House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
Democrats are going all in behind the public employees who have been so vilified by Republicans throughout the country, rallying behind the
first component of the larger jobs bill that President Obama is proposing, a $35 billion package to get teachers, fire-fighters, and police back to work. To that end,
they're inviting these workers to come to D.C. this week.
A Democratic source says that on Wednesday, the party is likely to host firefighters, cops and other first responders along with teachers who face the threat of being laid off should lawmakers not send additional funds to states. Another source confirmed that preparations are underway for a rally.
The purpose of the affair is straightforward. It aims to put a human face on a legislative effort that would see $30 billion or so spent on education-related jobs and another $5 billion on first responders, all of which would be paid for by placing a tax on income above $1 million. By bringing those individuals who stand to benefit from the bill to Washington D.C., Democrats are practically doing the national press corps' homework for them.
Democrats have learned that that's precisely what you have to do for the national press corps. All the same, it's very smart positioning for the Democrats, highlighting the segment of the 99 percent that has been most attacked by Republicans.