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Thesun 2009-01-07 Page11 Democrats Jubilant As New Congress Meets
Thesun 2009-01-07 Page11 Democrats Jubilant As New Congress Meets
Democrats jubilant as
new Congress meets
WASHINGTON: The new US the two year congressional session,
Congress was convening yesterday Obama’s hopes of changing the tone
at the dawn of an era of dominance in Washington were already called
for Barack Obama’s Democrats with into question by two ugly spats left
lawmakers consumed by the worst over from November’s election.
economic crisis in generations. Democrat Al Franken is the ap-
Democrats are celebrating ex- parent winner of a Minnesota Senate
panded majorities in both chambers seat but Republican incumbent Norm
as Obama gets ready to move into the Coleman is mounting a legal chal-
White House in two weeks and are lenge and his party bosses deny the
promising to get to work immediately race is over.
to implement the president-elect’s Democrats meanwhile are refus- Safe-
ambitious agenda. ing to seat Roland Burris of Illinois guarding
Obama is already pressing for who was chosen by scandal-tainted
urgent action on a US$775 billion Governor Rod Blagojevich who is a price
(RM2.8 trillion) economic stimulus accused of trying to sell off Obama’s bulwark
package, and has big first-term plans former Senate berth. pg14
for global warming legislation and to Demoralised Republicans, seek-
ignite healthcare reform. ing to frame an opposition strategy,
For the first time since Republicans are fanning the flames of the Illinois
snatched the House of Representa- drama, hoping to taint Democrats
tives in 1994, Democrats control both with the aura of corruption which
chambers of Congress and the White has hampered their own brand.
House, prompting high hopes for Democrats start the new Congress
huge political change among grass with a majority in the 435-seat House
roots supporters. after gaining more than 20 seats in
But even before the first day of November’s election. – AFP
briefs
cleaned the internal organs of some ducks she
had bought in Hebei province, China’s official
Xinhua news agency reported. – AFP