Democrats seize control of Congress; Pelosi, first female US House speaker, takes gavel

UNITED STATES: In a day of ceremony and historic change, Rep. Nancy Pelosi became the nation's first female speaker of the House of Representatives as Democrats eagerly took control of Congress for the final two years of President George W. Bush's term.

"The Democrats are back," Pelosi rejoiced Thursday. Within hours, the House had cleared stricter new ethics rules, a main piece of the Democratic agenda, on a vote of 430-1.

As is customary, the opening moments of a new Congress produced pledges of bipartisanship at both ends of the Capitol, the Senate and the House. Yet Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid signaled a new political order when they swiftly challenged Bush over the war in Iraq.

"No issue in our country is more important than finding an end to this intractable war," said Democrat Reid. "Completing the mission in Iraq is the president's job, and we will do everything in our power to ensure he fulfills it."

The two houses convened at the stroke of noon, under Democratic control together for the first time since 1994.

That meant a return to power for men long used to wielding it. Venerable liberals such as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and Rep. John Dingell are Democratic committee chairmen again, for example.

It also brought reduced circumstances to others, no one more so than Republican Rep. Dennis Hastert, just a member of the ranks after eight tumultuous years as speaker in charge of almost all major decisions in the running of the House.

By custom, lawmakers brought their children to opening ceremonies in the House, and Pelosi swept into the chamber accompanied by her grandchildren.

Formality reigned, as always, in the Senate, where Vice President Dick Cheney administered the oath of office to 33 new and newly re-elected senators.

Former President Bill Clinton watched from the gallery as his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, was sworn in for a second six-year term from New York.

In a chance encounter, he dodged questions about her presidential ambitions. "I would like not to talk about it today," he said.

It fell to Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the new House Republican leader, to hand Pelosi the gavel, the symbol of the speaker's substantial authority. "Whether you're a Republican, Democrat or an independent, this is a cause for celebration," he said, noting her place in history.

He also gave notice to the party she leads, adding, "Republicans will hold the incoming majority accountable for its promises and its actions." Across the Capitol, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky took over as leader of minority Republicans and said it was time to put an end to "a culture of partisanship over principle."

He said cooperation was clearly possible on minimum wage and lobbying bills, and he added that he hoped the issues of Social Security and immigration also would yield to compromise.

Washington, Friday, Reuters