Ryan defends House’s track record in lead-up to August recess
WASHINGTON (Talk Media News) – House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) told reporters Thursday that intense partisan gridlock did not prevent Congress from passing significant legislation in the weeks leading up to the month and half long August recess which officially begins at the close of business on Friday July 15th.
“Look at what we’ve done on K-12 education reform,” Ryan said. “On transportation. On fixing our export control laws. Look at what we’ve just done on opioids. Look at what we’ve just done on mental illness reform.”
The legislative proposals Ryan referenced includes bills that would make primary and secondary education more translatable into subsequent employment, expand statutory appropriation authority for the Federal Aviation Administration so that the agency maintains current funding levels for the next 14 months, and proposals that would expand treatment options for those suffering from addiction and mental illness.
But Ryan did concede that partisan gridlock prevented progress on some legislative initiatives and said disagreements are sometimes inevitable.
“In divided government there’s some things we just won’t agree on,” Ryan said.
Ryan said polls show that the majority of Americans feel that the country is headed in the wrong direction. He also said House Republicans are better prepared than Democrats to tackle the nation’s most pressing problems.
“More than seven out of ten Americans think that the country is on the wrong path,” Ryan said. “Well, if you don’t like the direction the country is going, there is a better way … and this better way is a bold agenda to take on some of the nation’s biggest challenges.”
Ryan did not delve into specifics as to how House Republicans would present voters with improved policy alternatives but said the GOP has better ideas of how best to tackle problems such as poverty, national security threats, unemployment, governmental overreach, health care inefficiencies and excessive taxation.
“We are offering a better plan to fight poverty,” Ryan said. “We’re offering real national security strategy. We’re offering a plan to grow our economy. We’re offering a plan to restore self-government. We’re offering real patient-centered health care and a plan to reform our tax code.”
When TMN asked Ryan about the merits of the Obama Administration’s Iran nuclear deal one-year after its implementation, he replied the agreement represents an ongoing trend of extensive appeasement on behalf of the White House and Secretary of State John Kerry.
“It’s a ridiculous agreement,” he said. “They’re overselling it.” They’re going beyond the agreement.”
Ryan also told TMN that the already problematic agreement has been made worse by Iran’s failure to comply with stipulated terms.
“We have already proven with this agreement that they’re not living up to their end of the bargain and I think it was a big mistake,” Ryan said.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) issued a statement Thursday defending the merits of the Iran nuclear deal and blasted House Republicans for sponsoring legislation that would essentially render the agreement mute.
“Yet, this week, House Republicans are recklessly attempting to undercut this historic agreement with bills designed to undermine America’s national security, damage our global leadership, and shatter America’s relationship with our trusted allies. Republicans’ reckless bills would lead to the unraveling of the international sanctions regime against Iran. Dismantling the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Acton) would remove the unprecedented constraints on and monitoring of Iran’s nuclear program, and make America, the region, and the world less safe.”
Pelosi released another statement Thursday highlighting the Democrats’ vision of a new way for America. Like Ryan, she did not delve into specifics.
“House Democrats are proudly fighting for a Stronger America, and a new American security. With the bold, specific solutions of our Stronger America Agenda, we will honor the vows of our founders, the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, and the aspirations of our children. Together, we will secure our nation, secure our future, and secure our democracy for all of America’s hard-working families.”
This article is republished with permission from Talk Media News
Bryan is an award-winning political journalist who has extensive experience covering Congress and Maryland state government.
His work includes coverage of the election of Donald Trump, the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and attorneys general William Barr and Jeff Sessions-as well as that of the Maryland General Assembly, Gov. Larry Hogan, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bryan has broken stories involving athletic and sexual assault scandals with the Baltimore Post-Examiner.
His original UMBC investigation gained international attention, was featured in People Magazine and he was interviewed by ABC’s “Good Morning America” and local radio stations. Bryan broke subsequent stories documenting UMBC’s omission of a sexual assault on their daily crime log and a federal investigation related to the university’s handling of an alleged sexual assault.