WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – Change is coming to Washington, DC – as President Joe Biden starts his first day in office, while Democrats regain control of the White House.
It is a grand opening unlike anything in modern American history. The country’s capital was shaken by the Capitol riot, threats to national security, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a second impeachment against former President Donald Trump.
But despite all this, lawmakers on both sides of the corridor, Georgia and South Carolina, still attended the inauguration to support the democratic process.
“Security is – I’ve never seen anything like it …” pondered Georgia Republican Congressman Rick Allen.
A new chapter begins in Washington. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris take office, surrounded by tens of thousands of National Guard soldiers and police.
Georgia GOP congressman Rick Allen voted against certifying the results of the Electoral College for Biden. But as chairman of the Georgia Republican Congressional delegation, he felt it was his responsibility to attend today’s inauguration.
“I’m sure I will not agree with the policies they are implementing because I don’t think some of these things are going to be good for the country, but at the same time, it needs to cut the rhetoric and we need to move on,” said Allen of the next Biden government.
The threats posed by COVID-19 and the recent political violence in DC meant that fewer lawmakers attended the event.
Allen and his fellow Republican Georgia congressman Buddy Carter were in the crowd to honor the democratic process.
“It is a special moment in the life of our country when a new president is installed and, as I said before, I am committed to trying to work with this government,” said Representative Buddy Carter (R-Ga.).
With Democrats in control of the House and regaining power in the Senate and the White House, Democratic Congressman Jim Clyburn, the House majority leader, says he hopes the new leadership will put the country on a better path.
“Working with the administration is going to be great, I mean, compared to what we’ve been through the past four years,” said Rep. Jim Clyburn (DS.C.).
“We will be able to bring in a lot of bipartisan support to go beyond COVID-19,” said Clyburn.
Both Republicans and Democrats say the economic relief from COVID-19 will be a priority. Many leaders are also calling for a major infrastructure package to be a bipartisan political goal.
Copyright 2021 Gray DC. All rights reserved.