Macaca
12-04 05:31 PM
Old Tensions Test Congress; Democrats Seek A Political Center To Avoid Stalemate (http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119664099934911173.html) By David Rogers. Wall Street Journal, Dec 3, 2007
WASHINGTON -- Congress returns today to face a pile of unfinished work, little time and many White House veto threats. With the budget process at risk of collapsing for the second time in as many years, there is a sense that lawmakers are back to where they started after the 2006 election: divided by Iraq but chasing the dream of a political center from which to govern.
The best shot for Democrats is to find that center and build coalitions with moderate Republicans to complete Congress's agenda before the holidays. But the bitter divisions with President Bush over the Iraq war make that more difficult.
"The more they take Bush to the woodshed on Iraq, the more difficult it is to bring over moderate Republicans," says Neil Newhouse, a Republican pollster.
Compounding the problem are the moods swings and often combative nature of the Democratic leadership. Republicans tend to march four abreast, even if it means heading off a political cliff as in the 1995 government shutdown; Democrats resemble a family packed into a station wagon and yelling different directions at the driver.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D., Wis.) is highly respected but can hurl insults and convey distrust even as he looks for compromise. "Against my better judgment, I am going to assume you will have good faith," he said of budget talks with Republicans. If there's not good faith? "It's not going to be pretty," Mr. Obey promises.
Democrats, as the party charged with running Congress, would pay the heaviest price for stalemate. But Republicans aren't insulated from blame, especially if they are seen as walking away from compromises important to voters.
The tensions reflect the twin legacies of the 2006 elections. Antiwar sentiment helped bring Democrats back to power while independent voters wanted an end to gridlock in Washington.
Recent votes suggest a bipartisan consensus may be emerging. The passage of an energy bill with tougher fuel standards for cars appeals to independent voters. (See related article on page B1).
In the mid-'90s, when Newt Gingrich's "Republican Revolution" collided with then-President Clinton, he never got more that 240 votes in early skirmishes over defense- and appropriations-bill vetoes. Current Speaker Nancy Pelosi has averaged 275 votes, thanks to Republican support for her efforts to expand child-care and education funding.
This month's deadlines will sorely test the new majority. A stop-gap spending bill to keep the government operating expires Dec. 14. Middle-class households counting on tax refunds don't want to go into the New Year without protections from the alternative minimum tax. And the Pentagon says it will send out furlough notices before Christmas for thousands of civilian employees unless it gets more war money.
Trying to avoid a collapse in the budget process, Democrats are trimming $10.6 billion from prior House and Senate spending bills, which will be packaged into a single omnibus package approaching $490 billion in discretionary appropriations.
Most domestic accounts will be held to 3% increases over 2007 levels. Significant new money is preserved for veterans' medical care as well as $3 billion in emergency funds for border security, both bipartisan priorities. And after falling two votes short of overriding Mr. Bush's veto, a $150.8 billion labor, education and medical- research budget would be reduced by $3.6 billion.
Other major issues include:
Health Care
The spending talks parallel efforts to win passage of a $35 billion, five-year expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Democrats will move to extend the program with additional funds to guard against state shortfalls at least through 2008. Republicans are seeking a line barring federal aid for any household whose gross income exceeds 300% of poverty or about $41,000 for a single parent and child. Democrats have agreed to such a cap for SCHIP but will want more concessions from moderates before extending the same requirement to much of Medicaid, the larger state-federal health-care program for the poor and disabled.
Farming
With winter wheat planted and farmers seeking operating loans for next year's crops, there is growing anxiety at the pace of the farm bill, which has stalled in the Senate. Some type of extension may be needed, but Chuck Connor, the acting Agriculture secretary, says "there is still time to get this done."
The threshold test could be whether lawmakers embrace the administration's goal of barring subsidies to any farmer with adjusted gross income above $200,000. "That would be an important signal," said Mr. Connor, suggesting that the administration would be more willing then to show some flexibility about Congress's demands.
WASHINGTON -- Congress returns today to face a pile of unfinished work, little time and many White House veto threats. With the budget process at risk of collapsing for the second time in as many years, there is a sense that lawmakers are back to where they started after the 2006 election: divided by Iraq but chasing the dream of a political center from which to govern.
The best shot for Democrats is to find that center and build coalitions with moderate Republicans to complete Congress's agenda before the holidays. But the bitter divisions with President Bush over the Iraq war make that more difficult.
