Restored to power, congressional Democrats pledged on Wednesday to press for a new course in Iraq and move promptly to raise the minimum wage.
"We will not disappoint" the American people, Representative Nancy Pelosi said.
At a news conference in the Capitol, Pelosi, who will become the speaker, or leader of the House of Representatives pledged that Democrats will make the next Congress "the most honest, ethical and open" one in history.
Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada both said they would work with President George W. Bush in a bipartisan manner, and they made the same commitment with respect to congressional Republicans.
"If Democrats go in and seek retribution, we lose," agreed Democratic senator-elect Sherrod Brown who defeated two-term Republican Senator Mike DeWine in Ohio.
Pelosi and Reid made their comments before the full extent of the Democrats' triumph was clear.
Several House races remained too close to call, and the size of the new Democratic majority seemed likely to grow by a few seats. And within hours, Democrats gained control of the Senate when Virginia Senator George Allen lost his seat to Democratic challenger Jim Webb.
While Democrats stressed their desire for bipartisanship, they also made clear they intend to use their power.
Several Democrats suggested during the day that Bush meet with leaders to conduct a high-level review of the war in Iraq, a conflict that is unpopular with the public and that polls said had contributed to the Republicans' defeats.
Democratic Representative John Dingell, in line to take back the chairmanship of one powerful committee, told reporters he wants the Federal Communications Commission to postpone its vote on AT&T's proposed acquisition of BellSouth Corp.
"I think it would be in their interest, I think it would be in the interest of the committee and I think it would be in the interest of the public," he said.
Representative Charles Rangel, a Democrat in line to head the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, declined to discuss possible tax increases or changes in Medicare in an interview with reporters.
He said his top priority was to close the tax gap -- referring to money that taxpayers owe the government but do not pay.
"My only fear is that Republicans might call this an increase in taxes," he said.
The minimum wage increase is one of a handful of measures Pelosi had promised to bring to the floor of the House in the first 100 hours it is in session under Democratic control next January.
Republican congressional leaders have maneuvered successfully to block passage of a minimum wage increase in recent years, but voters in six states approved ballot measures on Tuesday mandating raises.
"When Washington doesn't act, then America does," said Senator Edward Kennedy, who will be chairman of the committee with jurisdiction over the issue.
The federal minimum wage is US$5.15 an hour. Legislation backed by Democrats in the House and Senate would increase it to US$7.25 in three steps, although Pelosi has not yet said precisely what bill she intends to bring to a vote.
Pelosi, following up on a campaign promise, said Democrats would seek passage of several bills in the first days of the new session.
In addition to the minimum wage hike, Democrats will push to implement the recommendations of the commission that investigated the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and a reduction in the interest rate on student loans. Other items include legislation to promote energy independence, allow expanded stem cell research with federal funds and a call for lower drug prices under the Medicare prescription drug program.
If Democrats were dividing up the spoils of victory, Republicans were sorting out their own future. Representative Dennis Hastert said he would not run for party leader when the new Congress convenes under Democratic control.
That leaves Representative John Boehner, the majority leader, and Representative Mike Pence, a prominent conservative, as rivals for the post.
Representative Joe Barton is another potential contender.
A ship that appears to be taking on the identity of a scrapped gas carrier exited the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, showing how strategies to get through the waterway are evolving as the Middle East war progresses. The vessel identifying as liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Jamal left the Strait on Friday morning, ship-tracking data show. However, the same tanker was also recorded as having beached at an Indian demolition yard in October last year, where it is being broken up, according to market participants and port agent’s reports. The ship claiming to be Jamal is likely a zombie vessel that
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) yesterday faced a regional election battle in Rhineland-Palatinate, now held by the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD). Merz’s CDU has enjoyed a narrow poll lead over the SPD — their coalition partners at the national level — who have ruled the mid-sized state for 35 years. Polling third is the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which spells a greater threat to the two centrist parties in several state elections in September in the country’s ex-communist east. The picturesque state of Rhineland-Palatinate, bordering France, Belgium and Luxembourg and with a population of about 4 million,
Ugandan wildlife authorities have reintroduced rhinos into a remote protected area where they were once poached into extinction, an event seen by conservationists as a milestone in efforts to support the recovery of a species threatened by poaching. On Tuesday, two southern white rhinos from a private ranch in the East African country were reintroduced into Kidepo Valley National Park in the country’s northeast. Two more rhinos in metallic crates arrived on Thursday. There have been no rhinos in the park since 1983, the result of poaching. However, a private ranch in central Uganda — the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary — has been
LAW CONSTRAINTS: The US has been pressing allies to send warships to open the Strait, but Tokyo’s military actions are limited under its postwar pacifist constitution Japan could consider deploying its military for minesweeping in the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire is reached in the war on Iran, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi said yesterday. “If there were to be a complete ceasefire, hypothetically speaking, then things like minesweeping could come up,” Motegi said. “This is purely hypothetical, but if a ceasefire were established and naval mines were creating an obstacle, then I think that would be something to consider.” Japan’s military actions are limited under its postwar pacifist constitution, but 2015 security legislation allows Tokyo to use its Self-Defense Forces overseas if an attack,
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