By Colton Hillman
In advance of the upcoming battle over taxes, Senator Lindsey Graham stated, “We’re going to succeed together or we’re going to fail together. If we don’t cut taxes after all these years of promising then I think the party comes unraveled.” Without a doubt, Senator Graham is right in his blunt analysis of the state of the GOP. For years, candidates ran on the idea that if we controlled the House, the Senate and the White House, legislative successes would be a breeze. Lower taxes, Obamacare replacement and conservative solutions to the nation’s problems were not a possibility, but a certainty. A wave of new and old Republican voters ran to the polls in 2014 that flipped the Senate, and in 2016 voted against Hillary Clinton, the worst and most corrupt individual to ever run for President of the United States.
Candidates throughout the nation ran on promises. Every Republican candidate from California to Maine preached the same stump speech: I will repeal Obamacare and I will cut your taxes. Clearly, as of now, that has been a lie. The dysfunction of those in Congress is evident and their current betrayal of their constituents is appalling. But, luckily for them, they still have time.
A comprehensive tax reform package that is not just a cut for the rich is now in sight. With progress in passing a budget over the past few days, Republicans in Congress have paved a path towards passing a tax reform package that terrify Democrats like Chuck Schumer. They use emotion-filled buzzwords like “disastrous” and “deadly” to describe a plan that has not even taken a final form yet. The Democrats realize that if the Republicans succeed in passing tax reform in the next few months, they will not have an argument going into the 2018 midterms. The decision to “resist,” obstruct and protest will not be suitable for voters in the Midwest and Rust Belt, where a number of competitive House seats are up for grabs. They have offered no alternative or change to the Republican plan. Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are again performing their classic, favorite tactic: manipulating people’s emotions. Luckily, the American people are smarter than that.
Aside from tax reform, an Obamacare replacement is also a necessity for Republicans. No other rallying cry in modern memory was as effective as the 2010 and 2014 midterm push by conservative candidates against Obamacare. It worked and gave Republicans gains that they still maintain. A comprehensive, bipartisan replacement is key to victory again in 2018. By many accounts, Obamacare is not working. It has done nothing to control costs, premiums and healthcare expenses in the United States. It is a subsidy for insurance companies to maintain a stranglehold on patients. The plans previously introduced by Republicans did nothing to fix the problems of affordability and access to healthcare. They were more of the same policies that helped insurance companies and left the American people out to dry. Hopefully, they understand that they cannot introduce a plan like any of the previous proposals in the future. Democrats must also realize that Obamacare cannot survive; it has to go. For the good of the country, they should work with Republicans to repeal and replace the law.
2018 will either be a roaring success for the GOP or a dumpster fire. Fail on tax reform and Obamacare, and fail at the ballot box. Win at both and win at the ballot box. Voters are tired of promises that are not kept. 10 Democrat-held seats are up for grabs in states that President Trump won. Strong red states like Missouri, North Dakota and Montana highlight the many opportunities available to the GOP. Further, while many claim that the House has the potential to flip in 2018, I do not see this happening if the GOP achieves its legislative goals.
Under the poor leadership of the Mitch McConnell, legislative victory is far from guaranteed. Republicans have embarrassed themselves thus far into their tenure. This opportunity to transform the American economy and the American healthcare system will not be available for long. The GOP has two choices: succeed and remain in power for decades or lose and face the wrath of voters forever.
Colton Hillman, GSB ’19, is a finance major from Elmira, New York.
