We agreed that in spite of the legislative challenges ahead that there’d be no hand-wringing, whining or pity parties. The “we” is us informed voters, us fair-minded citizens of this nation. Instead, we will roll up our sleeves and get our strategy book out. And just so we understand fully what we face, let’s take a look at the battlefields in Washington, DC and Jefferson City.
On January 5, Republicans will take over the House and Senate in numbers or in spirit. The GOP, including junior Tea Party legislators, has pledged to give the Obama Administration holy hell and at the same time, make our lives more miserable.
The GOP plan is to attack health care reform, either through repeal or allowing it to hemorrhage because of a thousand cuts—literally. If repeal doesn’t work, portions of the reform package will be de-funded over time.
Rep. Darrell Issa of California will head up the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Calling President Obama, “the most corrupt president in modern times”, Issa vows to rake Democrats across the coals with investigations and hold hearings on the president’s programs and policies. Issa will have a big investigative staff at his disposal and almighty subpoena power in his evil hands.
Issa’s colleague, Rep. Harold Rogers, will be chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and promises to haul in officials from all major government agencies to justify their budgets and in some cases, their total existence (remember there are some GOP folks who have called for the elimination of the Department of Education). Their buddy heading up the House Energy and Commerce Committee is chomping at the bit to reverse the government regulations already put into place and to halt future rules and regs that keep their corporate masters making unrestrained profits off our backs. Rep. Upton’s first target is the Environmental Protection Agency, which is trying to address global warming–a phenomenon that Republicans don’t believe is really happening. Rep. Dave Camp, the new House Ways and Means Committee chair, is dreaming about the re-writing on the country’s tax code. We don’t have to guess about what protected, stinking rich class his reforms will favor.
Closer to home, the GOP majority in Jeff City, is backing up the Republican agenda to dismantle health care and plan to push an opt-out bill for the state. We can expect to see union-busting legislation and attacks on the public sector. Even thought Missouri is hundreds of miles from the Mexican so-called border, immigration will be on the front burner.
By this point in your reading, I feel some of you have already slumped in defeat. Stand up tall and straighten those shoulders! The good thing is that the Republicans have telegraphed most of their treacherous intentions, saving us the time to figure out what they might do. Now we can spend our valuable time in organizing to hold government of all levels accountable. But first, let’s remind them who their bosses are. That would be us, the informed voters and the fair-minded citizens of this state and of this nation.
Now, onward to victory!
