Reid; Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, the House Democratic leader; and two other top-ranking Democrats repackaged an array of familiar party positions as a manifesto for “a new direction for America.” Included were initiatives to lower gas prices at the pump, promote a balanced budget, help middle-class families with health care costs and college tuition payments and curb job outsourcing.

They appeared to be trying to regroup their forces in the face of GOP-engineered floor debates in both houses aimed at portraying Democrats as weak on national security and spotlighting their divisions over time lines for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq.

Hoping to sound themes to power their campaign to recapture majorities in Congress, the Democratic leaders blamed Republicans – in control of Congress since 1995 – for having imposed a nine-year freeze on the minimum wage at $5.15 an hour, while pushing policies favoring the rich and big business.

“It's immoral,” Pelosi said. “Our new direction means that on the first day of the Congress, we will give America a raise by increasing the minimum wage.”

Their pledge echoed promises made in 1994 by congressional Republicans, who promised voters they would restore faith and trust in government by passing a package of congressional housekeeping reforms on the first day of a new Congress if elevated to majority status. Voters responded by granting the GOP's wish.

Reid, Pelosi and other Democratic leaders have unveiled their election-year program in stages. Earlier in the year were rollouts of Democratic plans to end congressional corruption and to protect national security.

For months public polls have shown overall support for restoring congressional control to Democrats, although voters also continue in many cases to exempt their local members of Congress from their desire for a partisan housecleaning.

In addition to increasing the minimum wage, the leaders called for offering a tax deduction for college tuition, cracking down on alleged price gouging by oil companies, allowing the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices and investing in stem cell research.

They also promised to block GOP plans to “privatize” Social Security, to eliminate billions in subsidies to energy companies and to restore lapsed requirements on Congress to offset tax cuts and spending increases with cuts elsewhere.

Earlier this week, the House Appropriations Committee approved legislation that would boost the current minimum wage by $2.10 by Jan. 1, 2009. However, the provision is likely to be stripped from the bill once it reaches the House floor.