Democratic Progress - Day 2

[Infinite Hope]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070105/ap_on_go_co/congress_rdp_51

Selected paragraphs from the article:

WASHINGTON - Resurgent House Democrats voted Friday, their second day back in control, to block future tax cuts or benefit increases from being financed with dollars that swell the national deficit. The drive to restore the "pay-as-you-go" rule has long been a priority for moderate-to-conservative Democrats, whose House ranks swelled on Election Day. It was adopted 280-152.

The House also voted, this time with no dissent, for a rule requiring legislation containing pet projects and narrowly targeted tax breaks — "earmarks" to Washington insiders — to contain the names of the lawmakers who requested them.

House opponents of oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge introduced a bill to make an oft-challenged drilling ban permanent by designating. The bill would designate an oil-rich 1.2 million-acre strip along Alaska's north coast a permanently protected wilderness area.

Senate Democrats said they are willing to consider tax cuts aimed for small businesses as part of a minimum wage increase. Democrats in the House plan a vote next Wednesday on a bill that would raise the federal wage floor from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over two years but without any tax relief for small businesses to help them meet higher payroll costs. Senate Democrats said they will need several "yes" votes from Republicans to pass a bill. "We're not going to go butting our heads against the wall because, first of all, it doesn't feel good, and number two it doesn't accomplish anything," said Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

[fuzzyball]

1. Kudos to house democrats for not spending money we don't have..

Now will the Lords..er...Senators go along with it?