House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is set to give the gavel to House GOP leader John Boehner in January after the lame-duck session.
The so-called "lame duck" session of the Democratic Congress convened Monday, with members preparing to make decisions on a host of contentious issues that could have major political ramifications for both President Barack Obama and the incoming Republican House majority. Newly elected House members, meanwhile, were given a daylong orientation on the rules and procedures governing life on Capitol Hill. They are set to take office in January.
In the Senate, two new members -- Delaware's Chris Coons and West Virginia's Joe Manchin -- were sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden. Coons and Manchin are both Democrats; their addition to the Senate did not change the chamber's 59-41 Democratic edge for the lame duck session. Senate Democrats will have a smaller 53 to 47 majority next year.
Manchin was elected to fill the final two years of the late Sen. Robert Byrd's term. Coons will serve the final four years of Biden's term.
One of the first challenges for the House is the selection of its new leadership. Republicans are expected to tap Ohio Rep. John Boehner and Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor as speaker and majority leader, respectively. Democrats appear ready to tap current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California as the new minority leader, while also keeping Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn in the leadership.
Read More:http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/11/15/lame.duck.congress/index.html?hpt=T2
In the Senate, two new members -- Delaware's Chris Coons and West Virginia's Joe Manchin -- were sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden. Coons and Manchin are both Democrats; their addition to the Senate did not change the chamber's 59-41 Democratic edge for the lame duck session. Senate Democrats will have a smaller 53 to 47 majority next year.
Manchin was elected to fill the final two years of the late Sen. Robert Byrd's term. Coons will serve the final four years of Biden's term.
One of the first challenges for the House is the selection of its new leadership. Republicans are expected to tap Ohio Rep. John Boehner and Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor as speaker and majority leader, respectively. Democrats appear ready to tap current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California as the new minority leader, while also keeping Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn in the leadership.
Read More:http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/11/15/lame.duck.congress/index.html?hpt=T2
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