They’re racing to complete parts of their agenda, like same-sex marriage, Ukraine, election reform
Democrats have precious little time left in power in the U.S. Congress, with barely a month until they’re relegated to opposition in the House of Representatives.
They’re now racing to complete parts of their agenda.
Their to-do list for the so-called lame-duck session includes same-sex marriage, Ukraine funding, election reform, immigration, a child benefit, must-pass budget bills and averting a government shutdown.
The sudden rush is fuelled by the fear that, for some of these items, it’s now or never, given that Republicans start controlling the House on Jan. 3.
After that, it’s the end of an era: top Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer will leave their leadership posts, and it could be years before the next generation of party leaders takes power.
“We’ve got a lot to do this year,” Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, told reporters in an office chat Tuesday. “This year, [meaning] the next three weeks [before the holidays].”
Some items on that list — same-sex marriage, electoral reform and Ukraine funding — have strong chances of passing. That’s because those bills have the secret ingredient some others lack: enough Republican votes to clear the Senate threshold of 60 per cent.
Others are on shakier ground.
