The 109th Congress

With the 109th Congress starting today, the major question is whether or not Senate Democrats will follow the practices of the 108th and prevent certain judicial nominees from receiving an up or down vote. If they learned their lesson from the previous two elections, they will allow each nominee what they fairly deserve, an up or down vote on the Senate floor, refraining from the practices that cost their leader his job. The stakes will be even higher in this congress, for their is very likely to be at least one or two vacancies to fill on the Supreme Court, and it is important that the President's nominees receive Senate confirmation.

Another big question is whether Congressional Republicans can get the big reforms that will be put forth by the Bush Administration through congress, i.e. Social Security, tax, and tort reform. Though there are increased majorities in both houses for the GOP, they will still need to gain some cooperation from at least a handful of Democrats on each of these issues, especially in the Senate, where 60 votes are need to end debate and bring about a vote on a certain measure (Republicans hold 55 seats, making it necessary for at least 5 Democrats to join the GOP to remove the threat of a filibuster). This they should be able to do, for there are a handful of moderate Democrats who come from red states that will be willing to at least listen to the entreaties of the President and Republican Leadership, especially those up for reelection in '06.

The 109th Congress will be required to deal with some very big issues over the next two years, and it is vital that Congress successfully adopt some much needed reforms, as well as confirm what is likely to be at least one or two Supreme Court nominees.