The House Republican Do-Nothing Congress
Since taking the Speaker’s gavel last fall, Speaker Paul Ryan has discussed the need to build a more “Confident America.” Yet six months into his Speakership, Speaker Ryan continues to struggle with deep divisions and dysfunction within his Conference, preventing the House from getting anything done for the American people, including passing a budget. The GOP Do-Nothing Congress has done anything but inspire a confident America:
“When Ryan was chosen as speaker in October, Republicans had high hopes he could unite a fractured caucus…But Ryan has also had his share of struggles, including missing an April 15 deadline for the House to pass a fiscal 2017 budget. Ryan had said kick-starting the budget process would be part of his promised return to legislative ‘regular order.’ His efforts have instead found him wrestling with the same fiscal conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus and others that helped to usher Boehner out the door last fall.” [Bloomberg, 4/25/16]
“Governing by crisis has become the norm in Congress in recent years, but so far this year even that hasn't happened. Puerto Rico is on the verge of economic collapse, an average of 78 people are dying every day from opioid overdoses, and mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus have been found in 30 states. But Congress has shown no urgency about addressing those issues. Maybe that’s not surprising from a Republican majority that can’t even adopt a nonbinding budget resolution after months of ‘family’ discussions.” [Roll Call, 4/19/16]
“…2016, which always figured to be light on legislative accomplishments, is proving to be a virtual wasteland on the House side. Only 40 legislative days remain before the House adjourns for the national conventions, and nothing substantive is expected to happen until a projected lame-duck session in November.” [Politico, 4/20/16]
While House Republicans struggle with internal divisions and waste time on legislation that will never be signed into law, a number of critical legislative matters deserve immediate attention, including:
- Addressing Puerto Rico’s debt crisis;
- Providing funding to combat the threat of the Zika virus;
- Providing resources to help Flint recover from its drinking water crisis;
- Passing legislation that addresses the crisis of opioid addiction in America;
- Passing appropriations bills that adhere to the bipartisan budget agreement that Republican leadership voted for last Fall;
- Reauthorizing the FAA, which expires July 15;
- Passing a bipartisan defense authorization bill.
Speaker Ryan and House Republicans should work with Democrats on these issues and get things done for the American people.
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