Wyden reveals Senate Finance Democrats’ agenda for 120th Congress

Wyden reveals Senate Finance Democrats’ agenda for 120 th Congress

After Democrats clinched the Senate majority for next Congress, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) outlined the agenda for party members on the Senate Finance Committee.

Wyden, in line to chair the panel, blasted the panel’s Republicans for using their authority to “execute and defend the most craven parts” of President Trump’s agenda , highlighting his tariffs and healthcare cuts.

“Trump and Republicans have been running a smash-and-grab job on the American people,” Wyden said in a release. “Under my leadership, the top priorities of the Finance Committee will be affordability for us, accountability for them .”

Senate Finance Democrats’ agenda, Wyden said, will feature raising taxes on billionaires and corporations , ending the “corporate chokehold on our nation’s healthcare system” and reasserting congressional authority over tariff policy.

Americans punished Republicans for persistently high prices this midterm cycle, as Democrats flipped the Senate and House and will begin the next Congress with larger majorities than what the GOP had the last two years.

Republican Sen. Mike Crapo (Idaho) has chaired the Finance panel since January 2025, after Wyden chaired the committee the previous four years.

The committee has jurisdiction over the Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury departments, along with the Social Security Administration, among other agencies.

Another component of Senate Finance Democrats’ agenda, Wyden said, will be “accountability” for major corporations .

The 77-year-old Oregon Democrat said he is “putting the special interests that have worked hand-in-hand with Trump to rip off American families” since January 2025 “on notice.”

He added, “From the banks that helped cover up [Jeffrey] Epstein’s crimes , to insurance companies that are delaying and denying health care to churn a profit, to the pharmaceutical company CEOs that price gouge while enjoying Trump’s hand-delivered windfalls, when I am chair, they will be forced to answer to the Senate Finance Committee for their role in hurting the American people and enabling Trump’s corruption.”

Welcome to The Hill’s Business & Economy newsletter , I’m Max Rego — covering the intersection of Wall Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Key business and economic news with implications this week and beyond:

Stocks nosedived on Thursday, one day after rallying on the heels of Democrats’ resounding midterm victories.

Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) has formally launched a bid to chair the House Financial Services Committee, setting up a challenge to the panel’s longtime Democratic leader, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).

Progressive Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Thursday chalked up Democrats’ resounding midterm victories to populist messaging on the economy.

Fox News’s Jesse Watters said Wednesday the Republicans’ election coalition fell apart in this year’s midterms, with Democrats winning both the House and Senate.

Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release October jobs data on Friday at 8:30 a.m. EST.

Branch out with more stories from the day:

Midterm shellacking shakes up GOP 2028 presidential landscape

The massive Democratic victories across the country on Tuesday are shaking up the 2028 presidential landscape for Republicans and raising questions about how badly Vice President Vance will be damaged in the fallout.

Hill Insiders can read more via the link below.

Business and economic news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Mystery seller seeks to dump $500 million of data center loans ( Bloomberg )

Democrats see new momentum for plans to tax the rich ( Politico )

The Costco board member and other M.B.A.s who won in the midterms ( Wall Street Journal )

A New York appeals panel questioned on Thursday whether presidential immunity or federal law bars President Trump’s criminal conviction stemming from a hush money payment made during his 2016 campaign to cover up an alleged affair. Read more

The virtual National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) meeting on Thursday to likely approve President Trump’s triumphal arch crashed after 90 minutes. Read more

Opinions related to business and economic issues submitted to The Hill:

Check out The Hill’s Business page for the latest coverage.

400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001

If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe .