Wisconsin Democrats prepare to take control of Congress, focus on affordability and accountability
CBS 58 WISCONSIN (CBS 58) — After a blue wave in the November elections, Democrats are preparing to take control in Washington.
Now, Wisconsin lawmakers are looking ahead to what they hope to accomplish with their party in power. U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan say affordability and accountability will be among their top priorities. Those were issues they said were of utmost concern to voters, and they are taking what they heard on the campaign trail seriously.
“We can do both,” U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, said. “We can lower costs for the American people as well as exercise our oversight responsibilities and lift that veil of that corruption that we have seen go on.”
One way Pocan plans to address corruption is by creating stronger ethics rules on Capitol Hill.
“I think one of the most important things we want to get done right away is put a real stock ban in place for members of Congress so you don’t make decisions based on your portfolio, you do it because it’s what’s best for your constituents,” U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said.
When it comes to affordability, health care is a major focus, along with lowering gas and grocery prices.
“We need to get Medicare engaged in more negotiations with drug companies to lower the cost of prescription medication for everyone. We also need to cap the price of insulin at no more than $35 out of pocket for anybody who needs insulin to live, to survive, to thrive,” Baldwin said.
Lowering insulin costs is something Baldwin says has bipartisan support. She says they are also working on policy to lower the price of child care.
Pocan says Democrats are also focused on ending the war with Iran and changing tariff policies enacted by the Trump administration.
“The war in Iran would be the single biggest thing to change gas prices. Addressing tariffs by Congress, as the Constitution has said it should be, would be the best way to address grocery prices and everyday goods,” Pocan said.
Democrats are currently in the process of electing leadership in both chambers. New York U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for speaker of the House.
Meanwhile, Baldwin announced her support for Chuck Schumer as Senate majority leader.
