9/11 Commission Recommendations Mostly Implemented?

Recall, if you will, the promises made by Democrats in the midterm election to fully implement the changes suggested by the 9/11 Commission.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently announced that the House of Representatives will open the first session of the 110th Congress on Jan. 4, 2007 and will remain in session for several weeks in January.

Pelosi said, "In the first 100 legislative hours, Democrats will get to work immediately to restore civility, integrity and fiscal responsibility to the House, while increasing prosperity, opportunity and security for all Americans."

Included in House Democrats' first 100 legislative hours are:

• Draining the swamp -- break the link between lobbyists and legislation and commit to pay-as-you-go budgeting, no new deficit spending
  
• Making America more secure -- implement the independent 9/11 Commission recommendations
  
• Giving Americans a raise -- increase the minimum wage
  
• Making college more affordable -- cut the interest rate in half on federally subsidized student loans
  
• Making health care more affordable -- negotiate for lower prescription drug prices
  
• Ending subsidies for Big Oil
  
• Giving hope to families with devastating diseases -- allow stem cell research

However, a recent story reported by the Associated Press states Democrats poised to take control of Congress say they'll work to implement the unfinished business the 9/11 Commission recommended to better protect America from terrorists. But it won't be easy. Much of what the commission proposed has been accomplished, at least in some measure. And many other proposals won't get through because they're either too expensive or face stiff political opposition.

Yet, with Democrats eyeing the 2008 presidential election and eager to show they're strong on security issues, analysts say there are no still-lingering proposals that can easily be enacted into law.

The commission in July 2004 made 41 sweeping recommendations to prevent another devastating terrorist attack.

A third of the recommendations urged tighter domestic security and improved emergency response. Another third called for reform of intelligence-gathering and congressional oversight. The rest involved foreign policy issues and nuclear nonproliferation.

But, a year and a half after issuing the recommendations, the commission reconvened and announced that many of its recommendations had not been adequately addressed.

Now that the election is over, and it's up to the Democrats to live up to their promises, they have to lower expectations. It will be interesting to see if the Jersey Girls suddenly show up and start asking questions.

I'm not holding my breath.

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