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Senate Democrats Begin Planning Road Back to Majority

By Humberto Sanchez Posted at 11 a.m. today

Senate Democrats will meet Wednesday to start plotting a path back to the majority. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Senate Democrats will hold their first strategy session on taking back the majority Wednesday afternoon, according to a senior Senate Democratic aide.

The informal session will be led by Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York, who is chairman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, who is DPCC vice chairman.

The meeting will be the first since last months elections, and will kick off a series of discussions that will include a full caucus retreat early next year.

Senate Democrats feel optimistic about the opportunities to pick up seats after this years election given the map in 2016, but know that the caucus needs to be focused and clear-eyed about putting forth an agenda that resonates with the middle class, the aide said.

Democrats hold just 10 seats up in 2016, while Republicans will be defending 24 seats.

The aide described the meeting as a big picture discussion, with policy goals to be fleshed out later.

Democrats are not expected to decide specific policies that they will push in response to the Republicans in the meeting, but rather begin to discuss broader themes that will guide their agenda and messaging in the coming years, the aide said.

The meeting comes after Democrats have been feuding among one another following the election losses. In the next Congress, Republicans will have a 53-46 majority in the chamber, having added seven seats, excluding the Louisiana Senate race, which will be decided by a Saturday runoff.

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Senate Democrats Begin Planning Road Back to Majority

December 3rd, 2014

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Senate Democrats propose elimination of UC tuition hike

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Senate Democrats unveiled a proposal Tuesday that would eliminate a planned tuition hike for in-state students at UC San Diego and other University of California campuses, but would sharply increase the amount out-of-state students pay.

The UC Board of Regents last month approved tuition hikes of 5 percent a year for five years, saying it wasn't receiving enough money from the state to even cover inflation. The decision has sparked protests at UC campuses across the state.

Under the proposal announced today by state Senate leader Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, out-of-state UC students would see a 17 percent increase in their tuition premium, while the state would also boost its general fund spending on higher education by $156 million in 2015-16. The proposal also calls for redirecting funds from a middle-class scholarship program.

The plan would also create a financial incentive program for California State University students to obtain their degrees in four years.

The overall proposal is aimed at boosting UC enrollment by 5,000 next year, while increasing CSU enrollment by 10,500.

"Today, Senate Democrats stand united with California's students on improving college access, affordability and helping students graduate," de Leon said. "California's economy depends on the vibrancy and quality of our higher education system, and the cornerstone is an affordable four-year program."

UC President Janet Napolitano called the proposal a "promising first step."

"I welcome and applaud the Senate Democrats' interest in maintaining the excellence, access and affordability of California's system of public higher education," Napolitano said. "The bill introduced today is a promising first step toward making sure that public higher education benefits Californians today and for generations to come, and we look forward to working with Senate Democrats and other elected officials to secure the state funding essential to this end.

"State funding should be adequate to ensure that UC remains the best public university in the world and that tuition is as low and predictable as possible."

Under the tuition hike approved by the UC Board of Regents last month, in-state tuition for the 2015-16 school year will rise by $612, to $12,804. Out-of-state students pay the same increased rate, plus the non-resident fee of $22,878, which will also increase by the same percentage, according to UC.

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Senate Democrats propose elimination of UC tuition hike

December 3rd, 2014

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California Senate Democrats Propose Alternative To Tuition Hikes

Senate Democrats unveiled a proposal on Tuesday that would eliminate a planned tuition hike for in-state students at UC San Diego and other University of California campuses, but would sharply increase the amount out-of-state students pay.

The UC Board of Regents last month approved tuition hikes of 5 percent a year for five years, saying it wasn't receiving enough money from the state to even cover inflation. The decision has sparked protests at UC campuses across the state.

Under the proposal announced today by state Senate leader Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, out-of-state UC students would see a 17 percent increase in their tuition premium, while the state would also boost its general fund spending on higher education by $156 million in 2015-16. The proposal also calls for redirecting funds from a middle-class scholarship program.

The plan would also create a financial incentive program for California State University students to obtain their degrees in four years.

The overall proposal is aimed at boosting UC enrollment by 5,000 next year, while increasing CSU enrollment by 10,500.

"Today, Senate Democrats stand united with California's students on improving college access, affordability and helping students graduate," de Leon said. "California's economy depends on the vibrancy and quality of our higher education system, and the cornerstone is an affordable four-year program."

UC President Janet Napolitano called the proposal a "promising first step."

"I welcome and applaud the Senate Democrats' interest in maintaining the excellence, access and affordability of California's system of public higher education," Napolitano said. "The bill introduced today is a promising first step toward making sure that public higher education benefits Californians today and for generations to come, and we look forward to working with Senate Democrats and other elected officials to secure the state funding essential to this end."

"State funding should be adequate to ensure that UC remains the best public university in the world and that tuition is as low and predictable as possible."

Under the tuition hike approved by the UC Board of Regents last month, in-state tuition for the 2015-16 school year will rise by $612, to $12,804. Out- of-state students pay the same increased rate, plus the non-resident fee of $22,878, which will also increase by the same percentage, according to UC.

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California Senate Democrats Propose Alternative To Tuition Hikes

December 3rd, 2014

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