Democratic Party Plan: Pelosi's first 100 hours

[Steeplerot]

As in the first 100 hours the House meets after Democrats ? in her fondest wish ? win control in the Nov. 7 midterm elections and Pelosi takes the gavel as the first Madam Speaker in history.

Day One: Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."

Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step. Cut the interest rate on student loans in half. Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.

Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds ? "I hope with a veto-proof majority," she added in an Associated Press interview Thursday.All the days after that: "Pay as you go," meaning no increasing the deficit, whether the issue is middle class tax relief, health care or some other priority.

To do that, she said, Bush-era tax cuts would have to be rolled back for those above "a certain level." She mentioned annual incomes of $250,000 or $300,000 a year and higher, and said tax rates for those individuals might revert to those of the

Clinton era. Details will have to be worked out, she emphasized.

"We believe in the marketplace," Pelosi said of Democrats, then drew a contrast with Republicans. "They have only rewarded wealth, not work."


Sounds good to me, dunno how they are going to kill off lobbyists corruption though overnight, it's a huge problem.

 

[maluckey]

I feel that the House may not be able to accomplish as much as they think that they can. Only taxing the rich means nothing as far as debt to income ratio in the United States. It's really only a smoke and mirrors thing meant to appease the masses. It won't affect much except the opinion of those feeble minded enough to follow rhetoric instead of substance. I'd really like the Democrats to take care of their child...Social Security. It will be bankrupt through it's own waste and inefficiency within 10-15 years. they have talked much about fixing it. I'd like to see it. I am tired of paying for something that I will never see. Immigration is another thing that could give them a good name. Do ANYTHING positive about reducing the illegal invasion and they will be saints to the average Joe.

One GOOD thing of her (pelosi) being the Speaker of the house is that her every move will be scrutinized. Until recently, half of America didn't know who she was.

 

[magomago]

1) Good luck with that on just the first day. Most people in congress are beholden to special interests, so to get them to cut that off is a very tough thing. It would be nice to see corportaions or any special interests group banned from donating money to a candidate...like canda 😉

2) Not bad, but saying we will enact it and actually watching it happen are two different things...if their idea is making more bloat like the TSA - hold on. But if its real constructure ideas to effciently and quickly scan cargo while keeping that delay absoutely minimal it sounds like a good thing

3) raising it to 7.25 won't affect much, as most people probably get paid 7-8/hour for starting.

4) Good - lets hope there are enough moderate republicans to get along with that research

5) Okay not bad - i like the idea of rewarding work; but any raise should be accompanied by cuts, else it will be "tax and spend"

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: maluckey
I feel that the House may not be able to accomplish as much as they think that they can. Only taxing the rich means nothing as far as debt to income ratio in the United States. It's really only a smoke and mirrors thing meant to appease the masses. It won't affect much except the opinion of those feeble minded enough to follow rhetoric instead of substance. I'd really like the Democrats to take care of their child...Social Security. It will be bankrupt through it's own waste and inefficiency within 10-15 years. they have talked much about fixing it. I'd like to see it. I am tired of paying for something that I will never see. Immigration is another thing that could give them a good name. Do ANYTHING positive about reducing the illegal invasion and they will be saints to the average Joe.

One GOOD thing of her (pelosi) being the Speaker of the house is that her every move will be scrutinized. Until recently, half of America didn't know who she was.

Uh no SS wont be bankrupt, it has plenty of assests to last until 2040. Its just that it will starting paying out more than its taking, in which becomes a problem, because the Fed has used the SS money to fund other spending. But technically there is money there, the the Govt owes the SS fund.

SS isnt an issue, a few minor adjustments and its solvent infinitly. Medicad on the other hand is a huge liability, that no major offical on either side has even wanted to talk about.

If we stop spending $3billion a week in Iraq and repeal parts of Bush's tax cut, we could start solving some financial problems.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: magomago
1) Good luck with that on just the first day. Most people in congress are beholden to special interests, so to get them to cut that off is a very tough thing. It would be nice to see corportaions or any special interests group banned from donating money to a candidate...like canda 😉

2) Not bad, but saying we will enact it and actually watching it happen are two different things...if their idea is making more bloat like the TSA - hold on. But if its real constructure ideas to effciently and quickly scan cargo while keeping that delay absoutely minimal it sounds like a good thing

3) raising it to 7.25 won't affect much, as most people probably get paid 7-8/hour for starting.

