Washington – Lawmakers present and future mingled in the Capitol’s marble hallways Monday as Republicans exiled from power in last week’s elections glumly opened a lame- duck session and wide-eyed Democrats prepared to take control of Congress.
After losing majorities in the House and Senate last week, Republicans of the fading 109th Congress still faced weighty work before year’s end, including keeping the government in operating funds and confirming a new defense secretary.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who is considering a bid for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008, envisioned Congress meeting three more weeks this year – this one and the first two weeks of December.
Frist, R-Tenn., urged Republicans not to be discouraged – and to listen to the voters who ousted them from power.
Bipartisanship was more a matter of pragmatism, noted Frist’s successor.
“We can’t accomplish anything as Democrats standing alone. As we’ve shown, the Republicans couldn’t accomplish theirs standing alone,” said Democratic Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who will become the new majority leader in January.
Returning lawmakers had company from more than 50 House members-to-be and most of the 10 senators-in-waiting. The incoming freshmen attended orientation meetings Monday and embarked on toast-of-the-town schedules – from private tours of the Capitol and the White House to dinner with Frist and a reception with President Bush.
But it wasn’t out with the old and in with the new just yet.
A lame-duck session could last until Dec. 22 with a two- week break for Thanksgiving.
On their agenda are nine spending bills, reviving popular business and middle-income tax breaks; bioterrorism legislation; and giving doctors a reprieve from billions of dollars in scheduled Medicare payment cuts.
The behind-the-scenes agenda included leadership elections and jockeying for committee and subcommittee chairmanships in the next Congress, exposing divisions in both parties.
