Election Insider
May 7 Election Insider
The North Carolina and Indiana primaries may have forced clarity upon the Democratic presidential race last night. With the math of the delegate race becoming increasingly implausible for the Clinton campaign, it is likely that the marathon race is close to a conclusion.
April 24 Election Insider
Political attention continues to be dominated by the seemingly never-ending drama for the Democratic presidential nomination, but while the Clinton and Obama camps slug it out, Democrats supporting either candidate are working tirelessly to solidify the Democratic majority in the Senate.
April 10 Election Insider
The results of the Democratic primary runoff last week suggest that a Democratic victory in the upcoming special election is very possible.
March 25 Election Insider
As this excursion from the frantic primary calendar unfolds, Pennsylvania is the next important primary on the horizon.
March 11 Election Insider
The Democratic Party scored a major victory last week, and unlike most current stories in politics, it had little to do with the presidential primaries.
February 25 Election Insider
So much has changed since Hillary Clinton won in New Hampshire. Barack Obama has turned the tide in his direction, scoring 10 straight victories and making inroads into every segment of the population that had overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire.
February 15 Election Insider
The wealth of presidential primaries and caucuses on Super Tuesday and beyond have failed to produce a clear front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination but have shown a population increasingly tuned in to and motivated by the Democratic contest.
February 4 Election Insider
The most striking feature of the Democratic primary season, at least to date, has been remarkable turnout. State after state -- Iowa , New Hampshire , South Carolina , Nevada , Florida -- has established turnout records.
January 31 Election Insider
Bereft of delegates to the National Convention, a penalty imposed by the Democratic National Committee for noncompliance with the prescribed calendar, Florida nevertheless is worth a look.
January 23 Election Insider
In the week leading up to the New Hampshire primary, poll after poll had Barack Obama well ahead of eventual winner Hillary Clinton. Obviously the polls were wrong, but there were several other factors that led to Clinton 's unexpected victory in New Hampshire , some of which carried over to Nevada .
January 15 Election Insider
The Iowa caucus is one of the most influential events in the presidential nomination process. It is a strong indicator of the mood of the country.
December 17 Election Insider
The 2008 election landscape is increasingly positive for Democrats. Republican retirements in the House and Senate have kept the GOP on the defensive, as several members have decided not to seek reelection in competitive districts.
November 28 Election Insider
Since 2004, Colorado has transformed from a solid Republican state to one of intense competition where Democrats have suddenly reached parity.
October 26 Election Insider
Americans want change. Despite low congressional approval ratings, polls show that Democrats have an advantage in the upcoming congressional and presidential elections. President Bush continues to cast a shadow over his party.
October 11 Election Insider
Virginia presents Democrats with the opportunity to reclaim a small portion of the South. The last two election cycles have shown a significant shift in the voting habits of Virginians, making the state contentious in all races including the presidency.
September 21 Election Insider
Democrats have a heavy advantage when looking at the Senate in 2008, and the news gets better by the day. Strong Democratic candidates are emerging, and unbeatable Republicans are retiring.
August 29 Election Insider
Republicans have vigorously campaigned since 1994 on a platform of social morals, family values, and bringing accountability to Washington . In the months leading up to the 2006 election, scandal after scandal emerged, showcasing their paper-thin rhetoric.
August 9 Election Insider
Previous issues of the Election Insider have focused on the importance of extending the Democratic majorities in Congress. In today's political reality, incumbents rarely lose.
July 27 Election Insider
Republicans have a simple strategy for winning back Congress in 2008: they plan to label the current Democratic majority as a "do-nothing" Congress.
July 11 Election Insider
The evolution of the Independent is one of the most important factors affecting American politics today. Americans are identifying themselves as Independent with greater frequency, making these swing voters essential to the success of almost any campaign.
June 28 Election Insider
Not a single vote has been cast in a presidential primary, but already it feels as though the country is neck deep in the presidential race.
June 13 Election Insider
In the past the party of a newly elected president enjoyed wholesale success, sweeping into power by winning in both the presidential race and the congressional elections.
May 29 Election Insider
One of the most important aspects of any campaign is formatting a message that can be repeated and that will stick with the voters. In 2006, Democrats employed the term “culture of corruption” to describe the Republican-held Congress.
May 17 Election Insider
The eyes of Americans are firmly fixated on the early-forming presidential campaign, but Democrats must not be complacent and single-minded or the consequences could be dire.