4) Good - lets hope there are enough moderate republicans to get along with that research

5) Okay not bad - i like the idea of rewarding work; but any raise should be accompanied by cuts, else it will be "tax and spend"

Depends on where they live. It will effect almost ANY student worker, as they get paid 5.15-6.00 unless they are doing something like IT Tech Support or are a Research assistant.

Also raising the minimum wage will increase everyones wages. The Fed will need to keep inflation after the hike or the hike in min wage will mean nothing.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Steeplerot
As in the first 100 hours the House meets after Democrats ? in her fondest wish ? win control in the Nov. 7 midterm elections and Pelosi takes the gavel as the first Madam Speaker in history.

Day One: Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."

Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step. Cut the interest rate on student loans in half. Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.

Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds ? "I hope with a veto-proof majority," she added in an Associated Press interview Thursday.All the days after that: "Pay as you go," meaning no increasing the deficit, whether the issue is middle class tax relief, health care or some other priority.

To do that, she said, Bush-era tax cuts would have to be rolled back for those above "a certain level." She mentioned annual incomes of $250,000 or $300,000 a year and higher, and said tax rates for those individuals might revert to those of the

Clinton era. Details will have to be worked out, she emphasized.

"We believe in the marketplace," Pelosi said of Democrats, then drew a contrast with Republicans. "They have only rewarded wealth, not work."


Sounds good to me, dunno how they are going to kill off lobbyists corruption though overnight, it's a huge problem.

Much ado about nothing here, don't you think?

Dems rely on lobbyists and special interests just as much as the Pubs, so any talk to the contrary is going to end up just being smoke and mirrors.

Enacting all the recommendations by the 9/11 committee would mean significant inroads into personal privacy.

Wal-Mart already starts its employees above $7.25/hr. even in states that don't have their own minimum wage (my state's minimum wage is already $7.50/hr. and set to go to $7.80/hr the 1st of the year, and covers restaurant workers who get tips), so such a pathetically small increase really isn't going to do anything for the working poor, much less the struggling middle class who average $20/hr. already.

And funding stem cell research is something that can be done and should be done by private industry because there is so much potential profit in it. Federal funding of it will just amount to a corporate subsidy.

Really... is this what the far left thinks gave victory to the Dems? You better think again.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Originally posted by: Steeplerot
As in the first 100 hours the House meets after Democrats ? in her fondest wish ? win control in the Nov. 7 midterm elections and Pelosi takes the gavel as the first Madam Speaker in history.

Day One: Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."

A good start. We'll see if it actually happens.

Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Uh, duh? You mean we spent millions on that commission for a reason? Crazy!

Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step.

Raising the minimum wage is obviously well-supported according to yesterday's various ballot measures. I find arguments against raising it well worth considering however. Perhaps a gradually incremented raise over the next few years is a good compromise? Or better yet, at least pass legislation keeping Congress from giving itself pay raises until it raises the minimum wage - I think everyone regardless of party affiliation can agree that's a good idea!

Cut the interest rate on student loans in half.

Good. Education is too expensive as it is.

Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.

I'm not familiar enough with this idea to have a strong opinion, but it sounds like something worth exploring.

Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds

That gets a Howard Dean Scream from me!

All the days after that: "Pay as you go," meaning no increasing the deficit, whether the issue is middle class tax relief, health care or some other priority.

Fiscal responsibility championed by Democrats? Whoa! Satan must be ice skating, haha.

To do that, she said, Bush-era tax cuts would have to be rolled back for those above "a certain level." She mentioned annual incomes of $250,000 or $300,000 a year and higher, and said tax rates for those individuals might revert to those of the
Clinton era. Details will have to be worked out, she emphasized.

Meh, smoke & mirrors meant to appease the masses. The last time I checked (I could be wrong), this has little overall effect on tax revenues.

"We believe in the marketplace," Pelosi said of Democrats, then drew a contrast with Republicans. "They have only rewarded wealth, not work."

While this is true to an extent, this type of class warfare is the thing I hate most about Dems. Most upper-middle class & even most upper class folks have worked for what they have. I've never met someone who makes between 250k & a million a year who wasn't a doctor, a lawyer, a small-to-medium sized business owner, or someone else who didn't bust their ass to get where they are. There are far, far fewer people who really haven't achieved what they have (those who inherit)... Instead of taxing people who make a quarter million a year (hell, in some places that's not even rich anymore), they should hike the estate tax.

