Shreveport Times - Democratic agenda will get a boost
WASHINGTON — Buoyed by more Democrats in the House and Senate and a Democratic president-elect, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he expects lawmakers next year to take on hot-button issues from immigration to health care.
The Nevada Democrat also said Congress will try early on to undo some of President George W. Bush's recent executive orders, including ones on environment policies.
Reid recently sat down with Gannett News Service to discuss his priorities for the next Congress.
Question: What are your priorities for the first 100 days of the session?
Answer: We're going to have to take care of a lot of nominations. ... We have to finish our appropriations process. We have a number of issues to repeal — presidential orders he (Bush) put in in the last few weeks. ... On the environment, for example, we're looking at clean air regulations.
Q: State officials say they are facing critical financial problems and some, including officials in Nevada, are calling on the federal government to help. What do you say to that?
A: I'm going to see if we can do something with FMAP (Federal Medical Assistance Percentages). The purpose of these monies is to help the states. They've been asking for this money for two years because states have cut back huge amounts. ... It breaks your heart all the stuff they have cut back.
We're going to try to do that. Now, having said that, I still don't have any more votes than I had before so it will be difficult to get that done. ... Frankly, I think we're going to have to wait for our (new) president.
Q: Will it be an easier pitch with more Democrats in Congress?
A: Yes, next year it will be much easier to do. ... I'll have a larger majority here so will (Nancy) Pelosi. We'll have a new president. And I think the Republicans come from the same states we come from. They have a lot of issues they need help with.
Q: What failed efforts disappoint you?
A: I wish we would have passed the speculation bill dealing with oil. I wish we could have gotten more money for infrastructure. We got quite a bit. But ... we should have a major infrastructure development program in our country.
Q: With more Democrats in the Senate and the House and a Democrat in the White House, how do you see congressional efforts playing out on such issues as health care and immigration?
A: On immigration, there's been an agreement between (President-elect Barack) Obama and (Arizona Republican Sen. John) McCain to move forward on that. ... We'll do that. We have to get this economy stuff figured out first, so I think we'll have a shot at doing something on health care in the next Congress for sure.
Q: Will there be as much of a fight on immigration as last time?
A: We've got McCain and we've got a few others. I don't expect much of a fight at all. Now health care is going to be difficult. That's a very complicated issue. We debated at great length immigration. People understand the issues very well.
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