Following the changing of the guard in the US House or Representatives on Tuesday November 2, there is little question as to the identity of the next Speaker of the House. John Boehner R-OH has been the House Minority Leader since January 3, 2007, and is expected by most to be selected by Republicans to serve as the next Speaker.
Somewhat surprising is Nancy Pelosi’s decision to run for the position of House Minority Leader following the Democratic rout. It’s not uncommon for Representatives vacating the Speaker’s seat to stay in Congress, but it was somewhat expected that Pelosi would not run for party leadership following such a slaughter during the mid-term elections under her watch.
The reason for Pelosi’s decision is made clear by a couple statements in her letter announcing her run to other Democrats in the House (11/5):
“We have no intention of allowing our great achievements to be rolled back.”
“…driven by the urgency of protecting health care reform, Wall Street reform, and Social Security and Medicare, I have decided to run.”
Pelosi is making it extremely clear what she intends to do if elected to the House Minority Leader post, (which is not a stretch but also not yet a foregone conclusion). Considering the fact many of the Democrats who lost their seats in the House were more moderate, this leaves the more liberal base of the Democratic caucus to stay and fight. Other Democrats in the House will likely easily align with Pelosi philasophically, and will support her strongly.
Republicans have been branded, successfully or not and/or appropriately or not, as the “Party of No.” My crystal ball is showing a clear change in roles within the House – Democrats will be fighting hard, under Pelosi’s leadership, to protect the “gains” of the Democratic party since Obama’s placement at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. There will be a lot of “No” on changes to be proposed by the new Republican majority.
Republicans making plans for the upcoming 2 years were initially quick to rattle sabers and make zealous and likely overstated comments about intentions or plausible impacts. Even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell got into the act:
"People who supported us - political independents - want it repealed (health care reform bill) and replaced with something else. I think we owe it to them to try." (CBS – Face the Nation 11/7)
But with so much pride and legacy involved from the Democratic side, there is almost no possibility ANY sitting Democrat will go along with a repeal. So, let’s put that one out of our minds and look to more plausible options.
Boehner’s made some more realistic comments in an interview with FOX News on 11/5:
“This health care bill will ruin the best health care system in the world and it will bankrupt our country. … And secondly, let’s not forget, this is also about jobs. And if you look at all of the requirements on employers, you can understand why they’re not hiring new employees, because we’ve raised the cost of employment. … And trust me, I’m going to make sure this health care bill never ever, ever is implemented.”
That sounds like a big promise – but not the one you may have heard before, or the innuendo offered by McConnell. If you notice, Boehner did not use the word “repeal” but instead made reference to “make sure the health care bill never ever, ever is implemented.” See my previous post.
The cooperative spirit is likely not going to grace the Capital building anytime soon, and if Boehner and Pelosi are elected to their respective expected leadership positions, we may just see a simple switcheroo. Boehner will be the one attempting to move forward the business of the American people (or the Republican translation of that business) and Pelosi will be leading the opposition party with questions like “Where are the jobs?” Because the Republicans’ first order of business will be to attempt to change the course of legislation previously passed under the Pelosi-controlled House, Pelosi will not easily or likely cooperate in any fashion with these efforts, out of pride if nothing else.
So, before we had the two chummy pals in a peas and carrots position. Now we’ll have carrots and peas. Same old story, different verse.
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