Progressive Democrat Issue 100: PELOSI'S FIRST HUNDRED HOURS

I consider this very appropriate for my 100th issue. Here is an outline of Pelosi's plan for the first 100 hours of the new Congress. She will need out help in accomplishing it all so quickly. From the Washington Post (from October...BEFORE the election):

Day One: Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."

Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step. Cut the interest rate on student loans in half. Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.

Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds _ "I hope with a veto-proof majority," she added in an Associated Press interview Thursday.

All the days after that: "Pay as you go," meaning no increasing the deficit, whether the issue is middle class tax relief, health care or some other priority.

To do that, she said, Bush-era tax cuts would have to be rolled back for those above "a certain level." She mentioned annual incomes of $250,000 or $300,000 a year and higher, and said tax rates for those individuals might revert to those of the Clinton era. Details will have to be worked out, she emphasized.

"We believe in the marketplace," Pelosi said of Democrats, then drew a contrast with Republicans. "They have only rewarded wealth, not work."

"We must share the benefits of our wealth" beyond the privileged few, she added.

Sounds good to me.

Pelosi outlined this on October 6th, before the election. It is not only our job to praise this plan in the media and pressure Republicans to go along with it, but also to hold Pelosi and the incoming Democrats to this plan. Write your letters to the media and to your Congress cirtters now!


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