Democrats Unveil New Domestic Agenda

Washington, June 16, 2006 — -- On the same day the House voted in a nonbinding resolution to essentially stay the course in Iraq, Democratic leaders from both houses on Capitol Hill unveiled a new domestic agenda under the slogan "A New Direction for America."

"New Direction" replaces their old slogan "Together, America Can Do Better." It focuses on, among other things, raising the minimum wage and lowering health care costs. Democratic leaders said they would pay for these programs and balance the budget by cutting tax breaks for oil companies and big business. They did not talk about tax levels for individuals.

The agenda, announced today by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California., and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland, is entirely domestic.

The Democrats still have no party agenda on Iraq, though the war did figure into the "New Direction" press conference. Taking questions from reporters, Democratic leaders spent more time talking about Iraq than they did about their new agenda. That issue -- while Democrats don't agree on how to present a unified front against Republicans -- clearly triggers passionate reactions among them.

Referring to the death of al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Pelosi warned "decapitation is not the end of a movement." Reid invoked the now-infamous quote by Vice President Dick Cheney made on May 30, 2005, that the insurgency, even then, was in its "last throes." Reid said the administration was wrong then, and there's nothing yet to indicate the insurgency is in its final throes now.

Leaders of both houses seem to disagree on what the country should do in Iraq. Reid said it remains President Bush's problem for now. "Where's the plan?" Reid asked, his voice raised. "He's the commander in chief. We're not." This is a sentiment echoed by other Democratic senators, including New York's Chuck Schumer.

Pelosi agreed with Democratic representative Jack Murtha, a retired Marine colonel who called for the pullout of American troops back in November 2005. "It's time for a new direction in Iraq." she said.