Not Business as Usual--The Business Challenge for the Democratic Party

Now that the Democratic Party is firmly in control of the United States Congress, the party of the people will have to figure out how to handle the power of the purse.

With major appropriations for domestic programs, the war on terror, military commitment in Iraq and other must-fund items, Democrats face a daunting task. They must transform themselves from naysayers to do-gooders--all in time for the 2008 elections.

It's not that Democrats are unaccustomed to handling the nation's business agenda. To the contrary, some of the best things for the business sector happened under the Clinton Administration's eight year reign over record growth and prosperity.

The challenge for post-Clinton congressional Democrats will be to balance their desire to make inroads on Wall Street with their promise to revive Main Street. This will be no easy task. In the meantime, business leaders throughout the country are hedging their bets and playing a very cautious waiting game, giving liberally to both Dems and Republicans.