Would-be chairmen in House under Democratic control promise to rule from center if they win

(AP) They're mostly a liberal bunch. Yet the would-be chairmen in a House under Democratic control promise to rule from the center. They'd have little choice, given the likely balance of power they would confront if elected.

George W. Bush would still occupy the Oval Office, and no one thinks Democrats could win control of the House by more than a few seats next month. And that would include three dozen or more moderate "blue dog" Democrats.

The dynamics ensure that despite the overwhelmingly liberal cast of the chairmen-to-be _ as measured by liberal interest groups such as Americans for Democratic Action _ the early agenda would consist of bills that could garner Republican support.

Those include legislation to raise the minimum wage, empower the government to negotiate lower prescription prices from drug companies for the Medicare program and end tax breaks for companies that move U.S. jobs overseas.

"If we do take back the House, there will certainly be a Republican president and there may well be a Republican Senate, so we're well aware of the constraints," said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. "But I think there are some things that we can put out that will put some pressure on: minimum wage, negotiating with drug companies."

What won't be seen is any serious move to impeach Bush, even though the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, has introduced a bill calling on Congress to determine whether there are grounds for impeachment over the government's warrantless wiretapping program.

Conyers already has been overruled by Democratic leaders including would-be Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, who dismiss any talk of impeachment.

And there's no talk of gun control measures _ anathema to the 40 or so pro-gun Democrats in the House _ nor even much speculation about steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions thought responsible for global warming. For starters, would-be Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell, D-Mich., is a staunch supporter of his state's automobile manufacturers.

Instead, the Democrats' "Six for '06" agenda is studded with items designed to attract broad support from Democrats and also win over plenty of Republicans. Besides the minimum wage, they include: making college tuition tax deductible, boosting production of biofuels and improving military readiness.

Democrats do promise to use committee posts to step up oversight of the Bush administration. They would be likely to hold hearings into the conduct of the Iraq war, the National Security Agency's wiretapping program, Hurricane Katrina contracting abuses and the influence of industry lobbyists on environmental rulemaking.

"When President Clinton was in office, congressional committees were themselves on steroids and investigated every possible allegation of wrongdoing, no matter how small," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., who stands to assume the chairmanship of the Government Reform Committee. "But when President Bush took over, oversight virtually ceased. No matter how big the issue, Congress now often looks away."

The Democratic chairmen deposed in 1994 were a sometimes imperious group, often uninterested in the opinions of junior lawmakers, even those of fellow Democrats. But the arrogance is gone after 12 demoralizing years in the minority.

"The biggest job is to see whether (Republicans) want to talk," said Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., poised to grab the helm of the Ways and Means Committee, with its broad portfolio that includes taxes, trade, Social Security, Medicare and welfare. "If we win, it's only for two years and we should be able to say what we have accomplished in two years. We really need their input and the bipartisanship if we're going to succeed."

Republicans say that giving Rangel the gavel of the tax-writing committee would lead to tax hikes. Most of Bush's tax cuts would expire at the end of the decade unless renewed by Congress.

"If Charlie Rangel were to be chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, he would put at risk ... some of the best economic policy this nation has seen in a long time," said Vice President Cheney in an interview with Time magazine.

Rangel said the White House would have to show flexibility on reforming Social Security and simplifying the tax code if Democrats were to try to address those issues.

Frank stands to take over the Financial Services Committee, a panel that claims jurisdiction over federal housing programs, which Democrats argue have been shortchanged under GOP rule.

"We'll be getting back into building affordable housing," Frank said.

Moderate Democrat Collin Peterson of Minnesota, who would take over the Agriculture Committee, said he would resist what he characterized as Bush administration efforts to "gut the farm bill." Farm subsidy programs are up for renewal next year.

"If I'm chairman, that's not going to work," Peterson said.

Some Democrats, such as George Miller of California _ potential chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee _ refuse to comment since it's far from a sure bet who will control the House.

Right now, Republicans hold 230 of the 435 seats, with 201 Democrats and one independent. Three seats are vacant.