House passes popular bills

With a new Democratic majority now in control, the House of
Representatives began the 110th Congress by passing all of the
agenda items which had been planned for the first 100 hours,
including an overwhelming vote to lower interest rates on student
loans.

An increase in the minimum wage over the next two years, the
expansion of stem cell research, and implementation of
recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission also passed in the
first 100 hours of Congress, which began Jan. 9 and ended Thursday.
These issues had been important platforms for many Democrats during
the mid-term elections.

“We’ve had bipartisan support because these are
popular issues that were raised during the campaigns by the
American people,” said Drew Hammel, a spokesman for Speaker
of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco. “So we felt
confident going into the 100 hours that we would have support (from
both Republicans and Democrats).”

On Wednesday, the House passed a bill 356-71 to cut student loan
interest rates from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent. About 5.5 million
students receive federal loans each year.

The interest rates would decrease gradually over a period of
five years and would cumulatively cost taxpayers $6 billion.

“This is something that is going to make college more
affordable,” said Gabe Rose, president of the Bruin
Democrats. “Cutting student loans is also a great way to
combat the rising costs of college.”

Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Lakewood, said she was able to relate to
the situation as a daughter of immigrants who is still working to
pay off her loans.

“Many young people find themselves where I was … at age
18, wondering what they will do with their lives,” Sanchez
said. “To those students, especially those whose parents
didn’t go to college, the prospect of student loan debt is
frightening.”

Democrats are also working to lower the interest rates for
parents who are taking out loans for their children’s college
education and to increase the maximum Pell Grant award from $4,050
to $5,100. The grant is given to the most financially needy
students and does not have to be repaid.

The bill still faces the Senate, which has advocated a more
comprehensive resolution to interest rates, and the Bush
administration, which has openly opposed the bill.

To start off the year, the new House first passed a resolution
that would change the rules of interaction between lawmakers and
lobbyists, and ban gift-giving and prepaid travel for legislators.
Leaders hoped this would help foster more honesty in the
government.

Republican leaders complained that they were refused amendments
on the legislation, which passed by a slim margin.

“We are short-circuiting democracy here, and I think my
colleagues on both sides of the aisle understand it,” said
House Republican leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

The House also passed legislation to enact 9/11 Commission
recommendations, which would improve aviation, border and
infrastructure security, and provide equipment for first
responders.

Addressing another key Democratic agenda item, the House next
voted to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over
the course of the next two years.

On Jan. 11, legislation to expand stem cell research allowed for
an increase in the number of stem cell lines which are eligible for
federally funded research.

But while these bills were passed by the House, Hammel said some
could still be vetoed by Bush.

“We are looking at issues like stem cell research and
minimum wage which might be vetoed, but we look forward to the
Senate passing (the bills),” Hammel said. “And we plan
on working with the public to create public discourse and make it
so it will be very difficult for the president to veto these
bills.”

Last September, President Bush used his veto power for the first
time in a bill which would have loosened limitations on federal
funding for stem cell research.

“If Bush is going to stay consistent with his stand, then
I expect he will veto the (stem cell research) bill,” said
political science Professor Scott Curtis James.

The House also passed a bill which would require Medicare to
negotiate lower prescription drug prices and passed a bill which
would invest federal money in renewable energy and repeal subsidies
for big oil companies.

Rose said he was glad the Democrats had completed their election
agenda items.

“The bills that were passed in the first 100 hours were
long overdue,” Rose said. “They were something the
American people asked for in the last election and the Democrats
delivered on their promise efficiently.”

With reports from Bruin wire services.