Democrats Eye Agenda for ’06 Message

[MADem]

Let the GAMES BEGIN!!!!!!!!!! http://www.rollcall.com/issues/51_34/news/10800-1.html (subscription req)

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” ...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.

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...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. ....

[mikelewis]

1. All I want to see is Conyers on the Judiciary Committee....

Nothing else matters right now. Get that man a gavel and the shit will straighten out fast.

[MADem]

2. In order to have the gavel, we have to take back the House

the GOP owns all the chairs right now.

It's why pounding the agenda early and often is so critical. I think the ENERGY INDEPENDENCE thing will resonate, especially after a winter of doubled fuel costs, to say nothing of the pain at the pump everyone is feeling.

[Der Blaue Engel]

3. I like what I see so far

They need to get election reform in there at the top, though, or none of it will matter.

[MADem]

6. This is just the opening salvo, the message will be refined in the weeks

and months ahead. A bit more from the same cited article:

...Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.), a leading centrist New Democrat, said no matter what detailed policies Democrats offer up this cycle, they must also make the broader case for why Republicans should no longer be in charge. He said all of the specific proposals will easily fit into that theme that Republicans “are out of touch.”

“Democrats fell short in ’02 and ’04 because we didn’t make a compelling case of how Republican policies have allowed American families to lose ground,” he said. “We have to make that case.”

Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.), a conservative Democrat and fiscal hawk, said that as part of that pitch, the party must also do a better job showing that a one-party government is dangerous because it provides no accountability. That is particularly the case, he said, when it comes to Republican spending policies that have left the country deep in the red....

[Der Blaue Engel]

9. I like the language here: Dems "fell short" in the last elections

That's quite different from "lost." :thumbsup:

[dubyaD40web]

4. YES!!

We need to get this rolling as fast as possible. The iron is red-hot and we need to be striking it.

We have a real shot of doing some damage in '06. This is it, get our message out there!

[Kolesar]

5. Lead with Climate Change

Energy efficiency, conservation, protecting the air we breathe.

[klyon]

8. that would be good..... the environment

people everywhere can relate to it

KL

[melissinha]

7. why don't they introduce bills with this agenda

and publicize the hell out of the Republican stalling?

ITs not enough to say its your agenda.... I say it will make it easier for us to campaign on their behalf if we can show some real leadership and ideas being presented in both houses NOW, that we can show to the undecided public.

[MADem]

10. Because the way the rules are written, the GOP sets the agenda

They have no voice without getting a GOP toady to help them get the bills to the floor. One party rule has damaged our nation.

[melissinha]

11. ahh you're right.....

so fill me in on bill rejection, is there some type of paperwork that is returned that can be used to prove that "our people" are introducing good bills but to no avail?

[MADem]

12. You can start here

http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d109query.html

[melissinha]

13. Sweet

looks like my rep (Lamar Smith, DeLay lover) loves two things: Sports and patent laws

THey actually waste tax payer money for:

1. H.RES.339 : Congratulating the San Antonio Spurs for winning the 2005 National Basketball Association Championship.

2. H.RES.390 : Congratulating Lance Armstrong on his seventh Tour de France victory and his retirement and recognizing his dedication to helping others.

Get REAL Mr. Smith!!!You suck!

Meanwhile the rep they tried to re-district (Lloyd Doggett) out has all sorts of good environmental and tax law bills.... all waiting in limbo.

MADem, thanks again for your help, this site is being designated as a favorite.

[MADem]

14. You are most welcome and maybe you can help out the people of NOLA

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1845292&mesg_id=1845292

Go to this thread, read it, and call your lazyass Spurs-congratulating, Lance lauding Congressman and tell him to get his ass firmly behind giving voting capabilities to those dispersed from NOLA due to the flood. Tell him you will be watching how he supports this measure, and he had better not try to duck it.

It is important that we raise this issue on behalf of these people, who have no homes, no computers, no phones to call up and gripe, and no real way to make their voices heard.

I am trying to drum up some interest, and all it takes is one phone call, but unfortunately I have not gotten much traction with my call to action (more complaint over word usage re: voting RIGHTS v/ Privileges than promises to call Congress) on that other thread...!!!

[peter from vermont]

15. Still Needed: Unifying Theme/Label: Here's One: The Parternship Society

Still Needed: Unifying Theme/Label: Here's One: "The Parternship Society."

Some elements of this idea: We believe in the importance of personal responsibility and the duty of every citizen to do the best they can to work hard and meet their obligations to society, as best they are able. At the same time, we belive that society, and government owe its citizens the duty to help people when they can't help themselves, and do the big things (protect the environment, support health care systems that work) that people can't do alone.

This is the way partnerships work - partners with unique and different abilities devoted to a common goal of mutual success, support, prosperity and achievement, for individuals and society.

This is very different from the Ownership Society, where each person is permitted their individual block grant of tax breaks (health savings accounts, ira's, set state budgets for medicaid) and allowed to sink or swim on their own. If you fail, too bad, the government has met its very limited obligations to you, and you can't ask for anything more in times of need. This vision of a radically diminished role for government is based on 19th Century concepts of private property. Though it is marketed with appeals to freedom and autonomy (you can invest your retirement dolars more wisely than the federal government) it is really a disguise for a dismantaling of government and the social saftey net.

Partners work together toward a common enterprise, owners trust no one and manage and selfishly manage and protect their assets.

Example:

Partnership model in health care: federal underwriting for catastrophic medical costs that lowers the cost of health insurance and makes it available to everyone.

Ownership model in health care: health savings accounts that the poor amd middle class won't be able pay into.

Anyone think this has legs as a unifying principle?

[txaslftist]

16. My two cents.

If you are trying to figure out how to pay your bills each month, you are a Democrat.

If you are worried about your kids paying for this huge, irresponsible debt, you are a Democrat.

If you think government ought not be for sale, You're thinking like a Democrat.

If you want to elect someone who will be on your side, who will look you in the eye and tell you how it really is, someone who will champion you and isn't any corporation's pocket, you want to elect a Democrat.

If you think its important for kids who are smart enough to get into college to actually go, you are a Democrat.

[BJW]

17. More Platform Issues to Consider...

Reform ERISA to allow claims for punitive damages, allow application of state consumer protection laws, allow for discovery in ERISA-based lawsuits, and prohibit reductions set-off reductions of disability benefits payments for SSD.

Re-establish the fairness in media laws and further restrict corporate control of media airwaves.

Establish basic competency tests for all presidentially appointed positions. (i.e., am ambassador to Spain should ideally have basic fluency in Spanish.)

Eliminate federal subsidies for "luxury" industries--i.e., mink farmers, yacht builders, etc.

Restrict government contracts to domestic corporations and eliminate the foreign incorporation tax loophole.

Expand adoption subsidies and tax credits for people who adopt children.