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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDemocrats Blow Up Mitch McConnell’s Agenda By Demanding Votes On Popular Liberal Issues
Curses, foiled again!
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/04/10/senate-democrats-blow-mitch-mcconnells-agenda-demanding-votes-popular-liberal-issues.html
Democrats Blow Up Mitch McConnells Agenda By Demanding Votes On Popular Liberal Issues
By: Jason Easley
Friday, April, 10th, 2015, 12:09 pm
Nine Senate Democrats are blowing up Mitch McConnells Senate agenda by demanding votes on four popular liberal issues.
In a letter to McConnell, nine Senate Democrats (Sens. Durbin, Murray, Wyden, Shaheen, Brown, Schumer, Casey, Schatz, Franken) called for votes on liberal issued that were popular during the Senates budget vote-a-rama:
Paid Sick Leave (passed 61-39) Amendment No. 798 to improve workplace benefits and reduce health care costs, which may include measures to allow Americans to earn paid sick time to address their own health needs and the health needs of their families, and to promote equal employment opportunities.
Ending Discrimination Against Pregnant Workers (passed 100-0) Amendment No. 632 to increase employment opportunities and prevent employment discrimination, which may include measures to prevent employment discrimination against pregnant workers, to provide pregnant workers with a right to workplace accommodations, and to ensure that employers comply with requirements regarding such workplace accommodations for pregnant workers.
Equal Access to Benefits for Same-Sex Couples (passed 57-43) Amendment No. 1063 to ensuring all legally married same-sex spouses have equal access to the Social Security and veterans benefits they have earned and receive equal treatment under the law pursuant to the Constitution of the United States.
Middle-Class Tax Cuts (passed 73-27) Amendment No. 968 to enacting middle class tax relief, including extending and expanding refundable tax credits, such as tax provisions and policies included in legislation like the Working Families Tax Relief Act, American Opportunity Tax Credit Permanence and Consolidation Act, Helping Working Families Afford Child Care Act, or the 21st Century Worker Tax Cut Act.
Each of the issues that the Democrats listed have proven their popularity in the Senate. Three of the four have already met the 60 vote threshold for passage.
Issues like an end to discrimination against pregnant workers, paid sick leave, and middle-class tax cuts would be huge for the majority of the country. Equal access to benefits for same-sex couples would also be big, but if the budget votes are a guide, that issue might come up a vote or three short of passage.
Senate Democrats are aggressively seizing the agenda, and push Mitch McConnells dream of a Koch driven Senate off to the side. Democrats know that McConnell is getting desperate to pass legislation, and they are taking advantage of the Majority Leaders flailing by offering up several issues that would pass if legislation were brought to the floor for a vote.
The letter to McConnell is more proof that Republicans may hold the Senate majority, but its Democrats who are driving the agenda.
monmouth4
(9,711 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)Democrats had an opportunity to pass all these things into law in 2009, but did not. Now, when they know they can't get by a Republican-controlled legislature, these liberal ideas are somehow popular again.
tridim
(45,358 posts)Democrats doing good things is not a point of negativity. Do you ever have anything positive to say?
Scuba
(53,475 posts)They had a chance in 2009 to do huge amounts of good. We got the ACA which is better than what we had without it, but certainly not great. We got no voter rights protection, no lifting of the Social Security cap, no increase in the minimum wage, etc, etc, etc.
tridim
(45,358 posts)Why don't you know that?
Scuba
(53,475 posts)11 Bravo
(23,928 posts)of time to pass legislation regarding all of the issues which have been mentioned.
http://www.sandiegofreepress.org/2012/09/the-myth-of-the-filibuster-proof-democratic-senate/
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)the above is its outward manifestation.
11 Bravo
(23,928 posts)I'll start to figure it out.
George II
(67,782 posts)......whether or not they tried.
Should the Senate Democrats just fold up their tent and go home because they don't have a 60-40 majority?
Sometimes I think that the biggest obstacles to Democratic success are Democrats themselves.
a2liberal
(1,524 posts)FSogol
(45,555 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)asking such questions is Block/hide-worthy these days.