Space Speaker Mike Johnson sat down with Fox Information’ Bret Baier this week, and the host requested concerning the Republican convention’s “top priority” forward of the 2024 elections. After the Louisiana congressman stated the highest precedence “is to keep and grow our majority,” he expressed optimism concerning the highway forward:
“I’m very bullish on the future, Bret. I think we’re going to have a great election cycle for conservatives and Republicans, because we’re offering an alternative to [the Democratic agenda]. We have answers to all these great challenges. And our candidates and our incumbents are excited to get out there on the campaign trail and talk about that, because I think it resonates with the people.”
At a superficial stage, the rhetoric surely sounded great. The ones paying attention to the Space speaker, with out realizing higher, may well be inspired by way of the concept that congressional Republicans “have answers” to the country’s “great challenges,” and GOP incumbents and applicants can’t wait to inform the citizens concerning the celebration’s superb imaginative and prescient.
However slightly under the skin, there was once one small factor Johnson didn’t point out: his celebration’s exact accomplishments.
To make sure, the Space speaker’s rhetoric was once tough to take severely at face price. For all of the Republican’s claims about his celebration having “answers,” the truth stays that GOP lawmakers don’t seem to have anything else corresponding to a governing schedule. As the man who wrote a e-book a couple of years in the past about Republicans turning into a post-policy celebration, I will’t lend a hand however realize that GOP officers proceed to end up the thesis true.
It’s by contrast backdrop that congressional Republicans are wrapping up their paintings for the 12 months with successfully not anything to turn for his or her efforts.
More or less 24 hours in the past, Rep. Joe Neguse spoke at the Space ground and argued, “Republicans have had a majority in this House for 11 months, and what do they have to show for it? Nothing.” The Colorado Democrat added that the GOP’s document for 2023 comprises “an effort to default on our nation’s debt, two attempts to shut down the government, vacating their own speaker, and now a baseless impeachment.”
He’s no longer the one person who’s spotted. Earlier than participants left the Hill for his or her Thanksgiving ruin, Republican Rep. Chip Roy delivered impassioned remarks at the Space ground. “One thing. I want my Republican colleagues to give me one thing — one! — that I can go campaign on and say we did,” the Texan stated. “Anybody sitting in the complex, if you want to come down to the floor and come explain to me, one meaningful, significant thing the Republican majority has done.”
Nobody rushed to reply to his problem. That wasn’t sudden: This Congress, because of its far-right GOP majority, is on course to be the least productive for the reason that Nice Melancholy.
As Republican participants head to the airport, I’m curious in the event that they’ve ready solutions for constituents who would possibly ask what they completed in 2023. Given how woeful the 12 months has been within the GOP-led Space, that gained’t be a very simple query to reply to.