Pelosi Sets Aggressive Pace

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The Wall Street Journal

Pelosi Sets Aggressive Pace
Action on Ethics, Budget Rules Puts Pressure on Senate
By DAVID ROGERS
January 5, 2007; Page A6

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A 430-1 vote reaffirmed her decision to strike early on the ethics front rather than risk the kind of delays that undermined former Speaker Dennis Hastert's bid to tighten lobbying rules a year ago. The aggressive approach establishes what will be an important dynamic between the House and Senate in the opening weeks. On issues from raising the minimum wage to curbing oil subsidies, Democrats know they can't make law without the Senate, but they will use the House to lay down markers on initiatives they see appealing to independents and Republican moderates.

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By using the rules process to make immediate changes, Ms. Pelosi has assured that her party can show progress in the House, whatever happens in the Senate. As a matter of practical politics, any diminishment of the business lobby, which did so much to help the Republican House majority, could make it easier for her to advance her agenda that challenges oil and drug companies, among others. Statutory changes, to require better disclosure of lobbying and fund-raising activities, still lie ahead, and they will require negotiation with the Senate. But the House ethics-rules changes adopted last night take effect immediately in many cases and draw a brighter line between lobbyists and lawmakers.

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A further round of votes will come today on Democratic proposals to tighten antideficit rules and require greater disclosure of narrow legislative amendments designed to benefit special interests and generate campaign funds from lobbyists. The sheer number of these so-called earmarks exploded under Republican rule. The House Democratic package goes beyond past Republican proposals by demanding greater transparency for spending provisions as well as for tariff exemptions and "rifle-shot" tax breaks, which benefit 10 or fewer beneficiaries under the tax code.

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Senate Democrats appear reluctant to be as bold as their House counterparts by trying to change rules unilaterally. Instead, the plan is to move with a hybrid package of rules and legislative changes. This strategy is driven ostensibly by Democratic fears of a filibuster, requiring a two-thirds majority to overcome in the case of a rules change.

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Republicans had the same House-Senate tensions, which often paralyzed the party in its final years in the majority. Flush with victory, Democrats are nowhere near such a divide. Even yesterday, House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D., Wis.) and Mr. Byrd announced plans to better align their committees in hopes of approving budget bills on time and preventing disruptions of government operations. The State Department budget now will be considered in both chambers as part of the foreign-aid bill; the Treasury Department and major regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Commission will be dealt with in their own bill.

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