Many Republicans always say the right things when at home. But when it comes to doing the right thing in Washington, is the fear of being blamed for the party losing in the next mid-term election too great?
From Scott Rasmussen: Official Washington hailed the deal to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff as a significant bipartisan accomplishment. However, voters around the country viewed the deal in very partisan terms: Seven out of 10 Democrats approved of it, while seven out of 10 Republicans disapproved.
Many of you continue to express your frustration with the fiscal cliff vote and the inability of this House to effectively use what leverage has to at least attempt to control spending. The Texas Patriots PAC has encouraged Congressman Brady to schedule a townhall on the fiscal cliff vote and the upcoming spending issues. Many thanks to District Manager Sarah Stevens, who quickly responded with a time and place to do just that. This Townhall will be Thursday, Jan 24, 6:00 pm, at The Woodlands United Methodist Church - Wesley Hall.
We congratulate Congressman Brady on his recent appointment to Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee; a post that honors his many years of service in the House and his great ability to work with others.
Mr. Brady, with this JEC position and his very strongly Republican district, has all the support anyone could ask for to insist on the most conservative fiscal solutions. He could forcefully argue that government should work as designed (the House and Senate agree on a responsible budget, which the President then signs), dropping the work-arounds (i.e. continuing resolutions, Super Committees, fiscal cliffs and debt ceiling deadlines) which lead to brinkmanship and are portrayed by the press for what they are: reckless and irresponsible. Even Congressman Brady’s comprehensive spending reform proposal (“MAP”) stems from the recognition that the regular order and process of government has been disregarded. But a responsible budget signed into law is the correct and constitutional way to begin to get our spending under control. And Mr. Brady would have overwhelming support in his district and from conservatives across the country, if he were to insist on doing things the right way.
Those in leadership are under a great deal of pressure to consider the impact of each vote on the most vulnerable members of the caucus - Republicans in swing districts. But it increasingly appears that fear of losing these swing districts may be keeping Republicans from taking the actions they know would be best for the country. And as a consequence, the status quo, which is taking us in the wrong direction, prevails.
According to the Madison Project, Congressman Brady is from one of the most strongly Republican districts in the country. However, he votes far less conservatively than would be supported at home.
To be sure, Mr. Brady scores higher on conservative measures when compared to others in Republican leadership. But his constituents expect his votes to reflect their value, and votes like the one he just made on the fiscal cliff at best disappoint.
The Madison Performance Index (MPI) measures how closely a member of Congress is overperforming or underperforming the expected conservative score for his or her district.
Congressman Brady has an opportunity that is unique among Republican congressional leaders to promote...
