When they are taking their August recess, congressional Democrats will be emphasizing the federal minimum wage and stem cell research, according to the Washington Times.

This is part of the Democrats' strategy of highlighting issues they feel appeal to middle-class voters.

On the other side, Republicans are taking a different direction (via Washington Times):

By contrast, Republicans next month plan to highlight a need to strengthen the porous borders and to keep the conversation either on local issues or security matters, such as terrorism.

Democrats criticized Republicans for having "misplaced priorities."

Here's what one Democratic Senator had to say:

"The Republican leadership doesn't get it in the House or the Senate," Mr. Schumer said. "They keep going back to the old chestnuts, and they just don't work anymore. This is a different world in 2006 than it [was] in 2004."

This statement is ironic coming from a Democrat. The issues they are highlighting during the August recess are the Democrats' same "old chestnuts" - pour more money into failed government programs (Medicare), promote government interference in private business (federal minimum wage), and have the federal government be involved in unnecessary areas (stem cell research).