THE TENSION: Update: 9/11 Commission Recommendations Mostly Implemented?

Democrat's promises unfulfilled.
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.

Editor's note: This story was blogged here a full day ahead of its appearance on the Drudge Report.

Today's developments:

Update: Democrats Reject Key 9/11 Panel Suggestion
(Washington Post) -- It was a solemn pledge, repeated by Democratic leaders and candidates over and over: If elected to the majority in Congress, Democrats would implement all of the recommendations of the bipartisan commission that examined the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

But with control of Congress now secured, Democratic leaders have decided for now against implementing the one measure that would affect them most directly: a wholesale reorganization of Congress to improve oversight and funding of the nation's intelligence agencies. Instead, Democratic leaders may create a panel to look at the issue and produce recommendations, according to congressional aides and lawmakers.

Update: Pelosi: Republicans Continue Indefensible Record of Underfunding Homeland Security
WASHINGTON, June 13 (U.S. Newswire) -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the Emergency Supplemental appropriations bill, which includes funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, homeland security, and Hurricane Katrina recovery. The bill passed in the House today by a vote of 351 to 67.

"Republicans' misplaced priorities mean America is not as safe it should be. Democrats have a new direction for the American people -- one that will fully implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and make the security of the American people a top priority."

Update: Democrats have a plan for changes if victorious
WASHINGTON (Las Vegas Sun) -- With fewer than five weeks to go before the mid-term election and the very real possibility that Democrats could take over the House - and in some scenarios the Senate - the question comes naturally: Just what would Democrats do if they were in charge?

Reid said if Democrats take power, they would work to redeploy troops off the battlefields. Renew efforts to fire Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Fully implement the 9-11 Commission's recommendations. Rebuild the military, which some estimates show needs a $75 billion investment to bring it back up to pre war levels of readiness.