08 JAN 07 / "Democrats in Control of Congress"

What can we expect from a Democrat-controlled Congress in 2007?

Speaker Nancy Pelosi tipped her hand several weeks ago when she did not choose Jane Harman to chair the House Intelligence Committee. Harman, the ranking Democrat on the committee considered an expert on intelligence and defense issues, had voted for the Iraq War. Pelosi exacted her retribution by choosing Representative Silvestre Reyes.

Democrats are also pushing to end subsidies for oil companies and use those funds to jump start the alternative fuel industry.

While many Republicans are opposed to corporate welfare, Congress should not penalize the oil industry for delivering the product that fuels the American economy.

More recently, rumors have begun swirling about a tax increase that some Republicans would support.

Concerning Iraq, Pelosi has often used the term 'phased redeployment,' which is code for retreat, unless troops are moved to more remote areas of Iraq. Although Democratic leaders are not planning a vote on off cutting off funding for the war. Democrats are about to draw the proverbial line in the sand by voting on a resolution against raising troop levels in Iraq.