Though U.S. Senators have always played a key role in the DLC and the New Democrat movement, we're pleased to see that nine senators have taken the formal step of organizing a New Democrat Coalition to work with the existing 64-member NDC in the House. The founding members of the Senate NDC include: Joe Lieberman (CT), Evan Bayh (IN), Mary Laundrieu (LA), John Edwards (NC), John Breaux (LA), Chuck Robb (VA), Blanche Lambert Lincoln (AR), Bob Kerrey (NE) and Bob Graham (FL).

It's also significant that key members of both House and Senate NDCs held a press conference last week to announce the formal introduction of the New Democrat education reauthorization bill sponsored by Senators Lieberman, Bayh and Landrieu, which originated at the DLC's affiliated think tank, the Progressive Policy Institute. We hope it will become the basis for a key reform of federal education policy this year. Joining the three Senate sponsors at the press conference were Senators Breaux, Lincoln, and Herb Kohl (WI), and Representatives Cal Dooley (CA), Adam Smith (WA), Joe Hoeffel (PA) and Jim Maloney (CT).

Both developments were big, and good news, for New Democrats.