For years, Republicans complained and said if only they had a majority in the Senate, they’d be able to pass bills to help veterans and create jobs.
Ever since George W. Bush left the Oval Office in January 2009, Republicans have blamed President Obama for the economy and claimed that they had a plan to put America back to work which would have us all finally swimming in that warm sea of trickle-down economics.
So today, now that Republicans finally control both houses of Congress (thanks a lot apathetic voters), we’re finally going to see Republicans unveil all of that legislation that’s going to help create jobs? Right? Right? Right…
Oh here it is now, two congressional Republicans brought back some legislation that was thwarted by Senate Democrats who held a majority last session. Reps. Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) reintroduced a bill designed to help veterans, end our dependence on foreign oil and put millions of under-employed Americans back into full-time positions that were lost during the Great Recession. Wow! On the very first day back, what’s that bill’s name? It’s known as “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” and…oh wait, what’s this? It’s not a jobs bill?
On Tuesday, the very first day of the 114th Congress, two lawmakers introduced a measure to ban abortions after 20 weeks, in direct violation of the protections afforded under Roe v. Wade. Reps. Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) reintroduced the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, the same legislation that successfully passed the House last year.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) — who introduced a companion 20-week abortion ban in the Senate last year that was stalled by Democratic leadership — has already indicated that he plans to re-introduce his own measure in the next few weeks, too. Now that the Senate is GOP-controlled, Republicans are anticipating that they’ll have enough support to pass the ban in both chambers this year, helping the anti-choice community gain momentum for this particular tactic to limit reproductive rights.
“In a Republican Senate, under my leadership, we would have the kind of real debate on the issues that the American people want,” Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told the audience at the National Right to Life Conference in the fall. “For six years, the president has been isolated from this growing movement. He will be forced to listen to the cause that’s brought us all here this morning.” (Source)
Now if any of you reading this actually thought that Republicans were going to do something worthwhile once they regained control of the Senate, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you. I’d also like you to help me claim that $15 million fortune a Nigerian diplomat keeps telling me will be all mine, just as soon as I send him a copy of my ID and $5,000 via Western Union.
So welcome to the next two years of Washington politics, which will most likely consist of more gridlock and another government shutdown or two. I predict we’ll see at least one attempt a month to repeal Obamacare, sandwiched between constantly blaming Obama for anything and everything, and more Benghazi investigations. I also predict three attempts to mandate forced ultrasounds before an abortion, two bills to repeal marriage equality rulings, and at least one gigantic hissy fit when Michelle Obama suggests doing anything healthy. Finally just for lagniappe, Republicans in Congress will try to impeach President Obama at least twice and Sen. John McCain will also try to start a war with three new countries, just in case he got tired of Iran and Russia.
Don’t worry, Republicans haven’t learned their lesson about how a government is supposed to function yet, because America obviously hasn’t either.
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