With 42 hours remaining on the 100-hour clock, the U.S. House of Representatives reached their goal of passing six major pieces of legislation that had faltered during the previous Republican-led Congress.
-Enact more of the 9/11 Commission recommendations: 299-128
-Increase the minimum wage: 315-116
-Expand stem cell research: 253-174
-Enable Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices: 255-170
-Cut Student Loan interest rates: 356-71
-End big oil subsidies and invest in new energy: 264-163
Now, knowing that the current House split is 233 Democrats and 202 Republicans, you can see by the numbers above that the six bills passed with Republican support. In same cases that support was overwhelming, in others not so much. But either way, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer have proven that the Democrats can lead on a bipartisan level.
Oh sure, things will get tight from here on out; and these bills still have to go to the Senate and then on to the President (who is sure to veto at least one or two), But this 100-hour legislation finally breaks the gridlock of the previous lackluster Congress.
