Democrats unveil ‘Better Deal’ agenda as party tries to retake Trump’s mantle on jobs, economy – Los Angeles Times
July 24, 2017, 9:14 a.m.
Congressional Democrats launched a progressive-leaning economic agenda Monday as they try to wrestle the populist mantle from President Trump ahead of the 2018 midterm election.
Leaders of the House and Senate -- along with top lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) -- believe their "Better Deal" platform of higher wages, child care support and job training will appeal to working families and those who abandoned the party last year to elect Trump.
"In the last two elections, Democrats, including in the Senate, failed to articulate a strong, bold economic program for the middle class and those working hard to get there," wrote Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) in an op-ed in the New York Times.
"We also failed to communicate our values to show that we were on the side of working people, not the special interests. We will not repeat the same mistake. This is the start of a new vision for the party."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi pointed her criticism at Trump and Republicans, who control both the House and Senate, for spending their first six months of GOP control "trying to raise Americans health costs to fund tax breaks for billionaires."
"Democrats have a better approach," she wrote in the Washington Post.
Democrats headed to rural Berryville, Va., which is just the kind of outside-the-Beltway swing district, now held by Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock, that Democrats hope to flip in the 2018 midterm.
Democrats need to pick up 24 seats to control the House, which some analysts believe is possible because the party in the White House tends to lose as many seats in midterm elections.
The "Better Deal" agenda is filled with the kind of populist rhetoricchampioned by Trump -- and progressive favorites Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) -- as it promises policies that aimto appeal to voter unrest over corporate "monopolies" and the "rigged" economy. It promises a government "on the sides of all Americans, not just those at the top."
As the minority party, the plan is merely a blueprint for future governing, rather than a legislative to-do list.
Republicans, under Speaker Paul D. Ryan, presented a similar document last year -- "A Better Way" -- that was an aspirational check list of legislative goals to accomplish if in power.
Passing bills is a heavier political lift, but both parties use such documents as calling cards in the run up to the campaigns ahead.
"The feeling is that this is what we should be talking about," saidRep. Cheri Bustos(D-Ill.), part of the team that helped draft the document.
Bustos is that rare Democrat, among 12 in the House, who represents a districtwhere voters elected Trumpbut also gave the Democrat another term in Congress.
"They feel like folks in Washington see this whole thing as a game -- winners and losers -- at the expense of people back home," she said in an interview. "People have the feeling thatthings are stacked against them."
She added: "It's our message to build an Americawhere working people know we have their back."
- Democrat Talking As Long as He's 'Physically Able' to Protest Trump - Newsweek - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Pamela Stevenson, the top Democrat in the Kentucky House, launches campaign for the US Senate - AP News - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Who is Cory Booker, the Democrat from New Jersey holding the Senate floor? - WKMG - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- House Democrat: Trump not imagining a democratic election for his third term - The Hill - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Democrat-led states sue Trump administration to block $12 billion cut to health grants - Washington Times - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Who is Rep. Al Green, the Democrat removed from Trump's speech to Congress - Axios - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Who Is Al Green, the Texas Democrat Ejected From Trumps Speech? - The New York Times - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Who is giving the rebuttal after Trump's speech? Meet Democrat Elissa Slotkin - USA TODAY - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Democrat Al Green forced out of chamber after protesting Trump speech to Congress - The Independent - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- In response to Trump, Democrat calls for responsible changes to government - Voice of America - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Democrat Al Green removed from House after interrupting, heckling Trump - The Hill - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- How one Democrat is placing himself at the center of the Trump resistance: From the Politics Desk - NBC News - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Democrat Al Green confronts Trump and is removed from House chamber - The Associated Press - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Democrats are United Against House Republicans Plot to Cut Social Security and Health Care for Hardworking Americans - New Democrat Coalition - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Opinion | A Democrat Who Is Thinking Differently - The New York Times - February 18th, 2025 [February 18th, 2025]
- Democrat: Vance used same language as Hitler did to justify Holocaust - The Hill - February 18th, 2025 [February 18th, 2025]
- Democrat governors arranged meeting with Biden White House to thwart Trump, emails show - The Lion - February 18th, 2025 [February 18th, 2025]
- Democrat Senator Admits Criticism of 'Over-Wokeism' Is 'Valid Attack' - Newsweek - February 18th, 2025 [February 18th, 2025]
- Voting for the Watauga Democrat's Best of the Best now open - Watauga Democrat - February 18th, 2025 [February 18th, 2025]
- Texas Democrat to Bring First Articles of Impeachment of Trump's Second Term - Newsweek - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Adams, a Trump-friendly Democrat, to testify before House GOP on sanctuary cities - POLITICO - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- GOP lawmaker scraps with Democrat in hearing over transgender 'slur,' bathroom rights: 'Not going to have it' - Fox News - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- New York Democrat eyeing Stefanik's seat ripped Border Patrol, corrections officers in resurfaced interview - Yahoo News - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- USAID: This Democrat has a plan for fighting Musk. Heres what he wants you to know. - Slate - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- GOP congresswoman scraps with Democrat in hearing over transgender 'slur,' bathroom rights: 'Not going to have it' - Fox News - February 5th, 2025 [February 5th, 2025]
- Fetterman lone Democrat so far to attend immigration bill signing - POLITICO - January 30th, 2025 [January 30th, 2025]
- Democrat Appears to Flip Iowa State Senate Seat in a Boost for the Party - The New York Times - January 30th, 2025 [January 30th, 2025]
- Trump strips labor board of last Democrat, halting cases and labor law reform - McKnight's Long-Term Care News - January 30th, 2025 [January 30th, 2025]
