(AgapePress) - A former Republican National Committee official is criticizing House Democrats for not allowing GOP amendments to their "first 100 hours" legislative agenda. That agenda includes, among other things, expanding federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research (ESCR).

House Democrats plan to pass six major bills during their first 100 hours in charge. Depending on how one counts, that could mean 100 hours of legislative time -- or roughly 15 days in session. The Democratic agenda outlined by the House leaders includes increasing the minimum wage, making it easier to buy prescription drugs from other countries, cutting interest rates on student loans, ending subsidies for big oil and investing in renewable energy sources, and -- as mentioned -- expanding federal funding of ESCR. Another item on that agenda -- enacting most of the recommendations found the report from the bipartisan Iraq War Commission -- was passed by the House yesterday (Tuesday, January 9).

A lot to accomplish in a short time, one might say. But as Majority Leader Steny Hoyer boasted last week, "We think we'll do it in less than a hundred hours."

Genevieve Wood, director of strategic operations at the Heritage Foundation, says Democrats need to allow more open debate on their plans, just as they demanded when Republicans were in control. And she recommends that voters "pay attention to the details" of the legislation being pushed by the Democrats.

"I think people ought to look very closely at this agenda, because Democrats are suggesting that they're wanting to help the working class or wanting to help families," she says. "But many of the things they're talking about -- whether it's the minimum age, whether it's the stem-cell debate, whether it's the cost of drugs ... are going to end up costing people more money and really hurting the very people they claim they're trying to help."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to the first 100 hours when she spoke during the opening session of the 110th Congress, immediately after becoming the first women elected to that post. "Let us join together in the first 100 hours to make this Congress the most honest and open in history," she stated. "This openness requires respect for every voice in the Congress."

Pelosi also called for "civility" and a "higher standard" in 2004 when, as House minority leader, she put forth a "Minority Bill of Rights" when Republicans were in control. At the time, she justified the proposal by saying, "When we are shut out, they are shutting out the great diversity of America." And according to the Washington Post, she vowed to honor that two-page proposal if her party ever regained the majority. But she has thus far ignored calls to endorse that proposal now that she is majority leader.

Consequently, Wood believes Americans should be concerned that Democrats are pushing through their pet plans without allowing any challenges to them.

"There are a lot of new lawmakers in Washington who have not been here for any of the debates before," Wood points out; "and frankly it has been a long time since some of these things have been debated, including the minimum wage and specifically how much they're talking about raising it."

Another issue that has not been debated in quite some time, she continues, is the idea of the government getting involved in setting the price of drugs. That concerns Wood. "[T]he public ought to hold its representatives responsible for having open debates before having any votes," she urges.

Wood says a perfect example of why open debate is needed on these issues is a new study released Sunday that reveals there is yet another alternative source of stem cells that does not involved destroying human embryos.

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