Democratic Majority in the House and Senate: Failing American Voters

Chris Barron
(202) 286-4533

Former U.S. Rep. Charles F. Bass, President of RMSP – “The Report Card on the 110th Congress is marked by failure after failure on issue after issue. After a year and a half in control of both the House and Senate, it is clear that the Democratic majority is unable to find any meaningful solutions to the challenges our nation faces.”

(Washington, D.C.) – “The Report Card on the 110th Congress is marked by failure after failure on issue after issue,” said former U.S. Rep. and current Main Street President Charles F. Bass. “After a year and a half in control of both the House and Senate, it is clear that the Democratic majority is unable to find any meaningful solutions to the challenges our nation faces.”

The Democratic led House and Senate recessed for August, and did so without passing legislation to address the current gas crisis gripping the country. “The price of gas has sky-rocketed since Democrats took control in Washington,” continued Bass. “That’s not political posturing – it’s a simple fact. The Democrats’ answer to $4 a gallon gas? Go on vacation.”

In addition to failing to address the energy crisis, the Democratic led Congress has failed to find solutions on healthcare. “Healthcare costs continue to spiral out of control and tens of millions of Americans are left without any health insurance whatsoever. Despite years of campaigning on this issue, the current Democratic majority has failed to pass legislation that fundamentally improves healthcare in this country for average Americans,” said Bass.

Sadly, the Democratic Congress also receives low marks on ending the immigration crisis. “So far the approach of Democrats in Congress on immigration has been to do absolutely nothing,” continued Bass. “Despite election year promises, the current Congress has been unwilling to expend any political capital to make immigration reform a reality.”

Not only does the Democratic majority receive failing marks for dealing with the current energy crisis, reforming healthcare or ending the impasse on immigration, they also receive low marks for doing the basic work of governing. The House recessed after passing just one of the 12 annual Appropriations bills. Worse, Democratic leadership admits that they have no plans to actually consider and pass each of the annual Appropriations bills. “Democrats have completely abdicated their responsibility to govern,” said Bass. “There is no excuse for failure to do the basic responsibilities required of their office.”

Indeed, Democrats have failed to find a way even to pass legislation that enjoys wide bi-partisan support. “The current leadership in Congress has been unable to pass health IT legislation and legislation extending the R&D tax credit, despite the fact that both of these issues enjoy wide bi-partisan support,” continued Bass.

While failing on energy, healthcare, immigration and basic governing, the Democratic majority has excelled in at least one arena – politics. “It’s not all failing grades for the Democratic Congress,” said Bass. “The current leadership has excelled at cynical election year gamesmanship. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid get an A+ for political posturing.”

In order to restore faith in Washington and find common-sense solutions to the challenges we face, the Republican Main Street Partnership urged the Democratic leadership to commit to real bipartisanship. “Republicans in the House and Senate, particularly centrist Republicans, stand ready to work with Democrats to pass meaningful legislation,” continued Bass. “Our members stand ready and willing to do the work the American people have elected us to do.”

“Now is the time to forge bi-partisan compromise on energy, healthcare, and immigration. Now is the time to put the responsibility to govern above political concerns. Our elected officials in Washington have a responsibility to their constituents, and it is time that the current Democratic Congress took that responsibility seriously,” concluded Bass.

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The Republican Main Street Partnership (RMSP) is dedicated to promoting and building a pragmatic, thoughtful, fiscally conservative, and inclusive “Governing Majority,” where political debate is encouraged to promote solutions to improve the lives of all Americans. Embracing the full spectrum of center-right ideologies and values in order to build coalitions, RMSP is the largest organization of elected leaders who are in the mold of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. For more information on RMSP, visit our website at www.republicanmainstreet.org.