Blacks gain power in new Congress

[oberliner]

Black lawmakers are likely to lead key committees in the new, Democrat-led House, and that means issues such as Hurricane Katrina relief, hate crimes and voting problems are likely to get much more attention.

"Within the Congress, their influence went from about a one to a nine," said David Bositis, who analyzes black politics for the Joint Center for Economic Studies in Washington. "This is by far the peak — ever — for the
Congressional Black Caucus." Members of the group may head as many as five prominent House committees and 17 subcommittees.

With the Democratic majorities slim in the House and slimmer in the Senate, National Urban League President Marc H. Morial cautioned that turning talk into legislation will be tough. And Bositis noted that
President Bush "can veto whatever the Democrats do."

Still, Vanderbilt University political scientist Carol M. Swain said, "it is historic." Black representatives "certainly have more potential power."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061122/ap_on_go_co/black_power

[StarTurtle]

1. Slight thread detour here.

I'm also an Obie, class of 1974. :hi:

Great post, by the way.