Lame duck session becomes even lamer for Obama administration
The Senate has effectively axed for the time being the vote on the controversial “DREAM” Act, which passed the House yesterday with the support of 8 Republicans (6 of them “lame duck” Republicans). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hopes that a vote will come up before the Congressional recess, but there’s no guarantee that will happen.
House Democrats voted this morning via a caucus to reject in its current form the tax compromise President Obama had made with the GOP earlier this week. It’s unclear whether or not the issue will be addressed and voted on in the House before Congress recesses for the Christmas holiday. On the other hand, Reid has indicated that the tax cut compromise may be debated and voted on in the Senate this weekend.
President Obama has effectively lost control of both his party and his liberal agenda. Far left wingers in the House are exercising their last gasps of power before officially becoming the minority party next month. If the Bush tax cuts expire because of House inaction while Democrats are still in control, it will be up to the Republican majority in the House and the Republican minority in the Senate to remind voters of that fact in 2012 as they try not only to gain more seats, but also to (hopefully) put a Republican back in the White House again.
Fasten your seatbelts, ladies and gents. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.