As the 110th Congress begins, Democrats hope to use their newly won majority in the House and Senate to push for quick approval of a set of bills that include a boost in the federal minimum wage and an energy policy shift away from benefits for the oil and natural gas industries and towards renewable energy and conservation.
On the second day of the session, House Democrats won approval of a set of ethics changes including a requirement for greater disclosure of narrowly focused legislative "earmarks." Under the provision, approved Jan. 5 by a 280-152 vote, congressional sponsors of earmarks would have to be identified and declare that they have no financial interest in that provision.