House GOP plots policy agenda for 2022 midterm elections -- with help from architect of 1994 plan

[Zorro]

Newt Gingrich, who wrote the ‘Contract with America,' is working with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on a similar effort

Senior House Republicans are putting together a list of policy pledges to run on in the 2022 elections, and they are consulting with the architect of one of their biggest historical midterm victories.

Newt Gingrich, whose “Contract with America” in 1994 is linked with the GOP takeover of Congress in that midterm cycle, said he has been advising House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) on a set of policy items for Republicans to take to voters ahead of the November elections. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (La.) and other members of House Republican leadership are also involved in the project, which is not expected to launch until the spring or summer.

Republicans are expected to focus their new platform on education policies aimed at tapping into parental discontent; countering the rise of China with new economic measures; and “oversight” of the Biden administration. They are also looking at invoking other traditional GOP goals such as cutting taxes, restricting immigration, criticizing Silicon Valley and repealing environmental rules.

It was unclear what the party would have to say about one of the biggest issues in recent years: the long-standing GOP effort to unravel or repeal the Affordable Care Act.

https://wapo.st/3fKfNjY

[BlueIdaho]

1. Funny, I thought that was the "Contract on America"

After all, it was such a devastating hit job on ordinary Americans.

[MagickMuffin]

7. That's how I always saw it because that is exactly what it was

Another hoodwinking by the white supremacists republicon party. I'm pretty sure Frank Lutz/Putz helped with the ingenious term.

[kysrsoze]

2. How did I know before reading this, it would be Newt "I left my wife while she had cancer" Gingrich?

This tool, and Ralph Reed, were the original architects of the GOP's wedge issue and destruction of government policies.

[Frustratedlady]

3. Good grief! How old is Newt, by now? He must have run out of ways to squeeze money out of

a turnip and realized there was mega cash to be made in the vaults of the Grand Ol' Party.

They'll hire anyone.

[JHB]

4. This is why it's always been a mistake to dismiss out-of-office Republicans as washed-up...

...has-beens. Especially activist ideologues like Newt. They just switch to working under the surface instead of at it.

[crickets]

5. Oversight? I thought Repubs found petty little things like oversight unnecessary...

Of course they looked to Newt Gingrich of all people for their messaging. He's right on brand.

[iemanja]

6. Says a lot that they had to go back to 1994

to think of anything to stand for.

[PortTack]

8. Oh sure he's been so relevant as of late!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

9. Newt crawls out of the primordial ooze.

I wonder how many dog whistles and lame assed tax schemes we're going to hear?

Remember their pledge for term limits? They forgot pretty quickly.

[andym]

10. Culture wars, xenophobia, tax cuts, anti-big tech

Of these, Democrats are not pro big-tech, so that's a weak issue for them-- new bipartisan legislation is coming. Biden can point to trying to keep China in check, as well, so that issue will be weak for them as well. The other two are their bread and butter. Sounds like they've put immigration on the back burner.

I think they go after the economy, but if we are lucky inflation will be receding before November.

[Wounded Bear]

11. Well, I'm glad they're coming up with a new policy program...

I know I probably didn't need that, but it says so much more than just

The more things change, the more they stay the same.