House Democrats Ready 2006 Agenda - Taegan Goddard's Political Wire

[Pirate Smile]

House Democrats Ready 2006 Agenda

"Seeing an opening to reach voters while Republicans are beset by turmoil, House Democrats are privately planning to accelerate the timing of the release of their platform and the major policies they will promote on the campaign trail next year," Roll Call reports.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other House leaders "are putting the finishing touches on what arguably will be Democrats most detailed 'positive' election-year agenda since the party lost power more than a decade ago... An early draft of the agenda outlines the specific initiatives House Democrats will pledge to enact if given control of the House. Leaders have been working on the document for months, and have already started encouraging Members to unify around it and stick to its themes."

Stuart Rothenberg: "Party leaders in the past have faced revolts in their caucuses or been defeated at the polls, but I doubt there has ever been a time when members of the Congressional leadership had as huge a bull’s-eye painted on their backs as they do now."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2005/10/11/house_democrats_ready_2006_agenda.html

Roll Call article:

Democrats Eye Agenda for ’06 Message


By Erin P. Billings
Roll Call Staff


October 11, 2005

Seeing an opening to reach voters while Republicans are beset by turmoil, House Democrats are privately planning to accelerate the timing of the release of their platform and the major policies they will promote on the campaign trail next year.

Key Democratic sources say Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other House leaders are putting the finishing touches on what arguably will be Democrats most detailed “positive� election-year agenda since the party lost power more than a decade ago. Pelosi has been coordinating with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), key Democratic strategists, advisers and outside interest groups on the policy platform as well as the party’s broader 2006 message.

The move comes as many in the party have argued that Democrats need to do more than just complain of Republican excesses and the “culture of corruption� they charge the GOP with fostering.

-snip-
But Democratic leaders are confident this election will be different, and say 2006 presents the perfect opportunity for the party to break through, given that the presidency is not at stake and the focus will be on House and Senate contests. Pelosi last week highlighted many of the forthcoming agenda items that Democrats will be talking about, including health insurance for all Americans and energy independence.

-snip-
Pelosi and other leading Democrats believe they have learned some lessons in working together to defeat President Bush’s effort to reform Social Security. That, sources say, proved to Democrats that they can work together, articulate a message and connect with voters despite the bully pulpit advantage enjoyed by the White House.

http://rollcall.com/issues/51_34/news/10800-1.html

[tx_dem41]

1. This is very good news....

I've been worried that we were going to try to be the anti-Bush party only this coming cycle.

Now if I could only read the leaked details behind the Roll Call curtain.

[AllyCat]

2. I sure hope so. At this point, I don't expect a lot from them

They seem to have taken the position of "lets sit on our hands and see what those wacky Republicans do next!".

Please come up with a plan you guys. And don't make it about Bush! It needs to be about the Repukes AND what YOU are going to do differently.

[AllyCat]

3. bugmenot

try: [e-mail]

and compiled6skates

Worked for me. I'll se what else I can get out of the article.

[Pirate Smile]

6. Thanks. That one works for me also.

I'm going to add it to the OP.

[txaslftist]

4. The question is what is the agenda?

I hope they aren't going with this "we have to be tougher than the Pukes on defense" bs meme I've been hearing from Sen Clinton.

[AllyCat]

5. Here's some generalities from Roll Call:

---snip--

Among the proposals are: “real security” for America through stronger investments in U.S. armed forces and benchmarks for determining when to bring troops home from Iraq; affordable health insurance for all Americans; energy independence in 10 years; an economic package that includes an increase in the minimum wage and budget restrictions to end deficit spending; and universal college education through scholarships and grants as well as funding for the No Child Left Behind act.

Democrats will also promise to return ethical standards to Washington through bipartisan ethics oversight and tighter lobbying restrictions, increase assistance to Katrina disaster victims through Medicaid and housing vouchers, save Social Security from privatization and tighten pension laws.

One Democratic leadership aide said Democrats want to roll out their agenda this fall rather than early next year as leaders originally had planned. This aide suggested that the latest string of events — from the Republican response to Hurricane Katrina, growing concern about the war in Iraq and mounting questions about GOP ethics — made it clear Democrats must move quickly.

---snip---

Of course, they have not included anything about getting the press to report what they say and paper ballots in fair elections so it is all a moot point as far as I'm concerned.

At least they see that it is poignant to bring this out NOW instead of waiting until the spring.