Democrats rolled out a new economic platform Monday in hopes of winning over President Donald Trump's populist base with promises to take on big businesses, lower the cost of prescription drugs and create jobs. The campaign — "A Better Deal" — is intended as a counterpunch to the president's frequent criticism of the lackluster recovery and stagnant wages under President Barack Obama and Trump's vow to restore the economy to 3 percent annual growth. Democrats are also searching for ways to reconnect with working-class voters whose deep frustration with their own economic prospects helped drive their support for Trump. "It is an ambitious economic agenda that represents a renewed Democratic commitment to the hard-working men and women across the United States who have been left out and left behind for too long," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi wrote in a Washington Post op-ed. Among Democrats' top agenda items is greater scrutiny of corporate mergers, including tougher standards that incorporate consumer privacy, product quality and the impact on wages and jobs. Democrats are also seeking post-merger reviews and greater enforcement authority.

Those responsibilities would be carried out by a new competition advocate that Democrats have nicknamed the "Trust Buster." One of the deals that could be targeted is AT&T's $85 billion bid for Time Warner, which is awaiting regulatory approval. Other sectors that could wind up in the crosshairs include the beer industry, airlines and eyeglasses. "We will revisit our antitrust laws to ensure that the economic freedom of all Americans — consumers, workers and small businesses — come before big corporations that are getting even bigger," the document read. At a Monday event unveiling the agenda, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said the economy is "broken," pointing to mergers which have reduced competition and consumer choice. "Americans know this economy is rigged, rigged in favor of billionaires and giant corporations and rigged against everyone else. It's not hard to see how this happened. In industry after industry, a handful of corporations have seized power in this country," she said.

Prescription drug prices

In addition, Democrats are proposing an independent agency to tackle the high cost of prescription drugs. The director would be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, charged with investigating drug manufacturers and able to slap fines on companies with exorbitant rate hikes. Pharmaceutical companies would also be required to notify the government of substantial price increases.