- Democrat members of US surveillance watchdog fired after refusing to resign - The Record from Recorded Future News - January 30th, 2025 [January 30th, 2025]
- Authorities ID man fatally shot during weekend altercation in Santa Rosa - The Santa Rosa Press Democrat - January 30th, 2025 [January 30th, 2025]
- Milwaukee Tool Hole Saw operations moving to Grenada from Greenwood - Delta Democrat Times - January 30th, 2025 [January 30th, 2025]
- Maine Democrat backs partial offshore wind ban - E&E News - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Every Senate Democrat Votes No on Born-Alive Protections - Decision Magazine - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Just one House Democrat votes for the protection for abortion survivors - Washington Examiner - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- SSUs unprecedented $20 million in cuts slashes programs, departments, athletics: Heres what we know - The Santa Rosa Press Democrat - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- A Democrat Won a Supreme Court Election in North Carolina. GOP Justices Are Blocking Her Certification. - Truthout - January 9th, 2025 [January 9th, 2025]
- This is personal to me: Louisville Democrat will try again to add exceptions to abortion ban - Kentucky Lantern - January 9th, 2025 [January 9th, 2025]
- We need to be in the room: DOGE Caucus Democrat works with GOP to slash spending - NBC News - January 9th, 2025 [January 9th, 2025]
- Democrat elected speaker of tied Pennsylvania House after GOP candidate bows out - The Associated Press - January 9th, 2025 [January 9th, 2025]
- Controversial Ex-Democrat Says Trump Team More 'Humane' to Her Than DNC - Newsweek - December 25th, 2024 [December 25th, 2024]
- Who is Lindy Li? Ex-Democrat fundraiser slams party, calls departure 'Leaving a cult' after criticizing B - The Times of India - December 25th, 2024 [December 25th, 2024]
- Democrat Sherrod Brown says US Senate departure won't be the last Ohioans hear from him - CBS News - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Fairway Finders: Meet the 2024 All-Big Bend golf teams, coach and players of the year - Tallahassee Democrat - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Joe Average: Transitioning from Democrat to Republican - Sentinel-Tribune - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Karnes caps off career with another title - River Valley Democrat-Gazette - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Greenwood QB Archer on full display in title game - River Valley Democrat-Gazette - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- Democrat John Fetterman Admits He 'Never' Believed Campaign Against Trump Was 'About Fascism' Despite Harris Claims - LatinTimes - December 22nd, 2024 [December 22nd, 2024]
- House Democrat on spending drama: Im just gonna sit back and sip my tea - The Hill - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- House Democrat on spending drama: Im just gonna sit back and sip my tea - The Hill - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- Ocasio-Cortez Loses Vote to Be the Top Democrat on the Oversight Panel - The New York Times - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- Ocasio-Cortez Loses Vote to Be the Top Democrat on the Oversight Panel - The New York Times - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- Connolly wins vote to be top Oversight Democrat - POLITICO - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- Democrat Jeffries says 'lines of communication' reopened with Johnson - ForexLive - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- Democrat Jeffries says 'lines of communication' reopened with Johnson - ForexLive - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- AOC loses bid to be top Democrat on powerful House Oversight Committee - Fox News - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- AOC loses bid to be top Democrat on powerful House Oversight Committee - Fox News - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- New Liberal Democrat members of the House of Lords - Liberal Democrats - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- Democrat Sherrod Brown says US Senate departure won't be the last Ohioans hear from him - The Associated Press - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- House Republicans Have a New Spending Plan. The Top House Democrat Says Its Laughable. - NOTUS - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- We need to reinvent how we campaign, Democrat Susan Wild reflects on 2024 loss - Pennsylvania Capital-Star - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- Angie Craig wins approval of panel to serve as ranking Democrat on House Agriculture Committee - Star Tribune - December 20th, 2024 [December 20th, 2024]
- Democrat Goldman: Wray should have forced Trump to fire him - The Hill - December 12th, 2024 [December 12th, 2024]
- OPINION | TED TALLEY: Where spirits and spirituality intersect - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - December 12th, 2024 [December 12th, 2024]
- A California labor union helped oust a Democrat from the state Capitol. His replacement wants to curb union power. - Los Angeles Times - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Trump could get deal of the year if he gets ByteDance to sell TikTok: top Democrat on China cmte. - NBC News - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Florida lawmaker abruptly switches to GOP shortly after winning election as Democrat - Salon - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina switches from Democrat to Republican - Laredo Morning Times - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Florida Democrat switches to Republican: Tired of being the party of protesting - Washington Times - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin delivers his farewell speech to the Senate - WUSA9.com - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- What world do you live in?: Hawley blasts Democrat plot for mass amnesty - NewsTalk KZRG - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Did UC Merced Students Tip the US House Election for Democrat Adam Gray? - GV Wire - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Longtime Democrat switches to the GOP because of a glaring reason - Daily Mail - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Democrat State Rep Switches to Republican Party Months After Winning Reelection - The Floridian - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Ocasio-Cortez bids to become top Democrat on key House committee - The Guardian US - December 8th, 2024 [December 8th, 2024]
- Democrat governors spotlight they're the 'last line of defense' against Trump - Fox News - December 8th, 2024 [December 8th, 2024]
- The Democrat Who Was Tired of Waiting His Turn - POLITICO - December 8th, 2024 [December 8th, 2024]
- Press Secretary Reveals the Top Democrat Who Was Behind Bidens Pardon - The Daily Beast - December 8th, 2024 [December 8th, 2024]
- Democrat senator calls on Biden to pardon Trump over NY case - MSN - December 8th, 2024 [December 8th, 2024]
- Why a Florida Democrat joined the DOGE caucus that's looking to cut federal spending - NPR - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]
- Top US House Democrat calls on Biden to pardon working-class Americans - Reuters - December 5th, 2024 [December 5th, 2024]