When Republicans took Congress in 1994, it was the first time the GOP had control of both chambers since 1952. A significant element of that successful election cycle was believed to be due partly to the "Contract with America," the legislative agenda authored by then-U.S. House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich and then-U.S. House Republican Conference chairman Dick Armey.
House Republicans seek to replicate that success in the 2022 midterms with what U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has deemed the "Commitment to America."
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), the House Republican Policy Committee chairman, discussed those efforts during an appearance on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show."
Palmer acknowledged Republicans were in a good place as far as the November midterm election outlook was concerned. However, he stressed the importance of providing a contrast to the Democratic Party and laying markers for the November election and the 2024 presidential election.
"[T]hings are looking positive for us," Palmer said. "And I think when we roll out our 'Commitment to America,' the agenda that we're committing to the American people that we're going to introduce as legislation and [be] governed by, I think things will improve even more.
"I think elections ought to be about contrasts. What are you for? What will the country look like if you have all three branches of government again? That's really what we're doing. We are working day and night to get the House back. My colleagues over on the Senate side are doing the same thing to get the Senate back. But we've got to get the White House back as well so the stuff we pass can get through the Senate, get through a president who will sign it. But you have to build momentum for that, and you do that by laying down markers -- these are the bills we're going to introduce; this is why this is important, this is how we will govern when we have all three branches."
Palmer said the Republicans will pass a lot of legislation out of the House in the next Congress, but it will still be subject to filibuster in the Senate. He said the Republicans will not have a filibuster-proof 60 seats in the Senate short of God-parts-the-Red-Sea type of miracles, but even then, Biden will be able to veto it. Palmer said he wants to send so much to Biden's desk that Biden will have his arm in a sling from signing vetoes, claiming that's how markers are laid down and momentum is built going into 2024.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com.
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