As we usher in a new year it is also a time for many people to wipe the slate clean and start the dawn of a new day. Likewise, this new year brings the start of a new Congress and the end of one riddled with corruption and scandal. So what will 2007 bring us?

There was a movement of reform in many parts of the country. Here in Pennsylvania 2006 brought forth the demise of many entrenched and crooked State Legislators who felt the voters wrath and were replaced with those promising to bring a wave of reform to our state. The fighting has already begun in our State House, which the Democrats took control of with a mere one seat majority, presumably ascending the top ranking Democrat, William DeWeese, to the Speaker’s chair. However, one Democrat has already voted publically to vote against DeWeese and rather for the Republican because DeWeese has been part of the problem over the years, not the solution, according to his views. However, the Republican challenger, the current House Speaker, John Perzel, has been just as complicite with the shananigans in Harrisburg, if not more so, than DeWeese, and several new House Republicans that have been elected on the promise of reform have vowed not to support Perzel, so quite an ugly battle is now brewing.

At the Federal level, the Democrats have promised to end the “culture of corruption” in D.C., although early actions from incoming Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, D-California, have not been very promising in terms of some of her support and decision making. The Democrats ran several centrist and conservative candidates in order to snag the House back from the Republicans so the big question remains to be seen if they will govern as promised with an honest hand and a centrist message rather than a radical left agenda. More importantly, will the Republicans learn from their mistakes that their abandonment of Reagan ideals was the death knell of the November 7th elections? Considering the usual suspects got reelected to leadership with little resistance isn’t hopeful, but perhaps being in the min0rity again will force them to return to their roots to earn back our respect and support.

Here’s to a new year and a clear start.