Dems vow change as Congress ends session By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 2 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The 109th session of Congress, frustrated by partisanship and criticized for its meager record of accomplishment, ended with flurry of bill-passing and promises of change when Democrats take over the House and Senate in January.
ADVERTISEMENT
Before the predawn finish Saturday, departing House Speaker Dennis Hastert acknowledged that after eight years, the longest stretch for a Republican in the job, he will welcome a return to the rank and file. "On Jan. 4, I will be privileged to rejoin you on these benches where my heart is," he said,
The Illinois Republican will be succeeded on that day by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif. She becomes the first female speaker and the first Democrat in the post since Newt Gingrich of Georgia led the Republicans to power in 1995.
Pelosi is promising that the new Democratic era will get off to a quick start with votes to raise the federal minimum wage for the first time in a decade,
enact lobbying and ethics reform and lower Medicare prescription drug costs.
Rep. Jefferson wins re-election in La. By CAIN BURDEAU, Associated Press Writer
15 minutes ago
NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record) easily defeated his fellow Democratic opponent in Saturday's runoff,
despite an ongoing federal bribery investigation. http://news.yahoo.com/i/703
