Press Staff Blog

Even as Republicans begin discussions on yet another budget that will end the Medicare guarantee and put insurance companies back in charge of your health care, the Affordable Care Act continues to provide benefits for millions of America’s seniors and their costs continue to decrease.

Republicans just released their first quarter legislative agenda, and a particular line caught our eye: “Have we made a difference since January of 2011? Certainly.”

What difference have they made? Let’s review:

With millions of Americans still out of work and American families facing a tax increase if the payroll tax cut is not extended this month, it appears Republican conferees are focused on two controversial details: GED’s and drug testing.

As Politico reports, conferees on the Payroll bill met for the second time today, with precious few days left to reach a compromise and the GOP firmly dug in on unreasonable policy provisions:

Taking our country to the brink of default, walking away from meaningful action on the deficit, and putting middle class tax cuts at risk hasn’t played out well for House Republicans according to a recent GOP poll.  While Republicans would like to blame their plunging poll numbers on their jobs message, the fact is they haven’t put forward a comprehensive jobs plan, even though they’ve had a year to focus on putting more Americans back to work.

From Politico:

House Republicans are in the midst of a long, cold winter, as story after story highlights their divided and dispirited caucus, which still lacks a comprehensive jobs plan or much else of an agenda.

This morning, Politico piles on:

Looks like House Republicans are finally realizing that their Do-Nothing Congress isn't winning them any points with the American people, with Members complaining their agenda for the year “is simply not enough”:

From Politico:

“Lame. That’s what a growing number of House Republicans have been saying privately — and now publicly — about what they’ve seen so far of their party’s 2012 legislative agenda.”

Wanted to be sure you saw this United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection poll out today showing Americans are “losing faith” in the GOP Do-Nothing Congress. After a year in the majority, Republicans still have not put forward a comprehensive jobs plan or taken meaningful action to address the deficit. It’s clear Republicans have fallen short on their promises and the American people have taken note:

The first week of the second session of the 112^th Congress was anything but kind to House Republicans. Looks like their lack of a comprehensive jobs plan and string of political games on the Floor are finally catching up to them.

So here is a look back at the week that was: