Clearly voters said it was time for a change. But will change occur? And what type of change will it be?

Election exit polls indicate the top issues on the mind of voters as they voted for the House were the economy, corruption and scandal in government, and the war in Iraq - and in that order.

Eighty-two percent of voters responding to exit polls said they voted the way they did because they thought the economy was an important issue - and those votes didn't go Republican. While Bush may have thought the past tax cuts for the rich would resonate with voters, they didn't. This may be because of stagnant wages and the growing gap between the rich and the rest of us or because voters may recognize that we cannot continue to mortgage our future with a national debt that now stands at $78,000 for every American family and growing.

Three of four voters also said corruption and scandal in government was either an extremely or very important factor in how they voted. No doubt the revelations about the Mark Foley scandal just before the election had a huge impact. But Foley represented a broader set of problems and frustration with how our government operates. The abuse of power exhibited in the Jack Abramoff-Duke Cunningham-Robert Ney-David Safavian ever expanding circle of cozy deals is but one example. The mosaic of corruption and scandal also comes from a government that has put special interest and party interest above public interest in so many of its actions. This includes powerful corporations shaping federal policies (energy policy and oil industry, health care and the pharmaceutical industry), and appointing representatives of industry to regulate the industries they represent. It also comes from a Congress that treats appropriations and tax earmarks as normal business, a president that abuses power by infringing on civil liberties and increasing government secrecy, and a Congress that has too little transparency. These are all part of the corruption and scandal picture the public wants addressed. It appears the House Democrats have a good jump on addressing these voter concerns with a blueprint for legislation to be tackled in the first 100 hours of the new Congress. It includes:

• Addressing corruption and fiscal responsibility by "breaking the link between lobbyists and legislation" and committing to "pay-as-you-go, no new deficit spending" rules;
• Implementing the recommendations of the independent, bipartisan 9/11 Commission;
• Raising the minimum wage;
• Making health care more affordable for all Americans, negotiating for lower drug prices under Medicare, and promoting stem cell research;
• Broadening college opportunity, and cutting interest rates for student loans in half.
• Moving towards energy independence, and "rolling back the multi-billion dollar subsidies for Big Oil";
• Guaranteeing a "dignified retirement," and opposing attempts to privatize Social Security.

This is certainly an ambitious agenda. And incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has talked about the importance of transparency and open government. We concur. But while disclosure is vital, strong rules, oversight, and enforcement are essential. And, of course, the specifics of the Democrats plan will be what really matters.

We hope the 100 hour agenda is put in the context of a broader goal: putting us on the path to fiscal sanity - certainly not an easy task given recent policies. While pay-as-you-go rules are a critical element, it's not the entire solution. National priorities must be realigned so that government spends the public's money on the common good. This must be done in a responsible manner so as not to continue mortgaging our future. Our elected leaders must recognize that this requires fair and progressive ways of raising the necessary revenue to meet our national priorities. This is not to shun the need for spending cuts, but to put it in perspective. Cutting spending to the bone leads to inadequate and inept governmental response such as with Hurricane Katrina. We must have a government that responds to public needs, both before and after crises.

Democrats will face difficult choices and a lot is yet to be decided about their path. For example, they must fix the Alternative Minimum Tax, a tax aimed at the rich but because it was never indexed to inflation is now hitting the upper-middle class. This fix will be costly and may prove difficult to do within the confines of pay-as-you-go rules. Another issue will likely be the minimum wage. If firebrand conservatives take over the House Republican leadership - an issue all should keep an eye on - they could push hard to include special interest favors, such as further tax breaks for the wealthy, which could undercut any progress being sought by minimum wage legislation.

Strengthening homeland security is another daunting task before the new Congress. For example, we need a comprehensive regulatory approach to address chemical plant, nuclear plant, and port security. As we move forward on strengthening homeland security, basic civil liberties must be protected - and Congress should revisit policy changes that have infringed on such civil liberties.

Now the governing must begin. The president and the new Democratic leadership have been in dialogue - a constructive sign. However, it may not be sufficient to overcome the partisan infighting that has dominated our nation's politics. OMB Watch will continue working with Democrats and Republicans alike in our pursuit of a more open and accountable government that promotes fairness and equity. We hope the new leadership in Congress will provide fresh views and leadership in moving towards this vision.

We invite your input on the election results as it relates to governing. Click here to submit a response.

Yours Truly,

Gary D. Bass
Executive Director