Although Congress is on vacation right now, there is something in the air on Capitol Hill. That something is a combination of 'hustle and bustle' and progress. The two of those together are creating legislation that moves the United States forward because the party of the people are passing laws that help all Americans. Despite the doomsday predictions by conservative pundits, the Democratic Party is doing what they said they would do all along and their actions are beginning to impress some G.O.P. centrists.
From The New York Times:
As the new Democrat-led House rushed to complete its business before adjourning for spring break this week, Representative Ferguson was marveling at the many bills that had been passed in Congress’s first 100 days, including one that would make it easier for unions to organize and another that would increase the minimum wage.
“Under the Republican majority, those bills would have never gotten to the floor,” he explained before heading back to his district. “Now they have been brought to the floor, and I’ve voted for them.”
Mr. Ferguson’s enthusiasm captures a peculiar political reality in the Capitol: many Republicans from swing districts in the Northeast are finding that life under Democratic rule has its advantages.
As the NYT points out in the article, many 'moderates' are going to have to support the Democratic legislation not only out of political beliefs, but for political necessity. Many moderates squeaked through last year and held onto their incumbency by extremely small margins. It is clear that in these swing districts, the voters want to see change and nearly replaced their representative last year. With November of 2008 in their sites, these Republicans are going to do whatever it takes to hold onto their seats....and the declining number of Republicans in the House.
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