Rep. Blunt & The 100-Hour Agenda

House Democrats pushed through their 100-hour package of initiatives in less than half the time, but many of the bills that swiftly passed in that chamber will face stiff opposition in the Senate.

What passed?

• A minimum wage hike to $7.25 over three year
• A bill overturning White House restrictions on stem cell research
• A requirement to negotiate Medicare drug prices with the drug companies
• A bill slashing interest rates on student loans
• A bill rolling back tax breaks for energy companies

''Many of the 100-hours 'accomplishments' can't make it through the Senate'' or survive a veto, said Representative Roy Blunt of Missouri, the Republican whip, told the New York Times.

Blunt told the Washington Times the energy legislation would raise the price of gas.

This bill will hurt domestic production and increase the price of oil and gas in this country," said House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, Missouri Republican. "If you take away the oil industry's incentives to invest in domestic production, you increase our dependence on foreign oil."

Environment & Energy daily reports that Blunt tried to stop the energy legislation by using House rules.

"It also came after a last-minute parliamentary maneuver by Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), ultimately unsuccessful, to require a three-fifths majority vote in support of the bill because it would result in a tax hike."