Regulators, Mount Up

Today the Senate passed a bill that allows the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco related products.  The bill go to the House tomorrow before going on to the President to be signed into law.  A major sea has has occurred in Congress.  Not too long ago Republicans and Southerners would have blocked a bill like this.  Instead just one Democrat, Sen Kay Hagen(D-NC), opposed the bill and two Republicans, Sen. Mike Enzi(R-WY) and Sen John Cornyn(R-TX), strongly supported the bill.

As a liberal Democrat, I find myself getting frustrated sometimes at the legislative process.  However, it is worth remembering that this 111th Congress has passed the Lily Ledbetter act, voted to regulate credit cards, passed a stimulus, and extended the S-CHIP children's health care program.  This Summer, Congress is poised to pass a major health care bill, and with Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus(D-MT) playing hardball, I find myself cautiously optimistic that a good bill will pass.  All in all this Congress really has passed some good domestic legislation, and in the process proved that elections really do have consequences.