News - Reports
Government Affairs Group Speaker Meeting - Margo Miller (Democrats Abroad)
Date: 16 January 2007
Venue: CIPR HQ, 32 St. James's Square, London SW1Y 4JR
Speaker: Margo Miller, Chair of Democrats Abroad UK
Subject: The agenda for the 110th US Congress
After the recent Congressional elections in November the Democrats now control both Houses of Congress and the 110th Congress convened on 4th January, electing the first woman Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. This promises a shake up in the direction of American policy with the Democrats promising a six point plan encompassing both domestic and international agendas. The effect on UK policy of governmental change in the US is never to be underestimated - and the shake up of Congress also augurs change in the US public affairs industry with new laws relating to lobbyists being passed in a matter of hours.
Margo Miller is the Chair of the UK Democrats Abroad and is a frequent media commentator on US affairs in this country. She is an active Democratic Party campaigner who has worked in the beltway and now lives in London with her husband and children.
Miller talked to GAG about the agenda for the new US Congress and gave her views on a range of other issues including US-UK relations and the forthcoming US presidential election.
As well as giving the sixty or so assembled members her insightful views on how the Democrats would pursue policy in this Congress she also placed the Congress in historical context. In fact, for those unfamiliar with US politics Miller was invaluable in explaining how the American political system works. And for those well versed in the system or habitual viewers of “The West Wing”, Miller was concise enough to keep everyone engaged.
The meeting, which was filled to capacity, was followed by a drinks reception.
