GOP Senators To Lay Out "30,000-foot High" Agenda

Emboldened with ideas aired at two private retreats, Senate Republicans are planning as soon as Thursday to release their 2007--2008 legislative agenda, which they hope will help the 21 GOP senators up for re-election next year keep their seats.

"It will be a document of what we stand for and why," said a leadership aide. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his two deputies, Trent Lott and Jon Kyl, will join in a press conference to lay out their broad message, said the aide. "This is 30,000-feet-in-the-air stuff, not a bunch of in-the-weeds specifics."

While the Republicans are trying to keep the agenda secret until Thursday, one insider said it will propose broad healthcare benefits, a bid to make the Bush tax cuts permanent, and a new energy plan. Several other issues will be included. The plan is based in part on what GOP senators brought up during two retreats. A source said that several believed the 2006 losses were due in part to a lack of a positive agenda.

In addition, all GOP senators were asked to fill out a survey to help prioritize the major issues. Another leadership aide said that the package "basically shows what we are for and [helps] to positively contrast us with the Democrats." Both aides said it is hoped that the agenda will aid members up for re-election, though the GOP believes that only about four of them are in real danger.

By Paul Bedard