Posted on 06/16/2006 4:37:30 AM PDT by IrishMike
Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives this fall, they are vowing to pursue an aggressive agenda in their first week in power that would hike the minimum wage, slash interest rates on student loans, and install a new package of restrictions on lobbying activities that is designed to increase accountability in government.
Article Tools Printer friendly E-mail to a friend Nation RSS feed Available RSS feeds Most e-mailed Reprints & Licensing More: Globe Nation stories | Latest national news | Globe front page | Boston.com Sign up for: Globe Headlines e-mail | Breaking News Alerts House Democratic leaders hope the ``New Direction" platform they outlined yesterday will persuade voters to select Democratic candidates in this fall's mid-term congressional elections. Though House Democrats bristle at comparisons to Republicans' 1994 ``Contract With America," the wide range of domestic proposals represent an answer to the GOP's oft-repeated charge that Democrats lack ideas for governing.
``This is a unified Democratic message," House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said yesterday in an interview. ``This is a national message about core values that the Democratic Party will fight for and take us in a new direction. Democrats are wedded to that. It defines us, rather than have the Republicans define us."
Democrats need to pick up 15 seats in the 435-member House to take control of the legislative chamber that shifted to Republican hands in the 1994 elections. Analysts say Democrats could take those seats if voter anger fuels an anti-incumbent wave, but they caution that the small number of politically competitive districts make s such gains extremely difficult.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
The Democrats have no record from which to cite from. The Democrats "New Direction For America" agenda is inspired by their glory days of the past, and seeks to drag this country backward and downward.
minimum wage
lobbying reform
lower interest rates (?)
First, the raising of the minimum wage might attract some from that pay scale whose aspirations go no higher than staying at that pay scale. For those who have dreams of making much more, they will be ripe for a campaign based on dreams and initiative.
Second, "lobbying reform" is a loser issue. I don't hear anyone running around with "lobbying reform" on their lips.
Third, lower interest rates than the lowest of the last hundred years or so? They're playing right into the hands of the Republicans who brought them the lower rates.
Isn't there a word missing here?
Like "If" ???
...Democrats still won't be able to overcome ``their record of obstruction and negligence."
Another great line.
Hey, but it's a plan. Finally something concrete the Democrats can lose on.
No mention of tort reform by the dems?
ha ha ha.
The media is attempting to annoint the Dems the winner far ahead of time.
They truly believe that voters can be "assimilated" and marched to the booths inevitably to pull the lever in their favor.
(You are getting sleepy....sleeeeeepeeee....vote demo-socialist.....)
What exactly are them two beetles or cockroaches rolling out ?
I take it you are unfamiliar with Dung beatles?
They are dung eaters. These two are taking their feast to the nearest DNC office. ;)
to
New Frontier
to
New Direction
=
New Improved
My understanding is that many union contract wages are tied to the minimum wage -- every time a lib talks about raising the minimum wage, it's really a biscut being thrown to the labor unions.
Bingo! The type of jobs that command "minimum wage" have played the role of transitional positions that expose the young person to the workaday world, introduce them to the expectations of the workplace, develop workplace interaction skills etc. "Living wageists" want to destroy this concept by turning these type of positions into posts where the expected turnover stops and lumps that camp out for life populate these positions.
The market itself would set a real minimum wage if they'd just leave it alone.
Who knows...in this era when we're being told we have jobs that "Americans won't take," then maybe we should let the market set the wages for those positions.
The harder to find people, the more you have to bid. I think that's the way it works, isn't it?
"Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives this fall"
So, the Dems have gained control of the House? It's not November yet and Dems are notorious for shooting themselves in the foot before elections.
What do you mean? They just voted every working man and woman in Congress a $3000 pay raise. Doesn't that count?
In many regions of the country, competition for employees is so high you can't even get anyone to work for the minimum wage, esp. now when the unemployment rate is so low.
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