Letter to the Editor

New year, new Congress

By Ted Millar, Milton
Posted 1/13/23

Now the House of Representatives has its speaker and can officially begin conducting business, the republican majority has a choice. It can begin advocating for policies intended to improve …

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Letter to the Editor

New year, new Congress

Posted

Now the House of Representatives has its speaker and can officially begin conducting business, the republican majority has a choice. It can begin advocating for policies intended to improve Americans’ lives: Social Security, Medicare, healthcare, education, prescription drug prices, student loan debt, the environment, taxes, voting rights, strengthening democracy. Or it can exploit its power in pursuing vindictive red herrings against its political adversaries: investigating Hunter Biden’s laptop, impeaching President Biden, forcing an unconstitutional debt ceiling, frightening people about “wokeness” in schools.

Sadly, based on recent headlines from popular right-wing media outlets, it appears Republicans are poised to bury any memory of the attempted coup former President Trump incited three years ago on January 6, repeat “Hillary’s emails” with Hunter Biden, weaken Social Security, Medicare, and voting rights.

The American people of all political loyalties want a government that fights for the issues that most impact their lives, not wastes their money on billionaire-benefiting distractions.

The past two years, the Democratic majority lowered drug costs; passed historic legislation to combat gun violence and climate change; eliminated surprise medical billing practices; forgave $20,000 in federal student loan debt; brought unemployment to a 50-year low; passed an infrastructure bill already rebuilding the country; strengthened domestic manufacturing to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains; amended the Electoral Count Act to help prevent another January 6; and passed legislation to defend same-sex marriages.

These are just a few consequential examples of how government can be a force for good in people’s lives.

The Republican Party can be part of that good, or continue perpetuating cynicism.

It’s a new year and we have a new Congress.  

Let’s get to work for ALL Americans.