Next week Congressional Democrats will limp back to DC for a lame duck session. Their to-do list includes writing a bill to fund the federal government beyond Dec. 3, when the current spending resolution expires.
Democrats will also vote on caucus leaders for the next Congress.
Although Democrats suffered a historic beat-down in the midterm elections, Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants the top job in the House Democratic Caucus. Some of Pelosi’s colleagues think it’s time “to pass the baton.”
In a recent editorial, the New York Times asked:
Nancy Pelosi has been an extremely effective speaker of the House for four years, shepherding hundreds of important bills toward passage and withstanding solid Republican opposition. Her work in passing health care reform and strong ethics oversight achieved what many thought was legislatively impossible. But is she really the best the Democrats can come up with as their leader as they slip into the minority?
Meanwhile, the race for Minority Whip is heating up as Reps. Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn round up support.
Rep. Barbara Lee, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, is circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter in support of Clyburn:
I am writing to ask for your support of Jim Clyburn to continue as Democratic Whip. With our country and our party at a crossroads, it is important that we have a leadership team in place that recognizes the strength and diversity of the Democratic Caucus and puts the needs of the Caucus before their own agendas. Like many of you, as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, I have worked closely with Jim to advance an agenda that has made a difference for millions of Americans. We need Jim’s continued leadership as Democratic Whip going forward.
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