NDN in The Hill today on the economy

The Hill's Jonathan Kaplan writes today about Congressional Democrats tackling economic issues next week and beyond. As NDN President Simon Rosenberg says in the article, we believe economic issues are going to be the top issue in the 2008 election for one simple reason: average Americans are struggling to get ahead, and the Administration's policies have failed them.

Household median income has fallen by over $1,000 since Bush took office. Wages are stagnant. These are the measures by which most Americans judge the American economy, and so it's no wonder that our recent poll shows that Americans are pessimistic and desperate for economic leadership.

Both the economic data and the public opinion data make it clear that we need a plan to make globalization work for all Americans. NDN believes that America must adopt a new economic strategy that would modernize our health care and energy policies; invest in our workers, students, and infrastructure; and foster and accelerate innovation across the economy. This strategy should also strive to fix our immigration system, ensure universal and affordable broadband access, and offer workers card check by adopting the Employee Free Choice Act. And perhaps most importantly, there must be a new national commitment to giving our workers and children the skills and capacities required to succeed in the globalized economy of the 21st century.

We need an economic agenda that doesn't just sound good, but an aggressive, comprehensive plan that will actually work and raise incomes, wages, and make it easier for Americans to get ahead. We're excited that the House Democratic caucus recognizes the urgency of the issue and is eager to take on that task next week and throughout 2008.