Reforms a priority on GOP agenda

The 109th Congress convened yesterday with Republican leaders in both the House and Senate calling the next two years an unsurpassed opportunity to pass a complete package of reforms, including overhauls of Social Security and the tort system.

And while House Republicans and Democrats sparred over the rules governing the chamber’s operations this Congress, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist warned his Democratic colleagues he will give them one last chance to drop filibusters of judicial nominations next month.

If they do not, he said, he will move to change the filibuster rule.

“If my Democratic colleagues continue to filibuster judicial nominees, the Senate will face this choice: fail to do its constitutional duty or reform itself, restore its traditions, and do what the Framers intended,” the Tennessee Republican said.

“Right now, we cannot be certain judicial filibusters will cease. So I reserve the right to propose changes to Senate Rule 22 and do not acquiesce to carrying over all the rules from the last Congress,” he said.

Addressing their respective chambers, Mr. Frist and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican, set out a long list of proposed legislation, with Mr. Hastert promising: “The 109th Congress will be a reform Congress.”

“We have big challenges that face this country, and we need big ideas to meet those challenges,” he said. “Today, we must seize the initiative. Today, we must start anew the process of reforming the government. Security and prosperity only come with hard work and responsible government.”

In addition to Social Security and tort reform, he called for further border security and immigration controls and changes to the tax code.

Mr. Frist did not mention tax simplification or immigration, but said his top priority when Congress returns after the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration will be tort reform, while Democrats said they would prefer to work first on the highway bill stalled since last year.

The bulk of the session yesterday was spent swearing in those who won in the 2004 elections — 34 senators and all House members, including nine freshmen in the Senate, 38 freshmen in the House and three former House members who return to the chamber this year.

Mr. Hastert was officially sworn in as speaker of the House for the fourth time, after each House member ceremonially rose and voiced a vote for either him or House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California.

As Mrs. Pelosi handed Mr. Hastert the gavel, she joked it was becoming “tiresome” to do so, but also lavished compliments on him.

In the Senate, both parties will work on completing their legislative agendas at all-day retreats today, and both chambers return tomorrow to count the Electoral College votes for president.

“I think we will focus on honoring our heroes fighting overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan and providing for their families, health care is always an issue, improving the job situation and education,” said Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat.

In the Senate, Mr. Frist and Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, spoke of improved relations. But tort reform was a divisive issue between the parties last year, and Mr. Reid said he would prefer to deal with other legislative priorities first.

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