HARRISBURG -- With new operating rules in place, Democratic House leaders yesterday set their legislative agenda for the session.

They laid out an aggressive list of goals that range from allowing convenience stores to sell beer to providing better access to safe and affordable child care.

Topping Majority Leader Bill DeWeese's list are providing more property tax relief, improving transportation, providing health care to all Pennsylvanians and passing a responsible budget.

Mr. DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, said he won't force his agenda on the rank-and-file, as legislative leaders traditionally have done.

"The leadership style of the last 12 years was almost dictatorial," he told reporters during a news conference yesterday. "We have altered that."

Under new House rules approved Tuesday night, committee chairmen will run the show, he said. They will listen to the public and to rank-and-file members and not be pressured to push through leadership-mandated changes.

"No longer will our agenda be simply handed to committee chairmen with instructions to pass them," he said. "We are allowing them to do what they should be doing: holding hearings, listening to expert testimony, talking to the public and forging compromise."

Majority Whip Keith McCall echoed that.

"In the past, the power to make changes [to legislation] was held by only a few. No more will that be the case in Harrisburg," said Mr. McCall, D-Carbon.

Republicans, who controlled the House for the last 12 years, said committee chairmen have always had authority over legislation. It was never dictatorial, said Steve Miskin, spokesman for Minority Leader Sam Smith, R-Punxsutawney.

"Committee chairmen have always been empowered. They've always had input," he said.

Democrats will try to regulate home improvement contractors, increase funding for special education, stem high-school dropout rates, address crowded prisons, improve state parks, revamp grant programs for volunteer fire departments, make higher education more affordable, annually adjust the state minimum wage to reflect inflation, reduce gun violence and more.

"Issues, no doubt, will be added to this list," Mr. McCall said. "These are examples of what we feel are pressing needs affecting Pennsylvanians."