Allen: U.S. House Republicans Deserve an 'A'
Given the U.S. Congress' 14% approval rating, there aren't many Americans who are willing to give the body (and particularly its Tea Party majority in the U.S. House) a ringing endorsement. However according to a recent interview George Allen is one of the few who actually thinks House Republicans are doing just fine. While sitting with WSLS in a recent interview, Allen gave the House of Representatives Republican leadership an "A." Yes, an A.
ALLEN: "The House Republicans in recent years, I'd give them an A. They are at least making efforts, even if folks don't agree with what they're passing. The Senate ought to at least adopt their version and then work out the differences."
Apparently the group that brought you forcible rape bills, the gridlock that helped cause the downgrade of U.S. credit, and the Cut, Cap, and Balance proposal that would jeopardize 700,000 jobs is serving the American people just fine according to George Allen.
That may not come as a surprise given the many ways in which Allen's agenda lines up with the Tea Party majority in the U.S. House on issues like limiting women's health care choices, taking an all cuts approach to the budget, and making deep cuts to education and infrastructure.
Still, Allen's ringing endorsement of the House GOP seems to suggest that he's far more supportive of their agenda than he has publicly let on throughout his reelection campaign. Below are 10 House GOP agenda items that Allen's glowing 'A' grade seems to embrace:
1. Voucherize Medicare: The House GOP passed Congressman Paul Ryan's bill to turn Medicare to a voucher program, costing future seniors an average of $6,000 more for health care.
2. Passed the Cut, Cap and Balance proposal that could cost 700,000 jobs and would lead to cuts in veterans' benefits, defense, education and infrastructure.
3. Stonewalled on the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act because it included protections for LGBT- Americans and Native Americans.
4. Passed a spending measure Secretary Panetta says will INCREASE the likelihood of sequestration cuts.
5. Proposed a bill to redefine rape and voted to defund women's health provider Planned Parenthood.
6. Blocked a bipartisan farm bill that would provide relief to Virginia farmers facing drought.
7. Gridlocked on the debt ceiling, bringing the nation to the brink of default and causing a credit downgrade.
8. Drew the title of the most dysfunctional congress in 40 years. [Washington Post, 4/27/12]
9. Voted for MORE tax cuts for wealthy Americans while blocking middle class tax relief.
10. Voted 33 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act instead of focusing on bills to move the country forward.
To view Allen giving House Republicans an 'A' grade click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL6UgfkHndY&feature=youtu.be
