Thomas Daschle: “Senate Democrats have set as our goal the passage of legislation that we call an ``Opportunity Society'' for all…”

“Senate Democrats have set as our goal the passage of legislation that we call an ``Opportunity Society'' for all Americans--not just the privileged few. It includes proposals for more jobs--especially in manufacturing where we have lost nearly 2.5 million jobs just in the past 3 years--8,000 in my State of South Dakota. Nothing could create those jobs faster than early passage of a highway bill. We have already lost 90,000 jobs by the failure to take up the bill last year when the last bill expired. We can create over 800,000 jobs this year if we act expeditiously. Not only do we believe in the need to create jobs but we want those jobs to pay a decent wage. Nothing can be more critical in that regard than to increase the minimum wage for the first time in 7 years. Democrats also believe this Senate should address the cost and availability of health care which is fast becoming the preeminent issue in our country. I have vivid recollections of my hundreds of conversations with South Dakotans throughout my State last year, conversations which revealed the anxiety and the physical and financial pain now experienced by so many with and without health insurance. We believe one of the very first steps in reaching this goal should be the passage of legislation which authorizes the Government to negotiate lower prices for all seniors on prescription drugs as we already do for veterans and military retirees.”