 

[Wreckem]

Im all for cutting student loan interest rates to 3.4%.

 

[Wreckem]

Shes talking about the increasingly stupid amounts corporate execs are making. The marketplace has increased most companies profits by a huge percent, but all that profit is going into the hands of the upper execs.

 

[BMW540I6speed]

She will have to make certain that the Democrats proceed with the appropriate inquiries. The goal is to hold the Bush administration accountable without appearing vindictive. (See Newt Gingrich and Tom DeLay for a lesson in how not to do this.) My hunch is that many Americans--especially¬?those outside the party faithful¬?whom the Democrats will want to keep on their side for 2008--will prefer to see Democrats producing legislative accomplishments rather than acrimonious investigations. But there are plenty of probes that can proceed. Representative Henry Waxman, the new chairman of the government reform committee, should investigate thoroughly the failed reconstruction in Iraq. An estimated $45 billion of the $80 billion spent on Iraq reconstruction has gone down the drain of fraud and waste. What taxpayer would not like to see this fully investigated?

Pelosi and the Democrats--including those in the Senate, if they gain control there--ought to pick their investigations carefully and strategically. (Yes, this means staying away from any talk of impeachment.) But a prudent approach will hardly limit the opportunities. Take global warming. An investigation of how the Bush administration has suppressed scientific data showing the problem of global warming, coupled with hearings on the administrations refusal to do anything significant to redress this threat, could play well.

 

[Steeplerot]

Originally posted by: Vic


Really... is this what the far left thinks gave victory to the Dems? You better think again.

:laugh: Evil far left ooga booga, libertarians = helped righties everywhere lose last night, congrats

 

[Steeplerot]

Originally posted by: BMW540I6speed

Pelosi and the Democrats--including those in the Senate, if they gain control there--ought to pick their investigations carefully and strategically. (Yes, this means staying away from any talk of impeachment.) But a prudent approach will hardly limit the opportunities. Take global warming. An investigation of how the Bush administration has suppressed scientific data showing the problem of global warming, coupled with hearings on the administrations refusal to do anything significant to redress this threat, could play well.

Pelosi has said impeachment is not on the table a few days ago.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Wreckem
Depends on where they live. It will effect almost ANY student worker, as they get paid 5.15-6.00 unless they are doing something like IT Tech Support or are a Research assistant.

Also raising the minimum wage will increase everyones wages. The Fed will need to keep inflation after the hike or the hike in min wage will mean nothing.

Originally posted by: Wreckem
Im all for cutting student loan interest rates to 3.4%.

Trying to eat your cake and have it too? 😕

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Steeplerot

Originally posted by: Vic
Really... is this what the far left thinks gave victory to the Dems? You better think again.

:laugh: Evil far left ooga booga, libertarians = helped righties everywhere lose last night, congrats

I should have known I couldn't have expected you to post anything relevant or even moderately intelligent. :roll:

This might come as a shock to your dim bulb, but the Libertarians were hoping the Pubs would lose last night, especially considering all the moderates the Dems ran.
You seem to miss the big picture. The Dems ran to the middle, and abandoned you on the far left.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Wreckem
Depends on where they live. It will effect almost ANY student worker, as they get paid 5.15-6.00 unless they are doing something like IT Tech Support or are a Research assistant.

Also raising the minimum wage will increase everyones wages. The Fed will need to keep inflation after the hike or the hike in min wage will mean nothing.

Originally posted by: Wreckem
Im all for cutting student loan interest rates to 3.4%.

Trying to eat your cake and have it too? 😕

6.8% is way to high for "student loans". I could get an auto loan for less.

No, Im just bitter some people were able to lock in less than 3%, while all new students are raked over the coals.

And no, I dont need a min wage increase, I have actual work experiance. I could get get a job paying better than the proposed min wage. Although $7.25 and not having to pay SS/Medicad is attractive more so since most student worker jobs you do practically nothing.

 

[maluckey]

You seem to miss the big picture. The Dems ran to the middle, and abandoned you on the far left.

More than most imagine...this is VERY true.

The left was abandoned, the right was snubbed for it's inability to produce dramatic results. We have a good start for some fresh ideas and talents. Let's hope they use it well. 2 years isn't much time with the fickle masses.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Wreckem
6.8% is way to high for "student loans". I could get an auto loan for less.

