A Refreshing Rush to the Center
From over at the New Democrat Network
“Among other things, hopes increased today for raising the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour. Senate Minority Leader-elect Mitch McConnell look prepared to work with Democrats on a number of things. From The Washington Post:Senate Minority Leader-elect Mitch McConnell (Ky.) described as “easy stuff” much of the Democrats’ opening agenda, including a proposal to boost the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour and a congressional ethics package that would ban gifts, meals and travel from lobbyists, as well as impose new controls on the budget deficit. These issues, however, have not proved to be easy before.
McConnell said he is urging bolder action. He challenged House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader-elect Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) to push for a long-term solution to financing the Social Security system and for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws.
It’s nice to see that Republicans will be willing to work with us, especially in the Senate where the majority is slimmer. But isn’t it a bit ironic that McConnell is urging Dems to act in areas where the 109th fell short? Time to pick up the slack…”
3 Responses to “A Refreshing Rush to the Center”
If by “rush to the center” you mean the Republicans want to alter the Social Security program beloved by the vast majority of Americans under the guise of bipartisanship or to propose measures to slow or block the passage of minimum wage laws supported by the majority of Americans, then you’re right.
Otherwise, you should have called your post: “Democrats propose measures supported by great majorities, Republicans plan political ploys to enrich Wall Street.”
I choose to be optimistic that welcome progress can be made.
Given McConnell’s background I won’t consider it a rush to the center until details come out.