Republicans stymied Democratic efforts in Congress

The Associated Press:

WASHINGTON: Congressional Democrats accomplished important goals this year but they need more cooperation from Republicans, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Saturday.

The Democratic majorities in the House and Senate cut middle-class taxes, raised the minimum wage and took other steps to help working families, Reid said in the Democrats' weekly radio address.

Democrats tried to do more, but President George W. Bush and his Republican allies in Congress thwarted them while siding with tobacco firms and "big oil companies," said Reid, a Democrat.

O.'s Comment: This comment is in reference to a bill proposed by Barbara Boxer that would've reduced pollution by 70% by the year 2050, but several key components, including one related to taxing the record-breaking profits of the oil companies, had to be removed because of the threat of filibuster by Republicans. The newer version, after having passed committee 11-8 along largely bipartisan lines, will be voted on in the Senate floor early next year.

"Time after time, when Democrats have fought for change, President Bush and Republicans in Congress have stood in the way," he said. "Like you, I am frustrated by the direction of our country."

Reid's comments reflected party leaders' recent decision to temper their boasts about congressional accomplishments with admissions that Republicans have used their veto and delaying powers to block or weaken many Democratic initiatives.

Democrats in Congress tried to improve pay and equipment for troops in Iraq, Reid said. "But because of President Bush," he said, "they remain in Iraq without a clear mission or endgame, and our Armed Forces are stretched to a breaking point.

O.'s Comment: All the above is true, but not all Democrats were willing to use the most powerful weapon they have--the threat to cut funding for the war--to stop the war. They could have delayed all legislation and refused to fund the war so as to get a deadline, but they were too scared to do so given the upcoming election season. This has been a major disappointment in an an otherwise laundry list of legislation faced with veto threat from the president or filibuster from Republican senators. It seems as though they have succumbed until after the presidential elections, when--hopefully, given a Democratic victory--troop withdrawal can begin.

"And we took steps to secure our country from terrorism, but Bin Laden remains free, al-Qaida is growing stronger and the president's focus on Iraq has allowed conditions in Afghanistan to deteriorate," Reid said.

Despite Congress' efforts to help American families, he said, "a possible recession still looms and millions may still lose their homes to foreclosure."

O.'s Comment: Oh, and the article didn't mention perhaps the most significant proposal that was vetoed by the President. SCHIP, the children's healthcare program, which 10 million children rely on for health insurance.