Dems rack up wins

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Dems rack up wins
By Mike Soraghan
Posted: 07/23/08 08:02 PM


Democrats are marching through their legislative agenda as they near the fall election season, scoring several key victories and forcing President Bush to abandon his veto threats.

The latest triumph came Wednesday when Bush dropped his opposition to a massive housing-rescue bill and the House subsequently passed the measure, 272-152. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) can add that win to her party overriding Bush on a water resources bill, the farm bill and an effort to stave off sharp cuts to doctors under Medicare. They also forced the president to back down on GI education benefits and unemployment compensation — both of them included against his wishes in the emergency war-spending bill.

The momentum is a sharp difference from last year, when Bush infuriated Democratic leaders and shaped the legislative agenda on spending, Iraq policy and more by rejecting Democratic legislation and refusing to negotiate. At this point in 2007, Democrats were being muscled into passing a surveillance bill to Bush’s liking.

“We overrode him four times, I think he knows we can do it,” said Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.). “We’re bringing forward good legislation and he’s going against public opinion.”

Republican lawmakers watching the campaign calendar are running for cover, refusing to back Bush on his conservative stances and handing victories to Pelosi.

“There’s no advantage in being identified as a White House lackey,” said Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), who’s been delivering stinging advice to his conference. “They’ve picked bad issues to make a stand on.”

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dems-rack-up-wins-2008-07-23.html

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1. Sent on - to die in the Senate