The Spring of G.O.P. Discontent

[elleng]

' Now that Robert Mueller has been named special counsel, we can expect congressional Republicans to attempt a return to business as usual. Of course, that’s all relative: President Trump will presumably continue to issue Twitter attacks on the investigation, leaks about his behavior are likely to continue (see the news on Friday about his comments on James Comey to the Russians) and the topic of obstruction of justice will still occupy many blocks of cable programming.

Still, you could almost hear the sigh of relief coming from Speaker Paul Ryan’s office. The pressure is off Congress to bear down on Mr. Trump, allowing the Republicans to bear down on cutting taxes and gutting Obamacare. It might even be easier this time, with Mr. Trump distracted.

But they may soon find themselves wishing for the good old days of pure presidential chaos. They’re about to learn just how ill conceived and unpopular the Republican legislative agenda really is.

Four major items loom: taxes, health care, the budget and an infrastructure bill that the administration will reportedly be sending up to Congress soon. Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary, said recently that the “principles” guiding the administration’s $1 trillion plan will be made public by the end of May.

Ms. Chao told a Senate committee that the plan would include $200 billion in direct federal spending. That might get Democrats on board. Republicans should hate that kind of spending. They gave the back of their hand to Barack Obama’s infrastructure bank, which started out at a mere $60 billion in federal spending. But now that Mr. Obama is no longer around to cut any ribbons or claim (rightful) credit for any jobs created, they’ll be much more amenable to doing a little big spending of their own.

So that may actually happen. But from there, the sledding gets tougher. Big tax changes are always complicated, which is why no one has passed a major tax plan since — are you ready? — 1986. Hill Republicans have been talking a big game, but they and the administration aren’t in full agreement on how to proceed, and that’s before all the lobbyists descend.'>>>

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/opinion/the-spring-of-gop-discontent.html?

[guillaumeb]

1. GOP principles?

There are no principles for the GOP, they are only looking at the principal. Chao has as much integrity as her husband.