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News of Jan
5, 2007
Giddy Democrats make
History with Congressional Takeover
Washington, Jan 5
Democrats took the reins of power in the US Congress in a festive
mood, electing the first female speaker of the House of
Representatives and calling on President George W. Bush to begin
pulling US troops out of Iraq.
Swearing-in ceremonies at the alabaster-domed Capitol building here
Thursday capped the shift of power set off by elections in November,
which cost Bush's centre-right Republicans their majority in both
chambers for the first time since 1995.
Nancy Pelosi, a left-leaning lawmaker from San Francisco, became
speaker of the lower House, the first woman in US history to hold
the nation's third-highest elected office.
The centre-left Democrats in the 435-seat House shouted her name,
cheered, whistled and even danced at their seat as Pelosi won the
post on the strength of her party's 233-202 majority.
Americans have voted for a "new direction" in the war in Iraq, and
Bush should present a plan "to responsibly redeploy our troops," she
told the House in her inaugural speech.
Bush plans to present a revised Iraq strategy shortly, and has
staunchly rejected Democratic calls for a timetable for US
disengagement. He is reportedly considering a boost in US forces by
20,000 to 40,000 troops to help quell sectarian killings in Baghdad
and other hot spots.
Despite his party's defeat in the legislative elections, Bush
retains broad powers to set foreign and military policy. And
Democrats have no unified plan for getting US troops home from Iraq.
In the new House's first 100 working hours, Democrats plan to focus
on domestic measures designed to appeal to middle-class Americans
and - as the first order of business - ethics reform to combat
corruption and sex scandals.
Other legislation slated for quick passage would raise the minimum
wage, promote stem-cell research for disease cures and lower
prescription drug prices for the elderly.
However, the Senate may move more slowly, and Democrats lack the
two-thirds majority in both houses to override Bush if he vetoes
legislation.
At Thursday's ceremonies, steeped in more than 200 years of US
history, partisan conflicts were set aside at least for a few hours.
Pelosi, 66, mouthed "Thank you" and kissed supporters after her
election, before striding to the podium and accepting the House
gavel from Republican John Boehner, the House's incoming minority
leader.
In another historic moment, the first Muslim member of Congress was
sworn in along with other House members. Keith Ellison later took a
second, ceremonial oath of office on a Koran that once belonged to
revered US founding father Thomas Jefferson, who was president from
1801-09.
Ellison, 43, is a convert to Islam from Minnesota state whose use of
the Koran was criticized by some right-wing lawmakers.
Earlier, US Vice President Dick Cheney swore in 33 newly elected
senators in the 100-seat upper chamber, where the Democrats hold a
narrow, 51-49 edge that limits their legislative room for maneuver.
Pelosi is not yet a household name for most Americans. But as House
minority leader since 2003, she played a key role in setting the
Democratic agenda and election strategy.
Despite pledges of cooperation by Bush and both parties, signs of
conflict emerged even before the new Congress was seated.
Republicans complained that despite Democratic pledges for more
legislative transparency, they were excluded from the process of
drafting of the first package of measures Pelosi wants the new House
to pass.
Bush's party called for tax breaks for small businesses to offset
any hike in the US minimum wage.
DPA
News of Jan
5, 2007
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