The Progressive Promise

Roll Call and the Hill Newspaper report that "the Progressive Caucus next week will unveil a three-pronged issue agenda designed to appeal to core Democrats and highlight differences with the Republican White House and Congress." This is part of the CPC's efforts "to flex its political muscle within the Democratic Party."

The 57-member group next Tuesday will launch "The Progressive Promise," an alternate agenda to President Bush's "Ownership Society." It will "generally focus on three major themes: economic justice and security, civil rights and civil liberties, and global peace and security."

The Hill notes that "tensions between centrist and liberal factions among House Democrats came to a head in April during a whip meeting in which progressives voiced their displeasure that centrists had worked with Republicans on the bankruptcy reform bill, a measure progressives have vehemently opposed...That disagreement — especially the fact that centrists had urged House leadership to bring the bill to a vote without telling the rest of the party — 'lit the fuse,' a House Democratic aide said."

I'm glad the fuse was lit - and now it looks like the progressives in Congress are going to really start making their voices heard.