When Obama's Legislative Agenda Becomes Reality

Fast forward to November 2010 when Members of Congress face mid term elections. From what I can tell, it will make 1994 look like a cake walk for Democrats. That is saying quite a bit, considering the Democrats held a 56 percent majority in the Senate that was changed to a 55 percent Republican majority. In the US House it went from 258 Democrats to 204 and 176 Republicans to 231. It was the first time in decades that the Republicans held both Houses of Congress. It was a slaughter for the Democrats and many consider it a referendum on Bill Clinton's first two years and a reaction to corruption among Democrats in the US Congress (of particular concern was the large number in that party that wrote bad checks at the House bank that were covered by tax payer dollars).

In 2010 we have millions of Americans up in arms over bailouts to major businesses and an ambitions President with a political agenda that has under gone very little vetting. We have seen arrogance and elitism from Obama like we have witnessed from no other president and he has, ironically gone around the world apologizing for the "arrogance" of the American people. He has given us our first double digit employment in over a quarter of a century (in real numbers) and has spent more in the first hundred days of his administration than Ronald Reagan did in two terms. The President and those who support him are very vulnerable.


This is becoming all the more clear by simply looking at the man who sets the policy agenda in the US Senate. Harry Reid (D-NV) is fighting for his political life in his reelection for 2010 and often finds himself saying "no" to a second stimulus and is delaying the vote on Obama's health care agenda. This is not due to the economic consequences of these bills, but because of the political consequences as he faces a very difficult election in just over a year.


So with things looking so bad, when will the Obama agenda become law? Well, I don't have a crystal ball, but I feel very confident that I can narrow it down to around 90 days. I don't think Republicans will win a majority in the US Senate (because of the seats that are up for reelection this cycle), but I believe it will be a complete wipe out in the House. Ironically, it will be after this defeat of the Democrats that huge portions of Obama's most controversial bills will become law. The reason for this is simple, after the elections of November of 2010 and before the new Congress that is seated in 2011, both Houses will aggressively pursue Obama's agenda as a going away present to the American voters that threw them out. Cynical? Maybe, but I worked for the Senate and have been observing their behaviors for over two decades. This is more than a hunch, but something you can take to the bank.


Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on AM 650 (M-F at 11 am) in Houston, Texas and on AOL Radio. His articles often appear in Chicago Sun Times, Reuters, USA Today, and other national media. Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com. You can also find Price on Strategy Room at FoxNews.com.