With Republicans attempting to throw roadblocks in front of almost every piece of Senate business these days, Democratic leaders say they are willing to keep the chamber in session into late fall if necessary to complete their ambitious agenda.
Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) indicated Wednesday that Democrats are committed to finishing health care reform, a climate change bill, Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court, an immigration bill, financial regulatory reform and 12 regular appropriations bills before year’s end.
“If we are making progress moving these forward, we will stay here until we get them done,” Durbin said.
He added that the August recess could be postponed as well if Republicans use delaying tactics on key issues in July.
“We’re going to finish these. I mean, this is a once-in-a-political-lifetime opportunity” on health care and climate change, in particular, Durbin said. Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) agreed, saying she was willing to stay to the end of the year in order to pass a bill that would implement a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions — a key component of the Democrats’ plan to address global warming.
|