Critics say Demos' plan lacks specifics

WASHINGTON — As the clock starts ticking on the Democrats' plan to complete major policy changes in the first 100 legislative hours, Republicans and outside experts are criticizing the plan's lack of details, saying that it is not in line with the new majority party's promise to be open and inclusive.

Congress will start the 110th session today, with newly sworn in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., expected to introduce bills that would raise the minimum wage, cut student-loan interest and expand stem-cell research. Democrats want to get these bills passed and over to the Senate within 100 hours — or a little more than two weeks, based on the House calendar.

To achieve this, the bills will have to be passed without legislative hearings and little debate, and rules may limit the amount of amendments Republicans can offer on a bill, if any.

"This is not a stellar beginning," said Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah. "This is not what I would call the open bipartisanship that was promised."

Bishop said the Republican's "Contract With America" in 1994 was much more open than what is going on now.

"No one knows what the specifics are," Bishop said. "This was all done behind closed doors."

Bishop said he would like to see lower student-loan interest rates but is not sure if he can support the Democrats' plan, because nothing has been introduced, although the House may vote on the bill as early as next week.

Bishop said the Democrats are taking the creation of legislation "to a new level of secrecy and power politics," more than the Republicans did when they were in the majority.

Thomas Mann, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington, asked if this is a signal that Democrats are already going back on their promises, because Democrats complained about similar legislative games when the Republicans were in power.

"It will be very interesting to see how they manage this 100-hour period," said Mann. "The Democrats have to figure out a way to give publicity to their positions on issues that have been squelched in recent years."

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, said the new Congress has been barely sworn in, and already there is partisan bickering.

"Some of these items have been thoroughly debated already," Matheson said. "There is broad consensus in this country on these issues."