This November marks the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton. One year ago, nearly 63 million voters put their faith in the president to bring much-needed change to Washington politics and, yes, make America great again.
But the president is not getting the support he needs for fellow Republicans. Many congressional Republicans are betraying Trump — and the millions of Americans who elected him. Contrary to the media’s deceptive headlines, the American people still overwhelmingly support the Trump agenda. It’s no coincidence consumer confidence is at its highest level since 2004. Americans are more optimistic about the U.S. economy than they have been in more than a decade.
Americans expect action from their legislators to make their lives better. But instead of delivering results, many Republicans in Congress have taken to undermining Trump instead of working with him to enact his popular policy proposals.
Who among us would have ever imagined that, after giving Republicans the House, the Senate and the White House, Republicans would stand in defiance with Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California and other Democrats on many issues and key votes?
These are votes like repealing and replacing the disaster that is Obamacare and even ending sanctuary cities for criminals. Republican members of Congress such as Justin Amash of Michigan, Jamie Buetler of Washington, Mike Coffman of Colorado, Carlos Curbelo of Florida, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey have all failed Trump, and the American people by voting with Democrats on important issues.
According to our scorecard, Amash and Curbelo have opposed the president 53 percent of the time. The others are voting with Democrats 47 percent of the time.
This is unacceptable!
Despite having an ally in the White House, congressional Republicans have no major legislative accomplishments to call their own. Obamacare is still the law of the land, despite overwhelming unpopularity and ever-rising premiums. Construction of a border wall is still on hold, even though Americans are concerned with illegal immigration and fed up with the sanctuary policies of pro-amnesty Democrats. And our tax code is still outdated, as Trump patiently awaits a pro-growth tax reform bill to sign into law.
With their inaction, anti-Trump Republicans are rejecting their mandate and breaking their promise to the American people. The majority of Americans have opposed Obamacare — with its expensive premiums and limited insurance options — for years now. Nearly 60 percent of Americans worry about illegal immigration, only to see Congress do nothing to confront it. More than three-fourths of Americans want to see tax relief create jobs and boost paychecks. The numbers are even higher among Republicans.
That’s why they elected Trump. But the president is still waiting to put his signature on legislation addressing their concerns. What is Congress waiting for?
Fortunately, our president has still done his part through executive orders. From the revival of the Dakota Access and Keystone XL oil pipelines — which will create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic investment — to the rollback of job-killing federal regulations, Trump is unilaterally rejuvenating the U.S. economy. His decision to withdraw from the unfair Paris Climate Agreement will jumpstart energy production and lower electricity costs. His rejection of the disastrous Iran deal will bolster not only our national security but also protect Israel from its aggressive neighbors.
Most recently, the president chipped away at Obamacare by cutting off federal subsidies to insurance companies, which will expand access and lower premium costs for millions of Americans. These are what results look like.
It’s not rocket science. Americans elected Trump with a resounding message: Bring change to the Washington swamp. Fix our broken health care system. Cut taxes and simplify the tax code. Strengthen our borders.
If anti-Republicans don’t get in line, they’ll have to face their frustrated constituents. And Americans are sick and tired of a do-nothing Congress. House Speaker Paul Ryan, for example, already has disapproval ratings of 60 percent or more in swing districts. If voters don’t see results now, they will be heard at the ballot box.
Since January, Trump has made it his mission to make America great again. And he already is.
Congress, you’re either with him or against him. Will you put America first or not?