I’ve been involved in a few electoral waves in my day, but whoa. Not sure I have ever seen such a clear statement from voters. Such a clear repudiation of the party in power.
Last Tuesday night, Democrats took all the swing districts AND we snagged deep red seats in Kansas, Texas, South Carolina, Alaska, and Mississippi. Even the “shellacking” Democrats took in 2010 didn’t look like this. And, here in Maine, voters rewarded the governing party with expanded Democratic majorities in the legislature, while electing the most progressive governor in Maine history.
To quote the namesake of the Crewe Center for the Arts in my hometown of Portland, “Oh, what a night!”
But, like any great night, the next day you have to go to work. And while I’ll focus on the impact this should have in Maine in the coming weeks, for today, let’s focus on Maine’s delegation in Washington, D.C. That delegation just went from having one seat in the majority to three. Now, it’s time for them to get aggressive.
First off, probably no surprise, I am in the camp that says pass what people need and let Trump veto it. You can’t trust negotiations with him, and incremental just won’t cut it on most things. And if Trump vetoes what we pass, the American people will see what they get if they also turn the executive branch blue in 2028.
Here are my top 10 for Maine’s delegation to push:
Eliminate the filibuster. Really it all starts here, because none of the below pass without this. And while I understand some will say eliminating the filibuster is meaningless when you don’t have a President who will sign what 51 senators pass, but that’s the point. Eliminate it now, so it isn’t seen as self-serving later. It is undemocratic, regardless of who is in power.
Pass Medicare for All by immediately extending it to everyone under 19 and over 54, with a four-year build up for the rest. Reinstitute the ACA subsidies temporarily until M4A is fully enacted.
Raise the minimum wage to $25 an hour over the next five years, with it hitting $15 immediately. The current rate of $7.25 is absurd. This raise should also include the elimination of the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers.
Pass a wealth tax of 2% on wealth and trusts above $50 million, with an added 3% on wealth above a billion. Use the money for deficit reduction if you want (although a Guaranteed Basic Income for everyone would be better), since most of the deficit has made the rich richer.
Eliminate the cap on the social security tax and means test the benefits. These two moves will make the program solvent for another generation. Heck, even Susan Collins said she would support this during the campaign.
End the Iran War both by passing a War Powers Resolve and then by using the power of the purse to defund it.
Defund ICE and pass the DREAM Act to protect people who came here as children but whose status is undocumented. Better yet, extend it to all such people who have been in America for five years with no violent criminal convictions.
Repeal tariffs. Congress should repeal just about all of Trump’s tariffs, one by one, and make Republicans vote. They can either go over the cliff with Trump and support this consumer tax, or they can override Trump’s veto, making him look even weaker.
Make Puerto Rico and Washington, DC states. Now that we have the majority, let’s provide basic democratic representation to the people of two communities that deserve nothing less. It also likely means four more blue senate seats.
Investigate Trump’s corruption. The Trump family wealth has grown by billions. He should not be allowed to get away with it. Impeaching him for this behavior is well within bounds and it would be fitting to see him escorted from the White House in handcuffs.
Once they do the above in the first 100 days, we can move on to the next 10.
