From what I recall, they tried to do it and Republicans blocked it. I don't really count that as a misfire.

A misfire in that sense would be more like the Lib Dems in the UK promising to do it, but forming a coalition with The Bloody Tories to get into power, in which they were the minority. They couldn't do it, the Tories and the Tory press blamed them, and they fell so far back out of power that we are essentially back to a two-party system. On top of that, they gave Cameron power, which is the domino that led the UK to its current shitbiscuit status.

Which the youth vote in the USA may want to take a few lessons from...