OSHKOSH, Wis. – On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal published an op-ed by U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) outlining the steps Republicans must take to restore function and fiscal sanity to Congress.
Sen. Johnson proposes four pieces of legislation and argues for adopting an official legislative agenda that prioritizes securing our border, regaining energy independence, restoring fiscal sanity, easing the regulatory burden and ensuring a competitive tax environment.
The full op-ed can be found here and excerpts are below.
“If we gain majorities in both chambers, at a minimum we can bring greater function and regular order back to Congress. Rank-and-file members should vote only for leaders who commit to passing a budget that drives a fiscally conservative appropriation process. Ideally, we can find sufficient budget cuts and rescissions from the Democrats’ massive spending bills to produce a balanced budget. If not, the debt ceiling will have to be increased, but only with other legislation attached that will minimize the need for future increases.
“I have four bills in mind: the Prevent Government Shutdown Act, the Full Faith and Credit Act, the Reins Act (an acronym for Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny) and the Reducing the Size of the Federal Government Through Attrition Act. Collectively, these bills would help control the size, scope and cost of the federal government.
“Senate Republican Conference rules require us to adopt an official legislative agenda. In my 12 years in the Senate, this has never occurred. Again, members should vote only for leaders who commit to both adopting the required agenda and fully involving the conference in its development. I suggest two agendas, one for the next two years under a Democratic president, and a four-year agenda that can be adopted by Republican presidential and congressional candidates running in 2024.
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“The four-year agenda would assume Republican control of both chambers of Congress and the White House. It would prioritize reversing the damage done during the Biden administration and re-establishing constitutional balance. Unlike 2017, Republicans must be fully prepared should voters give us the opportunity to govern.
“The agenda items should be obvious: secure the border, regain energy independence, restore fiscal sanity, ease the regulatory burden, and ensure a competitive tax environment.
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“Conservatives understand the peril the country is in. They know how difficult it will be for Republicans to work with the socialist ideologues who set the Democratic Party’s agenda. But that sympathy will have its limits, particularly if Republicans return to business as usual. We simply can’t let that happen.”
