January 4, 2007: Swearing In, Reid Sends 10 Bills to the Desk

[14:49]
Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM) is covering the senate bill overhauling our nation's energy policy, which aims to take our country off of carbon-based fossil fuels through innovation and efficiency.

[14:43]
Senator Larry Craig (ID) introduces a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  For this amendment to go ahead it would need to pass both houses by a two-thirds vote and then attain passage in three-quarters of the states (38 states).  The amendment would require the Congress to pass a balanced budget each year and would only allow for deficit spending with a supermajority (2/3) vote of both houses.


[14:07]
Senator Schumer is enumerating Democratic priorities, mirroring the ten bills Majority Leader Reid sent to the desk earlier (see below).


Earlier:

The Senate opened its session with new and re-elected senators being sworn in.  Following this were votes appointing various senators and officials to various posts, including Senator Robert Byrd (WV) as president pro tempore of the Senate.  Vice-President Cheney was on hand to swear in senators and officials.

The Senate then moved to speeches.  First, Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV).  He offered ten bills, SB1-SB10.  These priorities include: education (increasing Pell grant maxes), lowering gas prices, fostering energy independence, lowering prescription drug costs, immigration reform, the minimum wage, military modernization, stem cell research, and homeland security adjustments.

 Speeches followed from Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY), Majority Whip Richard Durbin (IL), and Charles Schumer (NY).  The Democrats are outlining their priorities.

Meanwhile, the House is a circus waiting for Speaker-elect Pelosi to come waltzing in to trumpets, buffets of rare and delicious food, and other ostentatious wastes of taxpayer money.  It's pretty clear no work will be done in either house today.