Description: EmploymentCrossing.com A new Democratic White House and an emboldened Democratic Congress are expected to make key changes in several areas of law. Trial lawyers, consumer advocates, civil rights groups, environmentalists and others have had some success moving their agenda items through the Democratic- controlled House in the past two years, only to see many of the more ambitious ones stopped in a Democratic- controlled Senate unable to reach the 60 votes needed to block a Republican filibuster, or unable to overcome the threat of a presidential veto. But in the new congressional session, the situation may change, particularly in the Senate. In the next few weeks, the outcome of three closely contested Senate races will be known, as will the answer to the largest lingering election question: Will Senate Democrats, whose numbers grew to 55 in the election, pick up those three seats, and then, with the fairly reliable assistance of two independent senators, reach the magic 60? Although economic stimulus and financial industry proposals are likely to dominate Congress' agenda, many who work the halls of Congress predict that a number of other proposals - - some supported by President- elect Barack Obama when he was a senator - - will serve as early indication of where the new administration and Congress are headed in particular areas of the law. These changes most likely include workplace legislation - - union elections, equal pay, safety regulation, and protection on the basis of sexual orientation; prohibition on mandatory arbitration; retrenchment on federal pre- emption of state tort suits; and elimination of the crack/powder cocaine disparity in sentencing.

Tags: barackobama congress consumeradvocates democraticparty employmentcrossing.com presidentialveto republican senateseats triallawyers videos whitehouse