April 25 Election Insider
The litany of corruption that permeated the GOP-led Congress helped push voters away from Republicans in 2006.
April 18 Election Insider
The enthusiasm that propelled Democrats to take control of Congress remains, as Democratic fundraising remained competitive in congressional races for the first quarter of the year.
Election Insider
January 30 Election Insider
First 100 Hours Fulfills Promise of Change
The Democratic majority has come out swinging, sending the message that change is afoot in Washington and fulfilling the campaign promises that powered us to victory last November. The pivotal first 100 hours of the new Democratic majority produced several victories in the House, including raising the minimum wage and sweeping ethics reform. These achievements set the tone for an aggressive term, as functional government has returned at long last. There are battles to be fought in the Senate where the Democratic majority is fragile, but the House has delivered thus far.
The table below shows the early legislative achievements of the new Democratic majority, which includes legislation to lower prescription drug prices, lower interest rates on student loans, and implement the much-needed recommendations of the 9/11 commission. Some of this legislation, including the stem cell research bill, faces a tough road in the Senate, but hopefully after compromise a form of each of these bills will be passed. The House versions are more ambitious due to our larger majority; it is unlikely that the legislation will pass through the Senate in its current form, but progress will be made in all of these areas when the final bills are passed. President Bush plans to veto the stem cell research bill, but last July the Republican-led Congress passed an identical bill by a vote of 63–37, so there is hope that we can override the Presidential veto.
|
HOUSE VERSION |
SENATE VERSION |
September 11 Commission Passed US House January 9 |
Would enact many recommendations of the September 11 commission, including issuing antiterrorism grants solely based on need and further inspecting all cargo coming into the country. |
Some Senate leaders, including Joe Lieberman of Connecticut , have expressed concern that the 100 percent screening mandate may be unreasonable. |
Minimum Wage Passed US House January 10 |
Would raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour over the next three years. |
The legislation has hit a snag, as members of both parties want to tie any increase to tax breaks for small businesses. Compromise is likely in the near future. |
Stem Cell Research Passed US House January 11 |
Would overturn President Bush's restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, which were passed in 2001. |
In July 2006, the Republican-controlled Senate approved identical legislation by a vote of 63 to 37, which would be enough to overcome a veto by President Bush. |
Prescription Drug Costs Passed US House January 12 |
Would require the secretary of health and human services to negotiate with drug manufacturers on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. |
The measure is unlikely to pass the Senate in its current form. However, a focus on certain types of very expensive drugs has bipartisan support in the Senate. |
Student Loans Passed US House January 17 |
Would cut the interest rate on federal student loans to college students from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent over the next five years. |
A bill, sponsored by Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts , would make a few changes, including increasing the maximum Pell grant to $5,100. |
Energy Policy Passed US House January 18 |
Would roll back $14 billion worth of tax breaks and subsidies for oil companies, which would go to a reserve to offset the cost of promoting other sources of energy. |
Senate Democrats are moving more cautiously, but they have made it clear that they support the legislation. The bill most likely will pass after minor changes. |
Congressional Approval Ratings Improve Following Democratic Takeover
Congressional approval ratings have improved dramatically after the Democratic takeover this month. For the last year, congressional approval has languished under 30 percent, but that is no longer the case. Following an aggressive and productive first 100 hours, American attitudes toward Congress are improving. The January 15-18 Gallup poll shows that 35% of Americans approve of the job that Congress is doing. While this number seems low, it is the highest rating that Congress has received since September 2005, and is a 14-point increase from the December poll. Further, this rating is 10 points higher than the 25% congressional average from the last year. General approval of Congress has also improved, as only 56% of Americans disapprove of Congress, up from 74% last month.
More important than current job approval is the confidence of the general public. This poll shows that the public's confidence rests squarely on the shoulders of Democrats. According to the same poll, 59% of Americans believe that the policies of Democrats will lead the country in the right direction, as opposed to only 35% siding with Republicans.
Lastly, the poll shows that Americans want Congress, rather than President Bush, to steer the country; 63% of those surveyed preferred Congress to have more influence than the president over the direction of the country.
It is clear that improvements need to be made, but the Democratic majority is off to a positive start. It is vastly important for us to increase the Democratic majority in both houses in 2008, so that our legislation can be passed in full force in the coming years. NCEC is already preparing for the fight in 2008, and there is no time to lose.
