Democratic leaders are so confident that they will take over the House in November that they’ve already formulated a plan of action for their first week in control.
A Democratic House would quickly vote to raise the minimum wage and allow the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate prices for drugs offered under the Medicare prescription drug program.
It would also vote to implement homeland security measures recommended by a bipartisan panel after 9/11, and reinstate rules stipulating that any tax cuts must be offset by spending cuts to prevent the deficit from growing, the Washington Post reports.
The Democrats’ confidence has been bolstered by a recent poll showing that 51 percent of Americans want Democrats to control Congress, compared to 34 percent who favor Republican control. The poll also found that just 25 percent approve of the job Congress is doing.
"We are more and more confident that we are going to have the responsibility of leading the House, so we have to prepare,” said House minority whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland.
But Republicans say Democratic leaders "run the risk of looking overconfident, if not foolish, in predicting that they will win the 15 net seats necessary to take the House,” according to the Post.
House minority leader Nancy Pelosi of California said 50 Republican seats are vulnerable.
But Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political report, estimates that realistically just 30 Republican seats are in play, and said only a "tidal wave” would dislodge the Republicans from many of their seats.
