Hopefully this doesn't veer Desertdog's thread, but an interesting tangent is this article from the Monterey, CA Herald. Note text bolded by me re: "California-like, progressive, WELL FUNDED government". Gee, I wonder what that means?? Also note that Sam Farr displays a UN flag in his office in Lieu of an American flag.
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Posted on Fri, Jan. 05, 2007
Farr optimistic about Pelosi's ability to 'get things done'
By JIM JOHNSON
Herald Salinas Bureau
When Rep. Sam Farr was first elected to Congress in 1993, he began joining Rep. Nancy Pelosi and other lawmakers at a fellow congressman's Capitol Hill home for Tuesday night dinners.
Pelosi, who had helped Farr get elected by hosting a fundraiser for the former Monterey County supervisor and state assemblyman, was already a regular, and it wasn't long before Farr became one, too.
He began forming ties with a small group of rising Democrats who would see their party lose its grip on Congress in 1994, after decades in the majority. Together, they ruminated about what they could accomplish when the Democrats returned to power.
On Thursday, the Democrats resumed control of Congress, Pelosi was elected the first woman speaker of the House, and Farr was sworn in for his eighth term representing the 17th District, which encompasses Monterey and San Benito counties and part of Santa Cruz County.
Democrats swept to power in the House, where they have a 232-202 advantage, and the Senate, where they hold a 51-49 edge, by tapping voter discontent with the Iraq war and the Republican leadership, which was beset by scandal.
Farr, D-Carmel, said Thursday the Democratic takeover was a long time in coming and hailed Pelosi's ascension to the House podium. Pelosi became the first Californian to serve as Speaker of the House, and is now second in line for the presidency.
"There is a real sense of euphoria," Farr said, describing Pelosi calling the 110th Congress to order surrounded by children, including her own grandchildren and the children of new House members. "It was a spirit of history being made."
Farr noted that Pelosi spoke about a "new civility" in the corridors of power, reminded members of Congress that they are "there to represent all the people" and promised to "get things done."
He said the new Congress under Pelosi's leadership will be "more aligned with the agenda of California in general," promoting the tenets of progressive, "well-financed" government, among whose goals are affordable health care and better education.
Farr said Pelosi has been a strong supporter of 17th District issues, such as preserving ocean and coastal resources, converting Fort Ord, backing existing military facilities and promoting agricultural research.
Farr's first act of the new Congress was to introduce House Resolution 21, the Ocean Conservation, Education and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act -- but dubbed "Oceans-21." Farr is co-chairman of the House Ocean Caucus.
Former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, who held the 17th District seat prior to Farr, said Pelosi's rise to the third highest post in the land is "an important statement about the changes going on in our country."
"Overall, I think change is good for Washington," Panetta said.
Monterey County Democratic party chairman Vinz Koller said it was high time to "end one-party rule" in Washington. Koller accused Republicans of shutting out "half the electorate" and said Democratic policy will be good for everyone.
"I think everyone will benefit because there are so many issues that have languished for so long," he said. "But the party needs to be careful not to fall for false compromises."
Pelosi and the Democratic leadership have promised big changes during a much-ballyhooed first 100 hours of the new Congress. Among the proposals are tougher House ethics standards and "pay-as-you-go" fiscal responsibility guidelines.
Legislative priorities include raising the minimum wage, cutting student loan interest rates, promoting stem cell research, investing in clean energy, and implementing all the Sept. 11 Commission's recommendations. Republicans will not be allowed to amend any of the early bills being presented during those first 100 hours.
Republican Party political director Brandon Gesicki said this shows the new Congressional leadership's unwillingness to work in a bipartisan fashion.
"Right out of the gate they're trying to ram everything through without any debate," Gesicki said, saying that the new House rules were not available for review by Republican members.
Panetta, who guided President Bill Clinton's staff in the 1990s, said the new Congress "can't afford to make the same mistakes that (former House Speaker) Newt Gingrich made" by pushing through partisan legislation that stalled before it became law.
Gingrich led the Republican takeover of Congress in 1995.
"I understand the PR value of letting the public know that they're going to get things done," Panetta said. "In the end, if they're going to make a difference, they're going to have to work in a bipartisan manner."
Farr said he anticipates plenty of enmity from the other side of the aisle, which he said will make bipartisan accomplishments difficult.
"This Congress will be fair but firm," Farr said. "The Republicans really denied us everything, and they'll scream that the sky is falling about everything. They want to win back the Congress in two years and they don't want to see too much get done. Now that they're in the minority, that's their job, I guess. With both the House and the Senate in Democratic hands, we'll probably be sending bills to the president that he might not want to sign."
Farr also praised Pelosi for challenging President Bush on the Iraq war in advance of his State of the Union speech. He said Pelosi called the November elections a call from the electorate for a change of direction in the war.
Panetta, who served on the Iraq Study Group, said Congress' next move will depend on President Bush. If the president doesn't alter his war strategy, Congress might be inclined to initiate more oversight, as well as implementing the Iraq Study Group's recommendations on its own.
