Tradition in the House of Representatives is to open the House in early January and then quickly adjourn after swearing in its new members. The House then would stay closed until after the State of the Union address.
NOT ANYMORE!
Nancy Pelosi has announced that the the 110th Congress will remain open for most of January.
What better way to show America and the World that the Dems aren't going to spend a majority of the year in recess and will work everyday to make the country a better place.
Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi will open the House for the first session of the 110th Congress on January 4, and keep it in session for the first several weeks of January.
While that may not sound remarkable outside-the-beltway, it is departure from tradition that is certain to prompt some teeth gnashing among Republicans.
Congress typically convenes the first week of January after a holiday recess just long enough for new members to be sworn in, and then promptly adjourns until the president's State of the Union Address toward the end of the month.
Pelosi's team apparently figures there's no reason to allow President Bush to set the agenda in January by leaking bits of his speech. Instead the Democratic Congress will immediately plunge into its lengthy to-do list, starting with an ethics reform package, and perhaps have some bills on Bush's desk by the time the State of the Union is ready for delivery.
http://www.sfgate.com/...
Thank you Speaker Pelosi for helping to win our country back!
You can reach Nancy Pelosi at the following numbers to thank her:
Washington Office:
2371 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0508
Phone: (202) 225-4965
Fax: (202) 225-8259
Main District Office:
450 Golden Gate Ave., Burton Fed. Bldg.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 556-4862
Fax: (415) 861-1670
larryca first diaried this story last night