No, Im just bitter some people were able to lock in less than 3%, while all new students are raked over the coals.

Auto loans are secured by tangible collateral. That means lower risk which means lower cost. Student loans are considered to be very risky, which is why the government has to insure and subsidize them.

I'll admit that the big step up in rates was unfair, but at the same time, you were discussing raising wages, minimizing inflation, and lowering rates all at the same time. If you can actually be the first to figure out how to do that, I'm sure the Fed would be more than happy to help you pay off your student loans and then some.

 

[Steeplerot]

Originally posted by: Vic
The Dems ran to the middle, and abandoned you on the far left.

Sorry, for example in 2004 Kerry was centrist, he was for Iraq war and he lost,

With people speaking out like now I would say you are very incorrect.
Just looking at the dems centrist policys 2 years ago, they are far more in touch with voters nowdays and they rallied the base last night, and poor libertarians are still the right-wings bastard stepchild crying in the corner alone.

(I am sure if you are nice the Green party will share some of the good smoke with you.)

 

[Genx87]

I heard all you need to do to get people out of poverty is raise min wage. It instantly creates wealth. I am surprised it hasnt been raised to 1 million dollars an hour. I would become a millionaire overnight and rich!

To do that, she said, Bush-era tax cuts would have to be rolled back for those above "a certain level." She mentioned annual incomes of $250,000 or $300,000 a year and higher, and said tax rates for those individuals might revert to those of the

Clinton era. Details will have to be worked out, she emphasized.

This is key imo. The idea they go after the rich when instead they are really targetting that tax bracket which is very small business owner heavy.

 

[BMW540I6speed]

Hey guys...step away from the computer and put the "left" vs "right" , "lib" vs "neocon" pom-poms & cheerleading dress in the closet and stop lableing people in debate & discussion...its really a joke...

The Democrats need to brand themselves, quickly, as the party that stands up for ordinary working Americans. There's very low hanging fruit, like raising the minimum wage, removing the negotiation ban on Medicare part D, allowing Canadian pharmaceuticals in. Things even Bush won't dare to veto.

Quiet investigation, preparatory to public hearings, can go on in parallel.

The second thing the Dems need to do is to brand themselves as bipartisan on the war. Here "bipartisan" has nothing to do with playing pattycake with Bush. It has to do with playing pattycake with the Baker commission, and with the growing body of Republicans who would rather not have ongoing carnage in Iraq necklacing their Congressional chances in '08.

The Dems must impose bipartisanship on the GOP as the precondition for bailing them out of Dubya's Excellent Adventure. Only with Republican signatures on the dotted line does the war end. This means, first, that the pundits and right wingers will not be able to claim afterwards that "We would have won in Iraq, if only the Democrats hadn't forced us to cut and run." Or at least will not be able to make the claim pass the general public's laugh test.

And it means, second, that Democrats will get credit (even among some of the punditry) for bipartisanship and changing the tone. It may even become part of the brand. And that will further strengthen them when the investigations are unleashed.

Finally, they should brand themselves as cleaning up the corruption. Rather than a single bill, they should introduce each reform as a separate bill, with its own ballyhoo. March it through and dare the Republicans to obstruct it. A lot of that can be done as chamber rules, not even subject to presidential veto.

When all that's done, the public will have a reasonably fair notion of what the Democrats stand for, concerning which they are just now clueless . Just bulling full steam ahead with all the overdue oversight, without seeing to branding first, could forestall it all.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: Wreckem

Originally posted by: maluckey
I feel that the House may not be able to accomplish as much as they think that they can. Only taxing the rich means nothing as far as debt to income ratio in the United States. It's really only a smoke and mirrors thing meant to appease the masses. It won't affect much except the opinion of those feeble minded enough to follow rhetoric instead of substance. I'd really like the Democrats to take care of their child...Social Security. It will be bankrupt through it's own waste and inefficiency within 10-15 years. they have talked much about fixing it. I'd like to see it. I am tired of paying for something that I will never see. Immigration is another thing that could give them a good name. Do ANYTHING positive about reducing the illegal invasion and they will be saints to the average Joe.

One GOOD thing of her (pelosi) being the Speaker of the house is that her every move will be scrutinized. Until recently, half of America didn't know who she was.

