With Election Day only 33 days away, Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, laid out some of the GOP’s top priorities should it take control of the Senate next year.
In a speech on the party's “Principles for American Renewal” in the nation’s capital Thursday, Preibus listed three major proposals that a Republican-controlled Senate would push to jump-start the economy: approval for construction of the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline, reforms to the federal healthcare law and the passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment.
“Republicans have new ideas to solve the country’s problems,” said Priebus. “People know what we’re against. [Now] I want to talk about the things we’re for.”
As Republicans continue to hammer the president and his party over what they call ineffective policies and misplaced priorities, Democrats have argued that the GOP hasn’t offered its own solutions to the nation’s problems. Priebus said his remarks and the GOP’s “Principles for American Renewal” are an opportunity to show voters what Republicans stand for before the midterm elections.
“If anyone asks, ‘how’s the Republican Party going to work for me?’ These principles are part of the answer,” explained Priebus.
Even if Republicans regain control of the Senate, President Barack Obama will have the power to veto Republican-passed legislation that most Democrats oppose.
Still, Priebus said he’s confident that Republicans can put substantial political pressure on the president if they control both chambers of Congress.
“If we can get some of the bills sitting on Harry Reid’s desk to the president, we can pressure him to sign some of this stuff into law,” he said.
The GOP’s 11 principles cover other key issues such as job creation, government spending, veterans care and immigration – all of which are front and center in crucial midterm Senate races across the nation. Republicans need to win at least six of the dozen-or-so closely contested states this cycle in order to tip the balance of the Senate in their favor.