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4 Weeks After Election Day, Democrats' Priorities Still Out Of Touch | Missouri Political News Service

4 Weeks After Election Day, Democrats’ Priorities Still Out Of Touch

November 30th, 2010 by mopns · No Comments

With Congress back from its Thanksgiving break, Democrats once again have an opportunity to prove that they heard the message Americans sent Washington on election day by focusing on the priorities of the American people: helping the economy and preventing a massive tax increase in January. Yet Democrats continue to show that their priorities are strangely out of line.

As Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Republican Leader John Boehner write in The Washington Post today, “Republicans heard the voters loud and clear. They want us to focus on preventing a tax hike on every taxpayer, reining in Washington spending and making it easier for employers to start hiring again.” They point out, “Despite what some Democrats in Congress have suggested, voters did not signal they wanted more cooperation on the Democrats’ big-government policies that most Americans oppose. On the contrary, they want both parties to work together on policies that will help create the conditions for private-sector job growth. They want us to stop the spending binge, cut the deficit and send a clear message on taxes and regulations so small businesses can start hiring again.”

But consider the priorities Democrats are acting on this week. The Senate began the week by returning to, and passing, a bill that expands the FDA’s regulatory authorities. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has not announced what the Senate will turn to next, but he’s previously indicated that he wants votes on ending the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and a controversial amnesty bill known as the DREAM Act. But Democrats still have no plan on what to do on the looming tax hike at the end of December.

Meanwhile, the White House seems equally out of touch. In the midst of a diplomatic crisis concerning leaked cables and secret documents and serious issues on the Korean peninsula, President Obama has been pushing ratification of his nuclear weapons treaty with Russia, and prodding Congress on the DREAM Act, while the Pentagon discusses repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

As Leader McConnell observed in a speech on the Senate floor today, “It’s unclear how long our friends across the aisle will continue to resist the message of the election and cling to the liberal wish list that got us a job-killing health care law, a ‘cap-and-trade’ national energy tax, an out-of-control spending spree, million more jobs lost, trillions more in debt, but not a single appropriations bill to fund the government or a bill to prevent the coming tax hikes. With just a few weeks left before the end of the year, they’re still clinging to the wrong priorities — instead of preventing a tax hike, they want to focus on immigration and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell —  and, maybe, if there’s time left, see what they can do about jobs and the economy. Indeed, their entire legislative plan for the rest of the lame duck session appears to be to focus on anything except jobs — which is astonishing when you consider the election we’ve just had.”

Related:

Rasmussen Reports: 47% Say Health Care Repeal Is Likely, 39% Disagree

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