ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, June 24, 1996 TAG: 9606240102
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A08 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
Asking Americans for ``another chance to lead,'' congressional Democrats rolled out an election-year agenda Sunday tuned to middle-class concerns such as steep education costs and anemic paychecks.
But the ``Families First Agenda'' was short on specifics and lacked details on how Democrats would pay for new programs. In one instance, it called for a balanced budget, but didn't set a deadline.
The agenda is an attempt by Democrats to counter the ``Contract With America'' that helped the GOP win control of Congress in 1994.
Republicans quickly dubbed it the ``Uncontract.''
One Democratic proposal calls for a major federal effort to eliminate the pay gap between men and women.
It would include government-set ``fair pay'' guidelines and more extensive enforcement of existing anti-discrimination laws. On average, women earn about 70 percent of men's earnings, and the gap has been closing.
Another proposal would require health insurers to offer lower-priced ``kids-only'' policies for children. Taxpayers would help low-income working families pay. Insurers could not turn children down because of medical problems.
Children are more likely to be uninsured than people in their 30s, but young adults 18-24 are the group most at risk.
On education, the Democrats renewed President Clinton's proposals for a $10,000 tax deduction for college tuition and scholarships for students who earn good grades. They also endorsed a more generous child care tax credit and a plan to let workers take pensions with them when they switch jobs.
The agenda was unveiled live on C-SPAN in an infomercial linking cities around the country with an anchor location in the Washington suburbs. The production had the feeling of a scripted talk show, as veteran lawmakers commiserated with average citizens and babies fussed in the background.
Democrats also set up a home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.dccc.org/families-first.
But for all the new technology, it was an old-fashioned appeal for votes.
House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri told viewers that Democrats ``didn't do enough'' to address middle-class concerns when they ran Congress.
``The bottom line is that Democrats are asking for another chance to lead,'' Gephardt said. ``Our sole and central mission would be to help working families caught in today's middle-class squeeze.''
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota said, ``What we're proposing is an agenda for families who are struggling to make it - not just the lucky few.''
All the proposals in the agenda are ``modest and achievable,'' said Gephardt, and his staff promised specifics by midweek.
Republicans dismissed the agenda as an election-year ploy.
``This is extremely short on commitment,'' said Virginia Hume, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee. ``They say they want to balance the budget, just not as soon. I read that as `never.' It's lacking the specifics the American people want.''
Republicans say their plans to balance the budget and cut taxes would bolster economic growth and open the way for renewed middle-class prosperity.
Democrats need a 20-seat gain to recapture the House and a four-seat gain to re-establish a Senate majority. Lately, they have been buoyed by polls that show voters willing to take a second look.
LENGTH: Medium: 66 linesby CNB