As she assumed control of Congress this morning, new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said:

We've waited over 200 years for this time....America's working women, women working at home, whatever they choose to do, they have a friend in the Capitol of the United States."

[img_assist|fid=2689|thumb=1|alt=Nancy Pelosi]

Well, thank you Madam Speaker. How can we help you?

Pelosi and her fellow House Democrats have taken on a lot in their first 100 hour plan:

“These are things we said we would do if we are in charge and would make a direct impact on Americans’ lives.”

Under the current Democratic schedule, the Sept. 11 measure would be followed by a vote on increasing the federal minimum wage to $7.25 over two years. Next would come legislation expanding embryonic stem cell research that was vetoed last year by Mr. Bush. Democrats would then move to eliminate a prohibition on federal officials’ negotiating with pharmaceutical companies for lower prices for those enrolled in the Medicare drug program.

After that, Democrats are planning to take up a proposal to cut the interest rate on federally subsidized student loans to 3.4 percent from 6.8 percent. Lastly, Democrats hope to wind up on Jan. 18 with legislation that seeks to make sure that oil companies pay adequate royalties on disputed leases, rolls back some industry subsidies from a recent energy bill and creates a renewable energy reserve to try to spur investment in new technologies and conservation.

Before getting to those bills, House Democrats said they would move immediately upon taking control Thursday to pass broad ethics rules including a ban on gifts and meals from lobbyists and restrictions on travel provided by outside groups. On Friday, they will vote on disclosure of earmarks and new budget rules to prohibit deficit spending.

The leadership plans to allow some of the party’s freshmen to sponsor changes so they can begin building a record and reputation to defend their seats in 2008.