Uh no SS wont be bankrupt, it has plenty of assests to last until 2040. Its just that it will starting paying out more than its taking, in which becomes a problem, because the Fed has used the SS money to fund other spending. But technically there is money there, the the Govt owes the SS fund.

SS isnt an issue, a few minor adjustments and its solvent infinitly. Medicad on the other hand is a huge liability, that no major offical on either side has even wanted to talk about.

If we stop spending $3billion a week in Iraq and repeal parts of Bush's tax cut, we could start solving some financial problems.

What assets? The IOU's congres wrote to itself and the tax payers have to pay when they are turned in? People act like there is a vault with a bunch of money just waiting to be used. The fact is there are bonds that have to be paid back by the tax payer.

Any excess cash from surplus's have been spent long ago and will continue to be spent until the day comes to start making the tax payer pay for the deficit.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Wreckem
6.8% is way to high for "student loans". I could get an auto loan for less.

No, Im just bitter some people were able to lock in less than 3%, while all new students are raked over the coals.

Auto loans are secured by tangible collateral. That means lower risk which means lower cost. Student loans are considered to be very risky, which is why the government has to insure and subsidize them.

I'll admit that the big step up in rates was unfair, but at the same time, you were discussing raising wages, minimizing inflation, and lowering rates all at the same time. If you can actually be the first to figure out how to do that, I'm sure the Fed would be more than happy to help you pay off your student loans and then some.

Hey I never said all three can happen. I just said the fed would have to try and keep inflation in check.

Also the vast majority of student loans arent subsidized by the Govt.

Whats really unfair is not only the sharp rise in student loan rates, but the sharp rise in tution over the past ~two years.

New students are getting raped up the ass without lube.

Thankfully, I have undergrad scholarships that will save me $12k in loans.

 

[BMW540I6speed]

Furthermore...

We will learn a lot about Pelosi by 1. Her selection of Chairman of the House Ethics Committee, and whether she rubberstamps the Republican "investigation" of the House Page Scandal; and, 2. Her selection of Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee (there appear to be no good choices here; we'll see what she pulls out of her hat).

As for the Senate, keep in mind that if the Democrats control the Senate, Mr. Gates will be facing Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearings, and Mr. Levin knows all about Iran-Contra. He also knows more than a little about Iraq.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: Wreckem

Originally posted by: maluckey
I feel that the House may not be able to accomplish as much as they think that they can. Only taxing the rich means nothing as far as debt to income ratio in the United States. It's really only a smoke and mirrors thing meant to appease the masses. It won't affect much except the opinion of those feeble minded enough to follow rhetoric instead of substance. I'd really like the Democrats to take care of their child...Social Security. It will be bankrupt through it's own waste and inefficiency within 10-15 years. they have talked much about fixing it. I'd like to see it. I am tired of paying for something that I will never see. Immigration is another thing that could give them a good name. Do ANYTHING positive about reducing the illegal invasion and they will be saints to the average Joe.

One GOOD thing of her (pelosi) being the Speaker of the house is that her every move will be scrutinized. Until recently, half of America didn't know who she was.

Uh no SS wont be bankrupt, it has plenty of assests to last until 2040. Its just that it will starting paying out more than its taking, in which becomes a problem, because the Fed has used the SS money to fund other spending. But technically there is money there, the the Govt owes the SS fund.

SS isnt an issue, a few minor adjustments and its solvent infinitly. Medicad on the other hand is a huge liability, that no major offical on either side has even wanted to talk about.

If we stop spending $3billion a week in Iraq and repeal parts of Bush's tax cut, we could start solving some financial problems.

What assets? The IOU's congres wrote to itself and the tax payers have to pay when they are turned in? People act like there is a vault with a bunch of money just waiting to be used. The fact is there are bonds that have to be paid back by the tax payer.

Any excess cash from surplus's have been spent long ago and will continue to be spent until the day comes to start making the tax payer pay for the deficit.

The IOUs are assests, they are government bonds. Yes the tax payer is fcked. But the government has to pay those back. So no Social Security isnt bankrupt.

Doing away with early retirement, raising the retirement age to 70, adjusting the COLA, doing away with the ~$90k cap on payroll taxes, and stopping the funding of govt spending with SS funds would go a LONG way to helping the SS situation.

Then again all the spending on the Iraq war would have gone even further.

 

[Wreckem]