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Legislators Have A Tough, Ambitious Agenda

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The Washington Post

Published: January 5, 2009

WASHINGTON - Rarely have lawmakers confronted an agenda as ambitious as the one Congress will face upon convening this week, with an incoming president pushing to stabilize an economy on the brink of long-term recession, to create universal health coverage and to overhaul federal energy policies.

There are already signs that the usual divisions that send so many ambitious bills down to defeat will confront President-elect Barack Obama in his first weeks on the job.

With Republicans holding just enough seats to put the brakes on sweeping initiatives in the Senate, the new president's agenda may rest on his ability to deliver on another campaign pledge, to change the way Washington does business by adopting a more pragmatic and inclusive governing style.

THE DEMOCRATS

As useful as Republican support could prove, Obama also is attempting to become the first Democratic president since the mid-1960s to forge an effective working relationship with a big congressional majority of the same party. The last two Democratic presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, saw their party leaders on Capitol Hill turn against them, leading to electoral disasters for the party in 1980 and in 1994. An energy crisis helped to do in Carter, while a failed health care proposal contributed to a Republican congressional landslide two years into Clinton's first term.

THE REPUBLICANS

Congressional Republicans, struggling to rebuild their party, have their own challenge: how to be an effective voice of dissent against a party whose incoming president starts with huge approval ratings and the public's call for change.

Republicans will hold at least 41 Senate seats, enough to filibuster if they maintain discipline in their ranks. Soon after the election, Obama began to reach out to individual GOP members through phone calls and meetings led by Rahm Emanuel, who recently resigned his House seat and will serve as Obama's chief of staff. Beginning with the stimulus debate in early January, Obama will push for Republicans to be included in major policy negotiations as they unfold, senior Democratic aides said. The goal is to set a precedent with the economic recovery package and store goodwill for subsequent battles.

ECONOMY

The economic downturn, the largest global financial crisis since the Great Depression, will represent the first test of Obama's relationship with congressional Democrats, potentially pitting him against the party's formidable wing of fiscal conservatives.

Leaders from both chambers sat down to work out details in meetings at the Capitol beginning in mid-December. With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., staking an early position in favor of a $500 billion recovery plan, Obama's advisers spread the word that their plan would probably approach $850 billion.

These numbers sent sticker shock through the Blue Dog caucus, a fiscally conservative Democratic coalition, which has crusaded for federal deficit reduction and which represents a large enough force to block just about anything, particularly if Republicans hang together in opposition.

HEALTH CARE

Overhauling the nation's health care system, to make it more efficient while extending coverage to more people, may represent Obama's biggest policy challenge. But he may have advantages Democratic presidents lacked in the past.

Obama allies are pushing the idea that a federal health care solution is not a threat to the nation's fiscal stability, but part of the solution because of its potential to unlock business growth, create jobs and ultimately provide cheaper care for more Americans.

Senate health committee Chairman Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., started to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive bill last summer. Some preliminary health care measures are likely to end up in the stimulus bill, including a down payment on converting all medical records to an electronic format. Other immediate priorities for the short term include an expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program and reauthorization of Medicare physician payment rates.

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Energy and environmental issues represent areas where Democrats have large public approval but many competing ideas.

As a candidate, Obama advocated a 10-year, $150 billion plan to fund private efforts at finding cleaner-burning renewable resources, in the hope of reducing reliance on foreign oil. Although funding remains an issue, Obama and his allies hope to frame the debate in national security terms, stressing the dangers of continuing to import oil from nations with ties to terrorism.

Obama is almost certain to face strong resistance to the second prong of his energy legislation, a plan to reduce emissions, particularly from coal-burning power plants in the Rust Belt. He supports a "cap-and-trade" policy that sets emission standards for all companies but allows companies with larger emissions to purchase credits from companies that burn less.

COMMITTEE HEARINGS

Hearings on economic recovery plans are scheduled beginning this week, and House and Senate leaders are huddling privately as well on what to include in terms of spending on jobs, housing, transportation construction, schools, aid to states and emergency food assistance.

A hearing also is set for today on the alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme by Bernard Madoff, as Congress considers legislation to tighten regulation of financial markets.

Information from McClatchy-Tribune was used in this report.

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