Blog: The Need for a Senate Progressive Caucus

Statement

Allow me to state the obvious: despite the fact that Democrats control the House and Senate, conservatives control what gets sent to the President's desk.

Legislation that starts off strong is watered down by conservative Democrats in the House and Senate. It's then whittled down to ineffectiveness in order to try and get a handful of Republican votes on board.

My solution: I'm going to create a robust Senate Progressive Caucus that will hold the line and fight for progressive policies that help all Americans.

THE BUSH TAX CUTS

Earlier this week, Republicans chose to side with companies that ship jobs overseas instead of siding with teachers, firefighters, and police officers whose jobs are at risk right here at home. It was a cold-hearted, irrational, immoral opposition to a bill that actually cuts our deficit and saves jobs. Compromises were made to please Republicans and just two Republicans voted for the bill.

Yesterday, The Washington Post reported that the Bush tax cuts for the rich -- or as I call the policy, the "millionaire bailout" -- will add $36 billion to our deficit:

A Republican plan to extend tax cuts for the rich would add more than $36 billion to the federal deficit next year -- and transfer the bulk of that cash into the pockets of the nation's millionaires, according to a congressional analysis released Wednesday.

We know that this policy doesn't create jobs. The Bush tax cuts for the rich have been in place for almost a decade and the only effect of Republican "trickle down" policies has been the erosion of the middle class.

For me, it's remarkable that some in Congress on both sides of the aisle are seriously considering renewing this massive giveaway to the rich. Democrats need a united front to stand up for the interests of the middle class and the poor.

The fact that the vote on this bill is in doubt underscores the urgent need to create a progressive coalition in the Senate that will be a relentless, fierce advocate for the poor and the middle class and for small business owners from coast to coast.

THE NEED FOR A SENATE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS

Legislation is not created in a vacuum. On any given bill, there are myriad forces at play, from advocates for progressive policies to Republicans voicing staunch opposition to conservative Democrats requesting compromise to lobbyists demanding loopholes for the corporations that employ them.

We've seen what the Blue Dog caucus has been able to accomplish through its infrastructure. And we've been able to get landmark legislation passed in the face of unprecedented Republican obstruction and conservative Democratic opposition in large part because the Progressive Caucus in the House has played a vital role in advocating for policies that help all Americans, not just the privileged few.

But there is no real counterpart in the Senate that can wield a similar influence and operate as a stopgap to both destructive Republican policies and enabling, wavering Democrats.

We've seen that a coalition of Senators can indeed use its numbers to influence the process. Remember the "Gang of 14"? Imagine what we could do for the American people with a group of true progressives who aren't afraid to similarly use their numbers to drive the debate.

I firmly believe the time has come for progressives to form their own coalition in the United States Senate.

If the people of Illinois give me the honor of being their Senator, on day one in office, I will begin to coordinate a Progressive Caucus in the U.S. Senate.

And, because of the fact that we will have a special election for this Illinois Senate seat, we could have a Progressive Caucus in the Senate as early as this fall.

Think of this proposal as a sort of "Blue Line" caucus for the Senate -- a group of progressive leaders who will hold the line and set a minimum threshold of what we think should be at the bargaining table.

This won't be just a vanity caucus. We're going to organize in the Senate just as hard as you organize in the grassroots to get good pieces of legislation passed and to prevent horrible bills from becoming law. We'll tackle everything from the way the Senate works (filibuster reform & transparency) to making sure our fellow colleagues are held accountable for their votes.

The battles the Senate has fought on unemployment benefits, health care, and the upcoming showdown over Social Security and tax giveaways to the rich all underscore the urgent need for the creation of a band of progressives who will enthusiastically listen to all ideas but respectfully hold the line on items that most affect American families.

Let me be clear: compromise is a vital part of the legislative process. We must listen to good ideas from both sides of the aisle -- from conservatives, liberals and moderates alike -- and try our best to construct an efficient, effective way forward.

But as I've said from very early on in my campaign, while we should seek out compromise with those who hold different views and while we should try to bring them to the table, at the end of the day, we should never compromise our principles.

The strong voices of Paul Wellstone, Ted Kennedy, and Paul Simon have faded from the Senate, and I don't claim that I or any single individual will be able to echo their passion or their fight on behalf of the middle class. But my hope is that, in the aggregate, enough of us can raise our voices in unison on critical issues to take up their causes, to drive the debate and to shape legislation in the best interests of the American people.

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