Republican Do-Nothing Congress Leaves Town With Work Unfinished

MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

Today, House Republicans left town without completing a long list of unfinished business. Instead of working on behalf of the American people to pass a comprehensive jobs bill, extend middle class tax cuts, pass a Farm Bill, reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, or agree to Postal Reform, Republicans decided to put politics ahead of policy. On their last day of session before the election, the Republican-led House of Representatives passed a political messaging bill that removed important environmental protections without creating any jobs.

Earlier this week, the Do-Nothing Republican Congress once again chose obstruction over compromise. Instead of working with Democrats to pass a bipartisan bill extending the number of visas offered for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, they voted on a partisan messaging bill that will not advance in the Senate. This is yet another instance of Republicans’ failure to effectively govern or to work in a bipartisan way to get things done.

Two years ago, Republicans released their “Pledge to America,” claiming that they would be committed to the priorities of the American people – creating jobs, restoring economic certainty and reducing the deficit. Instead, the Republican record over the past two years shows the exact opposite: they have not passed comprehensive jobs legislation; they have increased economic uncertainty, both by holding middle class tax cuts hostage to tax cuts for the wealthy, and by taking our nation to the brink of default, leading to the first downgrade of the U.S. credit rating; and they have walked away from every opportunity to compromise on a big, balanced deficit reduction plan. I hope that when Republicans return in November, they will be willing to put partisanship aside and work with Democrats to address the pressing issues facing our nation.

Sincerely yours,

STENY H. HOYER

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