This month marks the beginning of having a Republican majority in both Houses of Congress, the beginning of their promise to prove they are capable of "governing responsibly." So, how is it going so far?
1. Dismantling "Obamacare"
On Thursday, the House passed legislation that would redefine full-time employment under the Affordable Care Act as someone who works 40 hours/week instead of the current 30 hours. Their argument is that, at the 30 hour threshold, employers can easily cut workers back to 29 hours to avoid having to provide employer mandated healthcare.
Apparently, it has never occurred to these geniuses that it would be just as easy to cut 40 hours to 39 in order for employers to gain the same result.
And, how does a change from 30 hours effect government spending? The Congressional Budget Office said this legislation will move 1 million people onto government insurance programs raising federal spending by $53.2 billion over the next decade. And, according to government statistics, since more than half of American workers actually put in a 40 hour work week, the threat of all of them losing employer provided healthcare would add even more to government spending.
Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-California) had this to say, "Mr. President, you say you care about those who have fallen on hard times. show it, and sign this bill. You care about low-income workers, about working women, and about small businesses. Then show it, and sign this bill."
No explanation was offered on how denying health care to low-income workers, working women or those who have fallen on hard times is supposed to improve their lot in life.
2. Dismantling the President's Executive Action on Immigration
Disappointment reigned when Republicans found out they couldn't stop the president's executive action by defunding the Department of Homeland Security because Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency charged with carrying out the president's order, is completely funded by the fees it collects from immigration applications. No congressional approved funds are used.
What's a Republican to do? Enter Representative Mick Mulvaney (R-South Carolina) and Representative Harold Rogers (R-Kentucky). They are developing legislation that would change the way fees are processed by depositing them directly into the main Homeland Security budget and then allowing Congress to allocate their use.
3. Dismantling Environmental Regulations
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has vowed to halt the Environmental Protection Agency's attempt to curb pollution from power plants through new regulations that were approved by executive action last year.
One of the loudest and proudest climate deniers is Senator James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), new chairman of the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee, who claims the earth has experienced "no warming for the last 15 years."
With attitudes like these, it is no surprise that one of the first pieces of legislation to be passed was the Keystone XL pipeline. The President has promised to veto it, and Republican leadership is already busy drumming up support for overriding that veto; but it is all still a publicity stunt. Nothing can be done until a lawsuit currently making its way through Nebraska's court system reaches its conclusion. It may look good to GOP supporters and they can rant about the President stopping it, but it's nothing but stage dressing, and they know it.
4. Dismantling Social Security
The funds budgeted to pay for those on Disability Social Security is running low. Over a period of years--years overseen by both Republican and Democratic presidents--money was transferred without debate from the main Social Security account to cover this shortfall.
On the first day of the 114th Congress, buried in a list of new rules, Republicans voted to stop the transfer unless there is a tax increase or spending cut to cover the dollar amount.
Now everyone knows that a Republican led Congress is never going to pass a tax increase; so, by the end of 2016, 11 million disabled Americans will see their monthly payments reduced by one-fifth.
5. Dismantling Roe v. Wade
The House began its tenure by voting to ban abortions at 20 weeks, in direct contradiction of current U.S. law.
The War on Women continues.
6. Dismantling the Hope of Bi-Partisanism
Heritage Action, the political arm of the Heritage Foundation, the breeding ground for conservative ideals, is planning a two-day Republican conference next week to push right-wing legislators to be more aggressive on far-right issues. The conference will feature Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), neither known for their belief in working with the other side.
The foundation has issued a booklet saying that they intend to convince attendees to embrace the "reform conservative movement;" and Jim DeMint, former Republican senator from South Carolina and current president of the Heritage Foundation said the purpose of the conference is to show congressional Republicans that "there's a pathway for bolder ideas."
One of the issues on the docket is the re-thinking of across-the-aisle ideas that were evident in last month's spending bill. Proposals on how to address student loan debt, health care and the tax code will also be taken up.
The conference is being billed as "Opportunity for All, Favoritism to None;" but, in light of the fact that it will be held just days before Republicans and Democrats leave Washington for a joint retreat meant to promote working together in Washington, I would suggest that it would be more accurate to call it "We Heart Bi-Partisanism As Long As We Don't Have to Do It."
Quick Note: Everything this new Republican-led Congress has either accomplished or proposed is focused on dismantling, blocking or denying. Where are the new ideas to move the country forward? Where are the new attempts to raise the living standards of the citizens these men and women represent? Where is the responsibility?
They seem only to want to return the country to some time in the past, when healthcare was only for those who could afford it, when immigrants came only from Europe, when polluting the environment was accepted practice, when Social Security was just a twinkle in FDR's eye and when women died from back alley abortions.
What they want is a world where a black man could never be president.
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