Labor groups and Democratic lobbies across Washington are drawing up a broad liberal agenda they hope to enact with strengthened majorities in Congress and Democratic control of the White House.

From opponents of the war in Iraq to environmental advocates to labor unions, progressive groups are crowing about their chances in Washington’s new landscape.

Their hopes come despite several forces that could temper their ambitions. Democrats had promised similar sweeping changes following their strong gains in the midterm elections, but often had difficulty passing legislation in the closely divided Senate.

Even with the gains on Tuesday, Democrats are still short of a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Many of the gains in the House, meanwhile, will boost the ranks of centrist members. The nation’s tough economic climate may also strain some of their efforts.

Labor groups spent heavily on the election in key battleground states and are planning to push for a series of economic changes, including immediate efforts on an economic stimulus package that focuses on infrastructure and increased money for healthcare to the states. They also have a set of unresolved priorities that they’ll likely lobby in the short-term, including legislation on pay discrimination and paid leave.

Their sights, though, are much higher, including their top priority: passing the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), legislation that they argue would make it easier for employees to form a union. Progressive groups fell short in the Senate this session, an outcome they hope to reverse next year.

“The gains obviously increase our chances of passing EFCA,” said Richard Trumka, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, at a post-election briefing. “We’re strengthened. We have more votes in the Senate and the House.”

Labor groups, though, are still likely to come up short on EFCA, also known as card-check. Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania was the only Republican to support the bill, and Democrats don’t appear to have made enough gains in the Senate to block a filibuster on it.

Business groups are girding for a tough battle. “Hopefully it won’t be the starting point,” said former Michigan Gov. John Engler, head of the National Association of Manufacturers, referring to EFCA.

“Labor has made it very clear that with the hundreds of millions of dollars they’ve spent in the election, that this is part of the payback.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also expressed concern about the trial bar’s push to end pre-dispute arbitration and the push to reverse the Supreme Court’s ruling on pay discrimination.

“This is a difficult climate we are going to confront,” said Bruce Josten, the Chamber’s top lobbyist.

Even so, Josten said, the bad economy could restrain Democratic efforts to raise taxes on upper-income earners or impose new regulations that could be a further drag on business.

“The first order of business will be turning the economy around,” Josten said.