ABC News' Political Unit somehow
dug up Rahm Emmanuel's hopefully-rough copy of the 2006 Legislative Agenda, modeled after the Contract With America, that the Dems promise to enact in their first week of power should they take back the house.
The problem is that, in my opinion, it's rather lackluster given everything going on in the world now. And it's missing a 6th plank.
The agenda and some analysis/commentary after the jump.
Update/Clarification: This is not supposed to be their whole agenda. It's qualified as what they want to accomplish in the first week. That being said, it's a.) a pretty ambitious week and b.) a misnomer to call this "6 in '06" on the Dems part...but no one's saying that's final either.
One of the bright lights of our political unit, Teddy Davis, notes that House Democrats are planning to roll out their version of the Contract with America later this year...
It's catchy (?) title -- "Six in 'o6"....
It's a legislative agenda that includes:
(1) a minimum wage increase;
(2) repealing the portion of the Medicare prescription drug law that prevents Medicare from negotiating for lower drug prices;
(3) implementing all of the 9/11 Commission's homeland security recommendations;
(4) reinstating pay-as-you-go budget rules;
(5) making college more affordable; and
(6) a sixth plank that has not yet been settled upon.
These are all great agenda items. Our country clearly needs all of these to be implemented.
But no Iraq? No energy plans? Americans are concerned about the ongoing war and the skyrocketing gas prices. the two can even be said to be linked. And they're not even a part of the Democratic agenda, according to this list.
When I read ladylib's heart-wrenching diary about the what's endangering her family, I thought that that is what the Democrats need to focus on. Families like hers. Help them out. Lower gas prices. Making work pay. And fixing our health care system.
I understand that the Democrats did not mean for this to be public. And I understand this (hopefully) isn't close to final, as suggested by point 6.
It's just disconcerting that the issues about which Americans say they're concerned aren't on the Democrats' legislative agenda at this stage of the game.