Morning Roundup: Rocky Republican Retreat Edition
Congressional Republicans are at their retreat in Philadelphia this week, hoping to get on the same page and develop a policy agenda. It comes as a surprise to exactly no one that the retreat isn't going as smoothly as they had hoped. A look at the headlines shows Republicans on Capitol Hill and the Trump Administration continue to struggle with deep divisions.
“Republicans arrived here hoping to forge a game plan to reshape the health-care system and overhaul tax policy, finally envisioning that their legislation could be signed into law after years of confrontation with the Obama White House.”
“Instead, they found themselves in an all-too-common battle, trying to explain, defend and deflect the latest round of controversial statements by President Trump. Do they agree that as many as 5 million people voted illegally in November? Do they support a proposal to revive secret CIA prisons and possibly torture? What about a draft ban on resettling refugees?”
“Any hope that Trump would avoid distracting fights once he entered the Oval Office faded on the fifth full day of his presidency…”
The Hill: GOP wants Trump to get in sync
“A rocky first week in which Trump became embroiled in controversies over inauguration crowd size and voter fraud has Republicans calling for better coordination between the Trump administration and Congress.”
“Republicans hope their retreat will serve as an opportunity to move forward together on repealing ObamaCare and enacting tax reform…But those issues were largely overshadowed on Wednesday, as Trump became the talk of the retreat with his call for an extensive investigation of alleged electoral fraud and a draft order authorizing the CIA to reopen so-called black sites in foreign countries. Republicans who spoke to reporters repeatedlysignaled their unease with those subjects.”
USA Today: GOP leaders disagree with Trump on vote fraud, discourage torture changes
“House and Senate Republican leaders, kicking off a three-day GOP retreat, said Wednesday they have seen no evidence of the widespread voter fraud that President Trump has vowed to investigate.”
“They also said they consider the current ban on the CIA's use of torture in interrogating suspected terrorists to be ‘settled law’ that Congress has no plans to revisit despite reports that Trump is considering an executive order to reinstate the harsh tactics.”
“The remarks by Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., at a news conference underscore the conflicting messages that the GOP-controlled Congress and the new Republican president are putting out. Reports of Trump's latest controversial proposals Wednesday were clearly taking attention away from congressional leaders' attempts to focus on health care, tax reform and other legislative goals.”
“Congressional Republicans opened their retreat in Philadelphia with lofty plans to address tax and health policy issues, but swiftly slipped off message, thanks to President Trump's latest announcements Wednesday.”
“One by one, the Republican leaders were forced to answer for Trump's latest statements and executive orders, which were being disclosed as lawmakers convened.”
“Republicans eagerly seeking answers from President Trump on how he plans to implement his agenda instead found themselves deflecting new questions Wednesday about the president’s latest controversial pronouncements.”
“But on Wednesday, Trump offered up a fresh set of distractions with a flurry of announcements and early-morning tweets… That left Republicans scrambling with few details and fewer answers at a moment when they had intended to secure the opposite.”
Politico: Trump heads to Philly to charm congressional Republicans
“…Deep divisions remain. Trump’s insistence on simultaneous repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act has left Republicans on the Hill scrambling to find a workable health care plan that will not result in millions losing their health insurance—an outcome Trump has made clear he will not accept.”
“Trump’s continued call for tariffs to punish corporations that outsource American jobs has also created a quandary for congressional Republicans, one they hope to solve with a border-adjustment tax. And Trump’s apparent willingness to cozy up to the Russian regime of Vladimir Putin puts him at odds with many senior Republicans, who take a hard line on Russia.”
Politico: Hill Republicans feel big-footed on Obamacare
“President Donald Trump's recent assertion he will deliver his own health care plan to Congress has antagonized many Republican lawmakers gathered at a retreat in Philadelphia, which could make it harder to reach agreement on a plan to repeal and replace Obamacare.”
“Lawmakers have been blindsided by the president’s statements about the elements of an Obamacare replacement plan. Some are also unnerved by the prospect that the executive branch, rather than Congress, will write the legislation and potentially tread on the constitutional notion of separation of powers.”