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FEDERAL UPDATE from page 1 8A Page 5 ........................................ The newly elected Democratic leadership has vowed to pursue the following agenda within the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress (which begins January 3, 2007): Increase the federal minimum wage Implement the 9/11 Commission's recommendations · Cut the interest rate on student loans by half · Enable the federal government to negoti- ate with drugs companies to lower prices in the Medicare prescription drug program · Pass new congressional ethics and budget policies · Allow stem cell research · End tax breaks for oil companies It is unclear whether the nine unfinished FY 2007 appropriations bills will be part of the 110th Congress agenda. Congress must now decide whether or not they will combine the remaining bills into a multi-bill omnibus, or pass a long term continuing resolution that would delay consider- ation of the legislation until January 2007. On Thursday, November 16, Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR) that will continue funding for all federal programs that were not part of the FY 2007 Defense or Homeland Security Appropriations bills until December 8. Congress will have to decide which strategy to pursue when they reconvene on December 4. Republican conservatives, worried that a "budget- busting- omnibus appropriations package will be passed when the lame.duck session resumes this month, are pushing to delay action on the unfinished spending bills until next year. Democrats, however, want to finish the FY 2007 appropriations bills when the 109th Con- gress reconvenes the week of December 4, so they can start with thetr own agenda next year. House of Representatives (The names of California representatives and senators are indicated in bold.) Heading into the election, the House was comprised of 229 Republicans, 200 Democrats and one Independent, with four vacant seats. Republicans held a 28 seat advantage, and Democrats needed to capture 15 seats to gain control of the House, which has been led by a Republican majority since 1995. The elections resulted in a 29-seat gain for Democrats, with the 110th Congress comprised of 232 Democrats and 196 Republicans. Seven election contests still remain undecided. In total, 20 defending Republican incumbents were defeated, whereas all defending Democratic incumbents were re-elected. Nine seats belong- ing to retiring Republicans also changed hands in the election, and will be fitled by incoming Demo- crats in the 110th Congress. House Leadership. The House majority leadership team in the 116th Congress will include current Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.- 8) serving as House Speaker, current Minority \M1ip Steny Hoyer (Md.-5) serving as Majority Leader, current Democratic Caucus Chairman James Clyburn (S.C.-6) serving as Majority Whip, and current Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chairman Rahm Emmanuel (11I.-5) serving as chairman of the House Demo- cratic Caucus. House Republicans met on November 17 and chose John Boehner (Ohio-8) to serve as the Minority Leader in the new session. Congress- man Roy Blunt (Mo.-7) was selected to serve as the party's Minority Whip, and Rep. Adam Putnam (Aa.-12) will chair the Republican Conference. Finally, Republicans selected Congressman Tom Cole (Okla.-4) to serve as the new chairman of the National Republican Congressional Com~ mittee (NRCC). Current House Speaker Dennis Hastert (111.-14) and Republican Conference Chairwoman Deborah Pryce (Ohio-15) opted Continued on Page 6 Visit the League's Official Website-www.cacittes.org PRIORITY FOCUS. PAGE 5 Deoember 1, 2006 - Issue 146