The new face of Congress has two mouths. One talks the talk, the other talks the walk, says Anayat Durrani Two years of Democratic dominance in Washington has come to an end. The 112th session of Congress convened on Capitol Hill, with Republicans holding a 242 to 193 majority, but with Democrats still in control in the Senate. Boehner became the 61st speaker of the House, and second in line for the presidency, swearing to "give government back to the people" and bring an end to congressional gridlock. Now securely in control of the House, Boehner expressed openness to dissent, debate and discussion from the Democrats. First on the agenda, Republicans plan to take on President Barack over healthcare and carry out the wishes of voters to "end business as usual". Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, the first woman speaker in US history, passed the gavel to Boehner saying Democrats "extend a hand of friendship [to Republicans] to create jobs, grow the middle class, and reduce the deficit" and "look for common ground" to find solutions to problems for Americans. Pelosi assumed her role as the new House minority leader. "The American people have humbled us," said Boehner. "They have refreshed our memories as to just how temporary the privilege to serve is. They have reminded us that everything here is on loan from them. That includes this gavel, which I accept cheerfully and gratefully, knowing I am but its caretaker. After all, this is the people's House." The new Republican House majority vowed to change the way the chamber operates. The US constitution was read aloud before the House to demonstrate a new way of doing things. Battles will commence in the coming months over spending cuts, deficit reduction, tax policy, immigration and other highly divisive issues. Many of the 63 congressional seats that Republicans captured during the November election went to Tea Party candidates more conservative than Boehner. They are supporters of low taxes and a limited role for government, and may not be as forthcoming to compromise with Democrats. The Republican majority will make legislation seeks to enact more difficult. However, efforts to repeal 's healthcare reform are expected to fail because Democrats still hold a majority in the Senate. In a message posted on the social media network Twitter, said Republicans are determined to reverse the progress made, starting with healthcare reform, and urged Democrats to fight back. Boehner is often referred to as "the tan man," and even joked at the 2009 White House Correspondents' Association dinner that Boehner was a "person of colour". Boehner has been one of 's fiercest opponents in Washington. Opponents of Boehner have characterised him as a "good old boy" who is tight with lobbyists. The Ohio congressman has tried to soften his image, often emphasising his working-class roots and mentioning growing up in a large close-knit family. Boehner surprisingly got off to a good non-partisan start with his handling of the shooting of congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona. Boehner was one of the first members of Congress to condemn the shooting and postponed a vote in the House set for this week on repeal of 's healthcare reform. In a televised statement, Boehner said: "An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve." Boehner led a bipartisan conference call of lawmakers, spouses and aides on Sunday, saying that the shooting should serve as a time for Congress to "lock arms" in unity. But even as both sides of the aisle have come together over the senseless shooting, accusations are already flying from Republicans and Democrats over what led to this tragedy. Some have suggested that the gunman was responding to rhetoric from Tea Partyers that encouraged violence. Democrats have lashed out at former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, whose PAC had targeted Giffords for defeat last November with a graphic use of bulls-eyes. On her website last fall, Palin targeted 20 House districts for Republican takeovers with cross hairs, including Giffords's. Palin also tweeted in March 2010 advising conservatives: "Don't retreat, instead RELOAD." Republicans and Tea Party supporters have fought back citing examples of 's use of questionable rhetoric when speaking of political opponents. During a Philadelphia fundraiser in 2008, quoting the film The Untouchables, then-candidate said, "If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun... Because from what I understand, folks in Philly like a good brawl. I've seen Eagles fans." Then there is Boehner himself, who warned Congressman Steve Driehaus in March that he and other pro-life Democrats who voted for healthcare reform may be in trouble, saying, "He may be a dead man. He can't go home to the west side of Cincinnati. The Catholics will run him out of town." It is exactly this type of divisiveness in politics that Giffords lamented. Hours before the Democratic congresswoman was gunned down, she sent a letter to Republican Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, congratulating him for being hired as director of Harvard University's Institute of Politics. The two had met at a leadership fellowship in 2005 and had kept in touch. Giffords sent the letter to Grayson Friday evening, saying, "We need to figure out how to tone our rhetoric and partisanship down." Meanwhile, American voters can expect more clashes as Republicans and Democrats address issues like the size of government and how much it spends. Boehner said the nation faces high unemployment, high healthcare costs and a growing national debt at $14 trillion. At the same time Republicans embrace low taxes for the rich and refuse to use government to benefit the growing ranks of the poor. Go figure.
