Saying Goodbye To The 111th

Some say that it was a dream come true. Others claimed that it was the beginning of the end. One thing, however, is certain; the 111th Congress was an ambitious group who fought and won battles most thought impossible.

The 111th was an extension of the 2006 Democratic Revolution which over threw the neo-con Republican establishment. In fact, the 111th was the peak of the current age of progressivism in America. It saw a second term for the first female Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. It saw a Senate led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. It bore witness to the historic election and inauguration of the 44th President of the United States Barack Obama. It celebrated the removal of Dick Cheney to be replaced by Vice President Joe Biden as the new President of the Senate. And it built up a Democratic power house with a Supermajority in the Senate and overwhelming control in the House.

In it's tenure some of the legislation the 111th passed included the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (SCHIP), The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Act) which brought America away from the brink of a Second Great Depression, Credit CARD Act of 2009 which creates a credit card Bill of Rights, Pay-As-You-Go Act to promote Congressional fiscal responsibility, the highly controversial and corner stone of the Democratic 111th the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (long time coming), Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, a major tax deal, new food safety measures, the 911 First Responders Bill, and, last but certainly not least, the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Some of the bills that were passed were needed while others were decades in the making that no other Congress and no other Presidential Administration could have pulled off.

Never-the-less, in November of 2010 history repeated itself. Just like it did in 2006, 2002, 1998, 1994, 1990, 1986, 1982, and so on. The party in power always takes a hit during a mid-term election. Even though a lot of legislation and reforms were passed by the Democratic power block the slow pace of recovery mixed with the high unemployment and growing debt led to a resurgence of the Republican Party.

2011 will be a very different beast in Washington. The 112th Congress will be a Congress of split priorities. The Democratic half will want to continue the Obama Agenda while the Republican half is dead set on throwing a gear into Obama's plans. Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell very openly stated that his and the Republican's number one objective is to keep Obama from being re-elected in 2012.

The political battle lines are as follows:

In the Senate the Democrats will continue to hold control with a 51 to 47 majority with 2 left leaning Independents. Vice President Joe Biden will continue to serve as the President of the Senate with Daniel Inouye serving as President pro tempore. Harry Reid will hold his position as Senate Majority Leader with Dick Durbin as Majority Whip. The Republicans will keep Mitch McConnell as Senate Minority leader with Jon Kyl as Minority Whip.

In the House the Republicans will gain control over the Democrats with a 242 to 193 majority. John Boehner will be sworn in as the new Speaker of the House with Eric Cantor taking over the position of House Majority Leader and Kevin McCarthy being promoted to serve as House Majority Whip. Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will regain her position as head of House Democrats as she gets sworn in as House Minority Leader with Steny Hoyer acting as her right hand man serving as House Minority Whip.

2011 & 2012 could prove themselves to be even more of a bloodbath then 2009 & 2010. Congressional Democrats will do everything they can do hold on to what they've accomplished while at the same time attempting to push the agenda forward. Congressional Republicans are already plotting ways to defund much of Obama's health care reform and financial reform. The GOP has also proven to be very successful at blocking anything that is not in their interests. Plus, following the latest census, they are gearing up for a 2012 election year which puts the numbers in their favor and the House, the Senate, and the White House will be up for grabs. The 112th should be very interesting.