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The Democrats are a party divided. Discuss (45) (Progressive Caucus - The…
The Democrats are a party divided. Discuss (45)
Historical Context
- Struggle has been between old style Conservative Democrats and New Democrats
What do I think? Party WAS divided historically, especially over landmark decisions such as healthcare - lots of incentive to compromise with conservatives and thus, win more votes. 2016 election was hugely divisive, BUT election of Trump means party appears come together to work against Republicans, BUT reality is they disagree over key issues still, and now disagree on working with Trump
No confusion about thwt Democrats are AGAINST, only disagreements on what they are FOR - Clinton vs. Sanders means there are now two defintiions of an 'American liberal'.
Like Republicans, Democrats in the House join caucuses
Conservative Democrats join Blue Dog Coalition - 113th: 15 Reps
Centrist Democrats join New Democrat Coalition - 113th: 55 Reps
Liberal Democrats join Progressive Caucus - 113th: 75 Reps
Progressive Caucus
- The most fiscally and socially liberal members
FISCAL POLICY: Traces back to 30s, supported the New Deal, championed the idea that federal gov should addres economic/social problems
SOCIAL POLICY: Traces back to 60s and Johnson's Great Society, - federal gov should protect civil rights, alieveating poverty and expanding healthcare
Tend to be elected by liberal urban consituencies (California, New York, Massachusetts etc.)
Notable Members
Nancy Pelosi, California 12th (House Minority Leader) - founding member of caucus
ACLU - 92%, NAACP - 93% (support of civil rights)
Hispanic Federation 100% - Support for immigration reform
Human Rights Campaign 100% (support for same-sex marriage)
AFL_CIO - 95% (support for trade unions)
2014: Planned Parenthood - 100% (supports abortion rights)
Elizabeth Warren, Den. Massachusets - previously Harvard Law specialising in bankruptcy
2007 Financial Crisis - was a vocal critic of banks, said gov needed to create Consumer Financial protection Bureau (indy agency) to oversee and regulate mortgages, credit cards and student loans... Success! 2010 Agency created by Dodd-Frank Consumer Protection Act - prevents large banks from needing future bailouts
DIVISIVE: Conservatives oppose overbearing gov. regulations - 0 House and 3 Senate republicans backed it. In Dems - progressives wanted bill to go further. 2012 DNC - Warren said 'system is rigged' 'billionaired pay lower tax rates than their secretaries'
Bernie Sanders, Ind, Vermont - only Senate member, first chair when caucus was formed! Still refused to formally join Dems
KEY AIM: To reform
healthcare!
Big Success was ACA 2010 - expanded coverage to millions of Americans, increased Medicaid coverage to those just above poverty line (additional 33% qualified!), and financial support to better of families who still could not afford healthcare (300% given tax credits to help cover insurance!)
BUT lots of progressives wanted to go beyond this, eg. Nancy Pelosi "wantes single payer, and public option" meaning like NHS, single gov agency paying via taxation
Progressive Dems have sponsored US National Health Care Act every since since 2003 proposal - would introduce NHS type system, no success
COMPROMISE: 'Public Option' - Gov run health insurance agency to compete with private unirers - would be able to charge lower fees (no need to make profits for shareholders), Obama's preferred option!
Dems were divided! But needed to appear united in face of Republican opposition - progressives wanted single payer, but had to give this up to win votes of Blue Dogs (who wanted to reform the existing insurance marketplace). In return for decisive vote, Dems agreed to include demand from Blue Dog Senator Ben Carson - bill gave states the right to prevent insurance plans covering the costs of abortion
New Democrats
- Ideas over ideology, bridging the gap between left and right - fiscally moderate, socially liberal
Democratic Leadership Council: formed in "85 after reagan's landslide - argued that Dems had become too left, lost support to Republicans, to achieve national success needed to adopt more moderate positions, or a 'Third Way'
Bill Clinton, 1993-2001 - "The era of big government is over",
Was willing to reform welfare, 1992 campaign "would end welfare as we have come to know it", believed poor had become dependent of governemnt = 1996
1996: Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act - Abolished aid to families with dependent children (set up during New Deal) - first time a entitlement programme est. by 1935 Social Secuirty Act had been repealed
Replaced wth Tempoary Assistance for Needy Families - recipients needed to find work within 24 months, 60 month limit - said it would "break the cycle of dependency that has exiled citizens from the world of work"
More supporting of free trade
1994: North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - eliminated tariffs from Canada and Mexico, 156 Dems opposed in the House! AFL-CIO claimed it led to 700,000 manufacturing jobs moving to Mexico, hurt American business, wage costs would be lower
Negotiated budget deals that were supported by conservatives
1993: Omnibus Budget reconciliatoon Act cut taxes for 15 million low income families and 90% of small business AND cut spending to balance budget (also raised taxes on wealthiest 1.2% = top rate of tax increased from 31% to 39.6% - therefore not suppored by more committed conservatives)
Controversial social policies in an attempt to bridge gap between left and right
1994: Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - military policy, gay men and women could serve but had to keep sexuality a secret - outraged progressives! ND argued policy was preferable to republican view that gays could not serve
1996: Defence of Marriage Act - defined marriage as between man and woman in federal law! Allowed states to refuse to recognise gay marriage performed elsewhere - outraged progressives, but ND said it was more prefereable than Republican aim to make a consitutional amendment banning gay marriage!
2016 Election: Hugely divisive, Clinton v. Sanders
Primaried: 16 mmillion vs 13 million votes! Clinton narrowly misses Iowa, Sanders landslide in NH (60%!)
Blue Dog Democrats
- formed after Republicans dominated 1994 midterms, founders felt party was too liberal and needed to be more moderate, fiscally conservative and socially moderate
Tend to be elected in more rural states that usually support Republican presidential candidates
2008: Dems did remarkably well, won a lot of more sonervative seats - 54 Blue Dogs
! But 2010 midtems - Dems badly defeated, exactly half Blue Dogs lost their seats... 2012 HoR elections - 27 members dropped to 14! Has since grown to 18 members in 115th
Big numbers = power! 2009: In return for supporting American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ($787 billion stimulus), Congress supported 2010 Pay As You Go Act - new budgeting rules required most new spending to be offset by cuts made/revenue added elsewhere
2012 ACA: Blue Dogs had leverage! Defeated 'public option' wnated by Pelosi, AND Ben Nelson (Sen. Nebraska) only gave vital 60th vote after bill was amended to give states the right to prevent insurance from covering the cost of abortions
Notable members
John Barrow, Georgia's 12th until 2014
Defeat was seen as symbolic of decline of Blue Dogs - last remaining white Democratic rep in the Deep South! Dems once relied on 'Solid South, now almost entirely replaced by Republicans
Went Against ACA 2009, even after subtsantial amendments
Went against Manchin-Toomey amendment to Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act 2013 - would have enforced extended background checks, (amendment was defeated in Senate due to opposition of conservative Democrats)
Voted against 2009 American Clean Energy and Security Act (Cap and Trade Bill) - proposed gov capping no. of greenhouse gas emitted nationally, gov would sell permits to companies to emit gases - gave financial incentive to business to limit gas emissions
Bill narrowly passed in House - 44 Blue Dogs opposed it! Died in Senate, because conservative Democrats would not allow for 60 votes required