Congressman Jim McGovern said Thursday that the Democrats should be ready and willing to use their now considerable majorities in both chambers of Congress to pass significant legislation, the Associated Press reports.

The remarks came two days after Democrats expanded their majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate, and a day after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that "the country must be governed from the middle."

McGovern told the AP he is not concerned with the House moving left, but that he is worried about Democrats not using the mandate he believes the election provided.

"I'm not worried about overreaching," McGovern said. "I'm worried about being too timid and too cautious, and not stepping up to the plate and doing what we promised we would do."