With the Democratic takeover of the Senate, Democratic radicals are now emboldened to pursue their agenda of transforming America. They have begun laying out their desired legislative checklist. Chris Enloe reports in The Blaze:
Taking control of Congress and the White House is a significant feat, and it allows one party to advance its agenda without much resistance.
Now, Democrats will have the opportunity to advance their policies, many of which have been blocked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) for the last six years.
Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) revealed Tuesday exactly what Democrats can do with their newfound power by passing legislation blocked by McConnell.
- Stimulus Checks: House Democrats passed a bill that would provide Americans with $2,000 stimulus checks after President Donald Trump asked for stimulus checks greater than $600. The Republican-controlled Senate, however, squashed the effort.
- The Equality Act: “The Equality Act would would provide consistent and explicit anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.”
- The DREAM Act: A bill introduced to Congress nearly a dozen times over the last two decades, often with bipartisan sponsors, it would “pathway to legal status for undocumented youth who came to this country as children,” according to American Immigration Council.
- Voting Rights Act: Democrats have attempted to legislatively restore a part of the Voting Rights Act that was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013. With McConnell in charge of the Senate, Democrats have been unsuccessful in their endeavors.
Pappas said Democrats can also make headway on “infrastructure,” giving states and local governments more funding, likely referring to coronavirus-related aid, and “climate action.” It was not clear whether Pappas was referring to the far-left Green New Deal.
Other Democrats were more explicit.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Democrats can now pursue “student loan cancellation,” the end of the death penalty, and “climate justice.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said Democrats can increase the minimum wage, advance “guaranteed health care,” promote “repro justice,” likely a reference to wider abortion access, and fight for “racial justice.”
“VICTORY in Georgia must lead to transformative change across America! Recurring survival checks, union jobs that pay a living wage, guaranteed health care, racial justice, voting rights, immigration reform, climate action, repro justice, education, and MUCH more. It can’t wait!” she said.