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Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Congressional Democrats -- Who's your Daddy Party?
The Wall Street Journal today offers a must-read page-one article on the fork in the road ahead for Democrats regarding the Party's identity on economic issues.
Appearing arrayed against each other are the Clintonian, "establishment," free-trading internationalists led by Robert Rubin and the populists and organized labor challengers focused on economic -- especially job, health care, and retirement -- security.
In the homestretch of the midterm elections, we noted with some interest how strongly the Democratic congressional leadership stressed themes of fiscal responsibility and accountability and wondered whether if they "should they find themselves in the majority in the 110th Congress [whether] these may not be your father’s tax-and-spend Democrats."
With two weeks left before take control of Congress, Democrats' views may vary on trade policy, but they appear gung-ho for PAYGO. They will allow the austere CR to govern most FY2007 spending. As says Charlie Rangel, even ATM reform is a higher priority than rolling back the major Bush tax cuts.
At least among leadership, for the first time in memory -- and for however long it lasts -- congressional Democrats will push policies that strive for a balanced budget and avoid the tar of 'tax-and-spend' like the plague.
Who's your Daddy Party, now?
Posted by Dana Chasin
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