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SHOT/CHASER: House Republicans Are Focused on Political Payback Rather Than Important Issues to Americans

Nov 30, 2022

SHOT: New Poll: By a 3-to-1 margin, Americans say House Republicans should focus on inflation (76%) vs. investigating President Biden (24%) [Navigator Survey, 11/30/22]

CHASER: Former Grassley Investigations Staffer: Why the GOP oversight agenda in the new Congress likely will backfire. “Of course, there are some good government Republicans, but they are increasingly vanishing or have been vanquished. No, historically, the GOP has been missing the oversight gene in its DNA. Somehow, that gene got mutated. So, instead of having a gene that can appreciate the finer points of discerning, probative oversight, theirs is a self-destructive, tear-down gene that produces unintended comic relief.” [Kolesnik, The Hill, 11//29/22]

Americans Want Their Elected Leaders to Focus on The Important Issues

Few Americans Express Interest in These Investigations In Other Recent Polls.  “About 28 percent of American voters questioned in a new poll say the incoming Republican majority in the House should investigate the potential impeachment of President Biden. Just 6 percent of Democrats in the Morning Consult-Politico poll said focusing on the impeachment of Biden was a top priority for them, compared to 55 percent of Republicans.” [The Hill, 11/21/22]

Even James Comer Knows His Agenda Lacks Credibility.  “Republicans seem aware that many reporters, having looked at similar accusations for years without finding any wrongdoing by the president, are skeptical of G.O.P. findings. ‘I realize that congressional oversight doesn’t have a lot of credibility in Washington,’ Comer lamented…” [New York Times, 11/17/22]

House Republicans Know Voters Want Their Elected Officials To Focus on Real Issues Instead of Politically Motivated Investigations:

  • Incoming freshman Rep. George Santos (R-NY) even admitted that Republicans should not launch “divisive” investigations for at least six months, and should focus on improving the lives of American voters instead.  Santos told reporters: “If parts of our party want to go into these investigations, that’s their prerogative. I don’t want to waste my time in Washington engaging in hyperpartisan issues, I want to come here to deliver results.”  [The Hill, 11/14/22]
  • Rep.-elect Zach Nunn (R-IA) told reporters he wants to focus on the budget, adding that any further action should be reserved for “those very rare situations where there may be laws broken.” [Axios, 11/18/22]
  • Rep.-elect Mike Lawler (R-NY) said, “The top priority is to deal with inflation and the cost of living. … What I don’t want to see is what we saw in the Trump administration where Democrats went after the president and the administration incessantly.” [Axios, 11/18/22