The New York Times has a report for tomorrow's edition headlined "Bigger Republican Majority Plans to Push Bush Agenda." Excerpt:
Nine new senators and 41 House freshmen will be sworn in as the 109th Congress opens at noon on Tuesday, but the ceremony could be quickly overshadowed by a resumption of the sharp partisanship that was a hallmark of the Congress that ended last month. ...
Senate Republicans gained four seats in the November elections, enlarging their majority to 55 to 45 and putting them closer to the 60 votes needed to break filibusters. The seven new Republican members include a core of fiscal and social conservatives moving across the Rotunda from the House who are strongly against abortion and for tax cuts. ...
Bolstered by the new majorities, lawmakers involved in energy policy would also like to shake free a long-stalled energy measure that provides incentives for new domestic oil and gas production as well as money for research into new sources of fuel. Republicans say they may now have the votes to win approval for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which has long been opposed by national environmental groups and most Democratic lawmakers.
Senator Daschle's failure last congress to get just two Democratic votes to pass the energy bill with its ethanol provisions is one of the issues that spurred John Thune to mount his successful challenge against Daschle. If the energy bill passes in the next few weeks, it will be due in large part to Senator-elect Thune defeating Daschle.
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