What Will Democrats Do Now That They Control the House?

By picking up 26 seats, the Democrats have retaken the House of Representatives for the first time since 2010. Some races have yet to be called, but the Democrats are expected to pick up an additional nine seats.

• Here are some things the (D)s said they'd do if they reclaimed the lower chamber...

Reopen the Russia Investigation

• In March, Republicans closed the House Intelligence Committee’s probe into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election, concluding there was no collusion.
• Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said ending the probe was a “terrible disservice to the country and the American people.”
• Schiff told the New York Times that Democrats would "ruthlessly prioritize the most important matters first” and reopen the investigation.

“There are serious and credible allegations the Russians may possess financial leverage over the president, including perhaps the laundering of Russian money through his businesses,” Schiff said in an Oct. 12 op-ed. “It would be negligent to our national security not to find out.”

Force Trump to Release his Tax Returns

“I don’t think there’s any question about it,” Kentucky Rep. John Yarmuth, the top Democrat of the House Budget Committee, told the Hill.

Hold Hearings on Troops at the Southern Border

• Speaking to reporters last week, Trump claimed up to 15,000 troops could be sent to the border to handle the migrant caravan making its way through Mexico. 5,200 troops have already been sent to the border.
• Democrats have said they plan to hold hearings on the use of military personnel at the border.

Pass a Bill to Protect LGBTQ

• Last month, the Trump Justice Department told the Supreme Court that federal law does not shield transgender workers from discrimination on the basis of their gender identity. The administration is also reportedly planning to narrowly define gender as a biological, fixed condition determined by genitalia at birth — a move that could drastically reduce federal protections for transgender people.
• Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California recently said she would introduce the Equality Act as one of her first orders of business if Democrats retake the House.
• "This is a very simple proposition," said Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), the lead sponsor of the House bill.

"We have a long history in our country of prohibiting discrimination and promoting equality. It's the founding principle of our country, and I believe the vast majority of people in our country think discrimination is wrong. In many ways Congress has to catch up to where the American people are."

Investigate SCOTUS Justice Brett Kavanaugh

• “It is not something we are eager to do,” Rep. Jerry Nadler, a New York Democrat who’s poised to chair the committee if Democrats retake the House, told the New York Times.

“But the Senate having failed to do its proper constitutionally mandated job of advise and consent, we are going to have to do something to provide a check and balance, to protect the rule of law and to protect the legitimacy of one of our most important institutions.”

Pass Universal Background Checks

• Last month, Pelosi and Rep. Ted Deutch of Florida met with students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the site of a school shooting that left 17 dead.
• Pelosi promised universal background checks, to close the so-called “gun show loophole,” if Democrats take the House.
• “The people will want us to consider what this bill will look like. We have a bill right now that is bipartisan,” Pelosi said after meeting with the students.

“This will be a collaboration and will be a consensus to have the bipartisanship we need to build on the legislation.”

Repeal the GOP Tax Bill

• “One of our complaints about what they did with the tax bill is they did it in the dark of night with the speed of light,” Pelosi said.

"We’ll sit down at the table [with Republicans] and say … what would be a tax bill that creates growth, that creates good paying jobs as it reduces the deficit?"

What do you think?

Are you hoping for a blue wave? Which of these policies (if any) do you support? Any more you'd like to see? Take action above and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / Niyazz)