Republicans, meanwhile, are formulating a strategy to keep Minnesota Democrat Al Franken from being seated if the state’s Canvassing Board ultimately declares him the winner over incumbent GOP Sen. Norm Coleman . Burris, a former state comptroller and attorney general, was appointed Tuesday by Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich to serve the remaining two years of the Senate term of President-elect Barack Obama . Senate Democratic leaders say they will not seat anyone appointed by Blagojevich, who was arrested Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges, including allegations he tried to auction Obama’s seat to the highest bidder. How the Senate keeps Burris from being seated will depend in part on the validity of the documents that certify his appointment. On Tuesday, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White refused to sign Burris’s credentials — a move that could prevent the appointment from ever becoming the Senate’s business. However, it is unclear if White’s signature is legally necessary. If Blagojevich’s appointment is valid without it, or if there is a court challenge and White is forced to sign the papers, the decision on whether to recognize the appointment and seat Burris will fall to the Senate, said one Democratic aide. In that case, there would likely be a vote to prevent Burris from being seated while the Senate Rules and Administration Committee investigates the matter. That would buy time for the Illinois legislature to impeach Blagojevich and presumably remove him from office. Democratic Lt. Gov. Patrick J. Quinn would succeed Blagojevich and could announce an alternative pick for Obama’s seat — or name Burris himself, in a bid to avoid further legal battles. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are girding to keep Franken from being seated as Minnesota’s junior senator if he is ruled the winner over Coleman. GOP leaders said that legal issues in connection with the ballot-counting process must be resolved before anyone is certified the winner and seated.

View previous stories »