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Democrats Unveil Agenda to Boost Wages, Create Jobs Ahead of Midterm Elections

© AFP 2023 / SAUL LOEBThe US Capitol is seen in Washington, DC, April 28, 2017
The US Capitol is seen in Washington, DC, April 28, 2017 - Sputnik International
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US Democratic lawmakers at a press conference on Monday unveiled an economic plan to boost wages and create jobs, presenting a unified party platform ahead of next year's midterm elections.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The joint press conference was held in Berryville, Virginia, a swing district where Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock is up for re-election in 2018. Democrats hope to win the Northern Virginia seat, which has been held by Republicans since 1980.

"We are here today to tell the people of Berryville and the working people of America, someone has your back," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said at the event.

Earlier in the day the Democrats released a summary document of their new plan, dubbed "A Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Wages, Better Future." According to the plan, Democrats vow to create 10 million new jobs, fight prescription drug price gouging, let regulators break up big companies that hurt consumers and give businesses tax credits for training workers for high wage jobs.

Schumer said the one thing Democrats did wrong in the last two elections was that the party failed to articulate a bold economic agenda to working Americans.

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He added that Trump won the White House on a populist platform, drawing heavy support from working voters only to pander to special interests once in the White House.

Schumer said Democrats would work to increase people's pay, reduce their expenses and provide workers with the tools they need for the 21st century economy.

Among the Democratic Senators and Congressmen at the event were House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Senator David Cicilline and Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Schumer said the newly unveiled platform was "not simply aimed at 2018," but rather what the party believes America needs.

Several of the lawmakers said they would welcome the participation of Republicans in drafting their proposed legislation.

Schumer said the Republican party had been "taken over" by wealthy, powerful special interests, but added that he hoped his colleagues from across the aisle would come on board with the Democratic program once they saw the vision resonating across America as their own policies fail.

A poll conducted by Washington Post and ABC News last week revealed that 52 percent of US voters want the Democratic Party to gain control of Congress in the 2018 mid-term elections. However, the polls also indicated that Republicans held an edge in "enthusiasm" at this early point in the campaign cycle and are more likely to actually cast ballots on election day than would-be Democratic voters.

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