Gore Raps 'Do-Nothing' Congress

July 10 -- Launching his latest campaign offensive, Vice President Al Gore attacked the Republican-led House and Senate this afternoon for being the “do-nothing Congress of the 21st century.”

The speech, timed for Congress’ return from its Fourth of July break, is the first part of a multi-day offensive Gore plans to make this week, in which he will criticize Congress for not passing legislation on a number of issues, including health care, education, the environment and gun control.

“Instead of taking bipartisan action for prosperity and progress, they have chosen a different course,” the Democratic presidential candidate told an audience at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. “It is time for Congress to listen to the people, and not the powerful.”

In his remarks, Gore outlined several pieces of legislation he wants the House and Senate to pass, including some he has made the focus of his campaign in recent weeks, such as a Democratic-sponsored plan to pay for prescription drugs with Medicare, and a Patients’ Bill of Rights that would allow patients to sue HMOs.

Gore also implored Congress to raise the minimum wage, and urged the hiring of 100,000 new teachers to reduce class sizes across the country.

Broadsides Continue

Today’s speech was a continuation of comments Gore made on Saturday. It also marks the latest in a series of broadsides with a populist bent from the vice president, who has spent the last two weeks accusing major oil and pharmaceutical companies of price-gouging.

In each case, Gore has also sought to link his Republican presidential rival, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, to the issue, emphasizing his background as an oil executive and claiming that Bush has ties to the group Citizens for Better Medicare, which opposes the Democratic plan to use Medicare to pay for prescription drugs.

Today, as he did on Saturday, Gore also attempted to tie Bush to the issue by challenging him to work at spurring Congress into action.