Democrats Offer ‘A Better Deal’ With Bold Economic Initiatives

This week, Democrats unveiled ‘A Better Deal' an ambitious economic agenda aimed at creating good jobs, lowering the cost of living and building an economy that gives every American the tools to succeed in the 21st Century.  In doing this Democrats have created policy proposals to add 10 million more good paying jobs, take aggressive action to lower drug prices and crack down on monopolies and mergers which needlessly drive up the cost of living for millions of hard-working men and women across America.

The past six months of the Trump Administration have shown the toxic influence of special interests in the Republican agenda and their shameful inaction to introduce any fresh ideas on jobs, infrastructure or tax reform.  Democrats know that hardworking Americans deserve better, and that's why they're committed to giving them a better deal.

But don't take it from us:

San Francisco Chronicle: Democrats unveil ‘Better Deal' agenda geared toward economy, jobs

"They said their plan to "build an America in which working people know that somebody has their back" attempts to unite the party across the disparate racial, class and cultural divides that have fractured it in the past. In several areas, from a $1 trillion infrastructure proposal to a plan to force pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug prices, the plan is tailored to reclaim the populist mantle from President Trump, who embraced such ideas during his campaign for the White House.

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Doug Elmets, a Sacramento-based Republican political consultant who worked in the Reagan White House but opposed Trump's candidacy, said Democrats are "promoting the very things Trump promised but has been unable to deliver."  "While the Republicans are bogged down with a president who is more intent on settling scores with those in and out of his administration, the Democrats are seizing the opportunity to offer a jobs plan that will potentially resonate with voters in the midterm elections," Elmets said."

The Atlantic: Democrats Bet on a Populist Message…

"In the past, Democrats made confronting corporate monopolies central to their agenda. …  "A Better Deal" makes clear that congressional Democrats believe that in 2017 the party must deliver an unequivocal message opposing corporate monopolies. The agenda calls for blocking mergers that "harm consumers, workers, and competition," regulatory scrutiny of completed mergers to maintain free-market competition, and the creation of what the agenda describes as "a 21st-century ‘Trust Buster' to stop abusive corporate conduct and the exploitation of market power."

CNN: Democrats pitch 'A Better Deal' agenda: Focus on job training, lowering costs

"It's a messaging and policy agenda that will be heard on campaign trails across the country ahead of next year's midterm elections and beyond. The first three policy proposals, announced Monday, focus on fighting corporate mergers, lowering prescription drug prices and creating jobs for 10 million Americans.

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In terms of everyday costs, Democrats mentioned consolidations in the airline, cable, internet, phone, beer, food and eyeglass industries as especially problematic. They will propose changes in antitrust laws to prevent big corporate mergers that could result in increased prices and a "consumer competition advocate" that would help crack down an anti-competitive behavior.  The agenda also pledges to create jobs for 10 million Americans by doubling federal support for registered apprenticeship programs, giving tax credits to companies that train new workers and expand partnerships between businesses and schools."

NPR: Democrats' 'Better Deal' Aims To Reclaim A Populist Image

"They are leaning heavily on a rebranding of their greatest hits — more and better-paying jobs, lowering health care costs and cracking down on the what are seen as the abuses of big business. As an agenda and a slogan, "A Better Deal," hearkens back to the days of President Franklin Roosevelt. … Democrats say they want to double federal support for apprenticeship programs to help train young people and put out-of-work adults back in the work force. They also want tax incentives for companies to retrain workers, as well as new standards aimed at limiting corporate mergers that throw people out of work. In addition, the plan calls for lowering the cost of prescription drugs."

The Daily Beast: How the Democratic Party Is Learning to Love Being Anti-Monopoly

"Schumer and Pelosi, flanked by lieutenants from their respective chambers, outlined an agenda that put heavy emphasis on cracking down on corporate monopolies. The topic occupies the first four pages of a 10-page document and includes placing new standards on the consolidation of corporate power, giving new tools to regulators to confirm and review mergers, and creating a new consumer competition advocate to tackle "anti-competitive behavior."

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They didn't copy the Trump playbook per se, since many Democrats had already been preaching these policy prescripts. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), for example, had given a speech in front of Lynn's New America Foundation on the topic before the election. But party leadership began to fully appreciate its allure. And much to the delight of those who have been arguing for this approach, they began conscripting it."