While Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill tried pandering to gays and lesbians and illegal aliens with controversial add-ons to the defense appropriations bill Tuesday, House Republicans were busy planning for Congress to get serious about the people's business.
As days tick down to the October recess -- which could begin even earlier than Oct. 1 -- GOP House members are urging their colleagues to take positive steps to boost the economy before Election Day.
On Thursday, Republicans will unveil a GOP agenda expected to include job creation measures, spending cuts and a repeal or defunding of the recently enacted health-care legislation.
The party's announcement is scheduled to come at Tart Lumber Co., in Sterling, Va. There, in a region that has trended Democratic in recent elections, company president Craig Fritsche is hoping to hear GOP leaders push to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for all income levels.
"We don't need to be hit during this recession with a tax increase," Fritsche told Fox News this week.
Florida Reps. Bill Posey and Tom Rooney agree.
"Americans want to get back to work, unfortunately Washington is standing in their way, said Posey, R-Rockledge. Our agenda is proven: lower taxes, less government, transparency and accountability. Just the opposite of what we have seen recently in Washington."
Rooney, R-Tequesta, said, "For the last two years, the American people have been speaking out against the Washington agenda of more spending, more borrowing and more taxes. They have clamored for new ideas and better solutions, but the majority party has ignored their voices."
Though neither Posey nor Rooney was privy to details of what insiders say is a 20-point plan, Rooney called it "the product of months of listening to the American people. We're going to focus on jobs, cutting the deficit and reforming government."
Unlike the GOP's 1994 "Contract With America," Thursday's agenda is not a campaign pledge, but an action plan for what Congress can do in the remaining days of this session.
On the other side of the aisle, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has suggested that she might adjourn lawmakers even before the previously announced Oct. 1 recess. If that happens, Republicans say they will have ammunition to take into the fall campaign.
"We're asking the speaker for a vote on these ideas. This is the best chance to lead to job growth and stimulate the economy a lot quicker," a Republican congressional aide explained.
Said Posey: "Rather than adjourning for the elections, Congress should allow an open and fair debate on these proven ideas.
"We must create certainty and relieve the heavy burdens that have been put on small businesses and average American families -- like keeping taxes low for all Americans, repealing government-run health care and creating a free market system by removing the impediments to job-creation," Posey added.
Calls to two members of Florida's Democratic delegation did not elicit comment. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, declined to comment and Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, did not respond.
But one of Grayson's opponents, TEA Party candidate Peg Dunmire, took a swing at both parties, saying, "Americans need real solutions to real problems, not window dressing from those who have had their chance to make things better. Republicans as well as Democrats have led this country to the brink of financial and political disaster."
Daniel Webster, the Republican candidate in the 8th Congressional District contest, one of the nation's most closely watched races, failed to respond to a request for comment.
As for how the House plan will be received by taxpayers and businesses in the Sunshine State, Dan Conston, spokesman for the Republican Party of Florida, said, "Floridians are eager for any agenda that doesn't include Nancy Pelosi and her job-killing, debt-increasing and woefully underperforming agenda."
U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw of Florida, deputy minority whip, feels good about Republicans' chances Nov. 2 and believes Pelosi's days are numbered as speaker of the House. He said history indicates that about one-third fewer people vote in midterm elections than in presidential election years and recent polls indicate that enthusiasm among Republican voters is twice that of Democrats.
All indications, Crenshaw said in a speech in Jacksonville Monday, are the Republicans will take back control of the House.
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or (772) 801-5341.
