Congressional delegation discusses things to come

Members of Arkansas' Congressional delegation shared their thoughts this week on what the election of Sen. Barack Obama as president and more Democratic members of Congress will mean in terms of public policy and impact on the average American.

Congressman Vic Snyder said, "The change will be quite dramatic, I believe, but thoughtful. I think we will see fairly soon a gathering of (Obama's) new appointees as he starts announcing who's going to be in his administration. I expect it to be a very impressive group of people."

Snyder said he foresees a different process for decision making.

"Sen. Obama is not afraid of smart people. He encourages a diversity of views. He encourages people who disagree with him to let him know. I think you will see a decision process that is more open and more deliberative than in the last eight years."

He added he believes the president-elect will use more diplomacy in his foreign policy, and that "all the tools of our national security will be used, not only military."

Snyder concluded, "I fully expect that president-elect Obama really does mean what he says about working together; and the challenges we face as a nation are great. We need to pull together, and I think you will see efforts by him to do that."

Sen. Blanche Lincoln said the new administration will focus on working families, infrastructure, a tax policy to empower businesses to be more competitive and a new energy policy. The president-elect will also work toward insurance for small business and self-employed individuals, she said.

"Sen. Obama will be focused on how we can get more Americans insured," she said.

Lincoln released a statement on Wednesday stating, "Sen. Obama's election as president of the United States is a historic moment for our country. It is also the most important election in modern history because of the many challenges we face at home and abroad. With a struggling economy and two wars overseas, I know many Arkansans are concerned about the future. America's working families need access to affordable health care and a quality education for their children. They also need an economy aimed at creating jobs and investing in renewable energy solutions. Much is at stake, and I am confident that Sen. Obama and Sen. (Joe) Biden will begin the process of working with Congress to lead our nation into an era of greater stability and prosperity. Their mission of re-establishing our standing in the world will be of enormous benefit to our children and future generations of Americans."

Congressman John Boozman, the sole Republican in Arkansas' delegation, said, "I think the important thing is the election is over now, and the country needs to come together. We've got several really important things out there. The No. 1 thing is the economy, and along with that, energy and health care.

"The American people have decided who they would like to be president, so we've got to band together now and confront the problems. The Arkansas delegation works together really well. The senators and rest of the representatives do the best we can to represent the people of Arkansas."

Boozman said he looks forward to going back to Congress, working on his committees in a bipartisan manner and "doing my best to support the president."

Sen. Mark Pryor said, "I really think we will see a renewed focus on the economy and the domestic needs of this country."

He said he believes the new administration will be committed to jobs in the United States, including manufacturing jobs, infrastructure and "some of the things that have been left out of the last eight years, like getting a new highway bill passed."

He went on, "When people voted on Tuesday, they sent a message loud and clear they wanted a change in direction in the country. I think Obama is committed to doing that."

Although Democrats have larger majorities in both houses of Congress, he said, the Democrats are very diverse, and the larger numbers do not necessarily mean there will not be any filibusters.

However, he said, "I do think the good news is, with the larger majority, you'll see Congress be more productive. The last Congress had 80-something filibusters. I don't think that tactic worked well for Republicans. Hopefully they will change their tactics."

He also predicted Obama will bring more unity to Washington and said he would not be surprised if the president-elect names one or more Republicans to his cabinet.

(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)