Of course, there is the upcoming inauguration.... but there is more as the 115th Congress prepares to do 'the people's work'. After welcoming new members, swearing in ceremonies and orientations the House of Representatives (HR) thought the most important things to do were:
1) Dismantle the Office of Congressional Ethics
2) Increase fines for live streaming on the House floor
3) Prepare to repeal the Affordable Care Act, ACA, also known as Obamacare
4) Lay the ground work for defunding Planned Parenthood
5) Made it ILLEGAL to protest actions taken in the House
The first had such 'bad optics', meaning it looked AWFUL, so they backtracked it and will return to it later. There was a social media blitz that had the new congressional officers' phones ringing off the hooks: thousands of phone calls followed thousands of posts on FB, Twitter, Instagram, etc. and the legislators 'reconsidered' their first actions. In defiance of #2, dozens of Dems began live streaming. Without a replacement for #3, even Trump was suggesting, via Twitter, that his party reconsider their repeal. In response to #4 Cory Booker gave an impassioned plea on the floor of the House to have regard for those women, who without Obamacare or PP will have nowhere to turn for affordable healthcare services as basic as birth control, sonograms, mammograms and other diagnostic screenings. In response to #5 the House Dems are seeking to quickly get their case before SCOTUS as they believe it to be a basic right of every American
On the Senate side, after eight years of collecting paychecks for obstruction and little else, they are preparing for a VERY BUSY WEEK AHEAD. On Tuesday, all of Trump's nominees will be in town for introductions and socializing. On Wednesday five of them will begin hearings to confirm their appointments. Since their paperwork is not yet complete the Congressional Office of Ethics has asked for a delay. Citing that most of these nominees are from the private sector, have complicated financial lives, extensive foreign ties and have never before been 'vetted' there should be no rush to fast track their appointments. McConnell, who is leading the Senate and whose wife is one of the nominees sees no reason to slow the process or even to recuse himself from her hearings.
In a related development, Trump also plans to hold a press conference on Wednesday.
And in another break with tradition, Trump has put all Obama appointments overseas on notice that they are to return to American soil immediately following the Inauguration. Usually overseas appointments remain in the country of their assignment until their replacements are confirmed. This is regarded as both insensitive to families who may have school age children enrolled overseas and dangerous as it may take months for all the 4000 appointments to be filled. Without 'official' channels to watch, witness, report, monitor, etc. overseas activities our friends are apt to feel abandoned and our enemies emboldened.
What to expect in the weeks and months ahead, legislatively? Growing assaults on earned benefits. The powerful congressional majority in DC is pushing forward their vision of Social Security and Medicare. In their vision, these earned benefits need SAVING OR FIXING and the only path they see is through privatization. Paul Ryan, Speaker of the HR, has proposed this five consecutive years and now has the majority to get it passed.
Expect House Social Security Subcommittee Chair Sam Johnson to reintroduce legislation that will 1) cut benefits by 1/3; 2)raise the retirement age from 67 to 69; 3) change the benefit computation formula in ways that cut benefit amounts and 4) cut the COLA. Since Mc Connell, leader in the Senate, is in agreement this will be a relatively 'easy' path. Further facilitating the achievement of all this: Trump Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Tom Price who has long wanted to enable automatic across the board cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid as well as other programs for low and middle income Americans. His plan would rig the system and slash benefits without requiring the President or Congress to take responsibility.
All of Trump's nominees are privatization supporters, VP Pence and HHS nominee Price included. Although Trump promised during the campaign not to touch either Social Security or Medicare, his website says he now favors 'reform' and the record of his HHS nominee, Price, is a clear indication of what is in store.
The unions are allied in their opposition to privatization as are elected Democrats. Other organizations that are trying to resist the tide of reducing benefits and privatization of Social Security and Medicare are THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, THE ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS, SOCIAL SECURITY WORKS as well as others. It is shaping up to be an uphill battle fraught with challenges.
Recommended: Know your US Senators and elected Congressional Legislator. Call them regularly. Tell them how and why SS and Medicare are critical to you maintaining a dignified, independent lifestyle. http://www.whoismyrepresentative.com