Inside D.C.

Grand plans emerge

We’re about a month out from the Great Exodus, that day when Congress “recesses” from mid-July through mid-September.  The powers that be will tell you this is all about a district/state work period and the summer recess, but be assured it’s all about congressional reelection, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, party conventions in Cleveland and Philadelphia and ultimately, the November election.

Now this is the point at which I’m supposed to whine about Congress shirking its duty, not staying in town to do the business of the people, etc.  Let’s face it, given we’re in some kind of alternative political universe as we run up to November 8, why should Congress’ priorities be any different.

What I do find interesting is what amounts to – for the GOP at least – congressional and presidential platform writing by congressional leadership.  The effort is dressed up as the game plan for the Republicans as they stumble toward the next Congress, but once it’s out there as the strategy for retaining congressional control, how does a presidential candidate depart from the game plan without portraying the party to be in disarray?

Just this week we’ve seen House Speaker Paul Ryan (R, WI) roll out the Republican’s game plan for helping the poor, the unemployed, the food stamp recipient and on and on.  Then came the rollout in New York at the Economic Club by House Financial Services Committee Chair Jeb Hensarling (R, TX) of the Republican plan to replace Dodd-Frank financial regulations and oversight with a lot less regulation and a whole lot more literal buy-in by institutions in keeping themselves solvent, if not profitable.  No more bail-outs if there’s no more “too big to fail.”

For their part, the Democrats dismissed the GOP poverty plan as failed recycled policy proposals from days gone by, even pointing out the “work-if-you-want-food-stamps” component as that which nearly killed the 2014 Farm Bill.  President Obama, when informed of the Hensarling unveiling, called it “crazy.”  His press secretary was somewhat more decorous, saying the plan “doesn’t make sense.”

And just for grins, the Republicans made sure there’s language in one of the FY2017 spending bills extending the congressional pay freeze.  Expect a tax reform outline, an immigration reform package and yet another GOP health care alternative to Obamacare.

For the Republicans, it isn’t about making Democrats happy, it’s about demonstrating to the voting masses there actually is a plan this time, and what you see ballyhooed from Washington, DC, you’ll likely see embraced in Cleveland by the GOP platform committee.  At least there will be a script that can be edited.

For the Democrats, it’s still speculation as to how much Clinton feels she needs to listen to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I, VT) now that she’s sewn up her party’s nomination.  Sanders’ surprising tenacity, the resonance of his democrat socialist message and the resulting popularity among the young generally and women forced Clinton to run much farther left than she did in 2008.  If and how much she moves back toward center as the run for the White House intensifies is still unknown.

Given how bizarre this cycle’s winnowing of presidential nominee-wannabes has been for both parties – get ready for the flood of press declaring a Clinton versus Trump race to be the “election of the lesser of two evils” – no one’s going to bet the rent either candidate will stay on any script save their own.

 

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