"The more they take Bush to the woodshed on Iraq, the more difficult it is to bring over moderate Republicans," says Neil Newhouse, a Republican pollster.
Compounding the problem are the moods swings and often combative nature of the Democratic leadership. Republicans tend to march four abreast, even if it means heading off a political cliff as in the 1995 government shutdown; Democrats resemble a family packed into a station wagon and yelling different directions at the driver.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D., Wis.) is highly respected but can hurl insults and convey distrust even as he looks for compromise. "Against my better judgment, I am going to assume you will have good faith," he said of budget talks with Republicans. If there's not good faith? "It's not going to be pretty," Mr. Obey promises.
Democrats, as the party charged with running Congress, would pay the heaviest price for stalemate. But Republicans aren't insulated from blame, especially if they are seen as walking away from compromises important to voters.
The tensions reflect the twin legacies of the 2006 elections. Antiwar sentiment helped bring Democrats back to power while independent voters wanted an end to gridlock in Washington.
Recent votes suggest a bipartisan consensus may be emerging. The passage of an energy bill with tougher fuel standards for cars appeals to independent voters. (See related article on page B1).
In the mid-'90s, when Newt Gingrich's "Republican Revolution" collided with then-President Clinton, he never got more that 240 votes in early skirmishes over defense- and appropriations-bill vetoes. Current Speaker Nancy Pelosi has averaged 275 votes, thanks to Republican support for her efforts to expand child-care and education funding.
This month's deadlines will sorely test the new majority. A stop-gap spending bill to keep the government operating expires Dec. 14. Middle-class households counting on tax refunds don't want to go into the New Year without protections from the alternative minimum tax. And the Pentagon says it will send out furlough notices before Christmas for thousands of civilian employees unless it gets more war money.
Trying to avoid a collapse in the budget process, Democrats are trimming $10.6 billion from prior House and Senate spending bills, which will be packaged into a single omnibus package approaching $490 billion in discretionary appropriations.
Most domestic accounts will be held to 3% increases over 2007 levels. Significant new money is preserved for veterans' medical care as well as $3 billion in emergency funds for border security, both bipartisan priorities. And after falling two votes short of overriding Mr. Bush's veto, a $150.8 billion labor, education and medical- research budget would be reduced by $3.6 billion.
Other major issues include:
Health Care
The spending talks parallel efforts to win passage of a $35 billion, five-year expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Democrats will move to extend the program with additional funds to guard against state shortfalls at least through 2008. Republicans are seeking a line barring federal aid for any household whose gross income exceeds 300% of poverty or about $41,000 for a single parent and child. Democrats have agreed to such a cap for SCHIP but will want more concessions from moderates before extending the same requirement to much of Medicaid, the larger state-federal health-care program for the poor and disabled.
Farming
With winter wheat planted and farmers seeking operating loans for next year's crops, there is growing anxiety at the pace of the farm bill, which has stalled in the Senate. Some type of extension may be needed, but Chuck Connor, the acting Agriculture secretary, says "there is still time to get this done."
The threshold test could be whether lawmakers embrace the administration's goal of barring subsidies to any farmer with adjusted gross income above $200,000. "That would be an important signal," said Mr. Connor, suggesting that the administration would be more willing then to show some flexibility about Congress's demands.
wallpaper UAE with 75% Discount,
mteguh
08-11 12:53 AM
Hi, how do I set the brightness of an object in Expression Blend / through code?
Also I am just curious, what is the best practice to bring a design in photoshop to blend?
Thank you.
Also I am just curious, what is the best practice to bring a design in photoshop to blend?
Thank you.
mrsub
08-27 03:34 PM
My priority date is in 10/2006 under EB3. My wife just start her GC process under EB2. Can my wife port my PD date to her GC application?
Thanks!
Thanks!
2011 UAE National Day
Steve Mitchell
December 6th, 2003, 09:16 PM
The images from the Nikon D2H - Canon 1D and 1DS shoout have now been posted.
http://www.dphoto.us/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=74&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
http://www.dphoto.us/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=74&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
more...
jliechty
March 3rd, 2005, 07:48 AM
It's an interesting image with an odd contrast: the curly branches and stuff almost look evil, but the concrete path looks civil and inviting. ;)