January 12, 2007
The honeymoon is definitely over...Farm Bill in high gear
When last I wrote in this space, I waxed optimistic about the Democrat's chances to make good on their promises about returning civility and efficiency to Congress. I talked of challenges and opportunities. Well, it's starting to appear as though the more things change, the more things stay the same.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, CA) is off to a rocky start. From her committee chair considerations, to her lingering "personal" battles with members of Congress, to her vaunted attempt to get the chairs of the five biggest House committees to march to her drumbeat, it appears this politician is showing herself to be old guard than a new wave of progressive leadership.
During the "First 100 Hours" agenda so proudly touted by the Democrats, the party in power has passed three of its priority bills, including ethics reform, minimum wage and stem cell research. A much-needed increase in the minimum wage -- the first such increase in 10 years -- was approved. That's the good news.
The ethics reform package contained the so-called "earmark" declaration, meaning if, as a member, you had a special project or break in mind for a constituent or your district, you'd stand on the floor of the House and publicly explain that earmark.
But when the minimum wage bill was passed, lo and behold, there was an earmark unknown to most members, language exempting American Samoa from the minimum wage increase. According to the Washington Times, a conservative newspaper here in DC, two fish processing plants on that island are the largest employers, and one of the companies is headquartered in Pelosi's district and the other is also a California-based company.
Pelosi's office said she was not lobbied by either company, but several Republicas expressed surprise and frustration with the exemption.
I use this example not to bash Pelosi, but to point out that old guard is old guard, and so far it's appearing as if the old guard in the House is taking the chamber back down the same road of backslapping and favor-trading. Not a good move.