Fine Urges GOP to Use Final Weeks of Congressional Control
On November 9, Rep. Randy Fine called on Republicans to make the most of their remaining weeks controlling Congress, saying they should move legislation and confirm nominees before Democrats assume control on January 3. The GOP retains control of the House and Senate through the swearing-in of the next Congress.
Fine made the appeal during a Fox News appearance at a restaurant in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. A voter who was unhappy with Democrats’ midterm victory asked how the situation could be fixed. Fine urged her not to lose heart, warning that Democrats would have the votes to pass legislation in the House.
He also said Republicans should argue against Democratic health-care proposals, including Medicare for All. Fine claimed Democrats’ actual aim was Medicaid for All. Democrats have called for reversing Medicaid cuts and reinstating subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, while the party has not settled on pursuing Medicare for All.
Asked what Republicans could accomplish before the transfer of power, Fine said they could achieve a great deal in a short period. He said he was willing to remain in Washington through January 3 and urged lawmakers to use the time to secure confirmations and pass what he called good legislation. Fine won re-election on November 3 with 58.9 percent of the vote, compared with 39.9 percent for Democrat Eric Yonce.
GOP Pushes Last-Minute Agenda Before Democrats Take Control
Republicans are being urged to use their final weeks controlling Congress to push through bills and confirm nominees before Democrats take over on January 3. Florida Rep. Randy Fine said lawmakers should make every remaining day count, a call that puts a fast-track agenda ahead of the incoming majority’s ability to set its own priorities.
Fine made the remarks during a Fox News appearance in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, after a voter asked how to respond to Democrats’ midterm victory. He warned that Democrats would have the votes to pass legislation in the House and told the voter to resist discouragement.
On health care, Fine attacked proposals for Medicare for All and asserted that Democrats really wanted Medicaid for All. But Democrats have focused on restoring Affordable Care Act subsidies and rolling back Medicaid reductions, and the party has not reached agreement on pursuing Medicare for All. Fine’s characterization casts a disputed proposal as the party’s settled agenda.
The GOP controls the House and Senate through the next Congress’s swearing-in. Fine said the remaining period should be used to confirm people and pass legislation. He won re-election on November 3 with 58.9 percent of the vote, while Democrat Eric Yonce received 39.9 percent.
Fine Calls on GOP to Act Before Democrats Take Congress
With Democrats set to take control of Congress on January 3, Florida Rep. Randy Fine is pressing Republicans to use the remaining weeks of their majority rather than surrendering the chance to advance legislation and confirmations. Fine said Republicans have a limited stretch to act and should spend it moving what he called good measures.
During a Fox News appearance in Jacksonville Beach, a voter concerned about Democrats’ midterm victory asked how the situation could be fixed. Fine urged her not to lose heart, saying Democrats would have enough House votes to pass legislation once they take power. He also called on Republicans to make the case against Democratic health-care plans.
Fine argued that Democrats’ talk of Medicare for All would amount to Medicaid for All. Democratic officials have advocated restoring Affordable Care Act subsidies and undoing Medicaid cuts, and the party has not settled on a Medicare for All push. Fine’s warning reflects Republican concern about the direction of Democratic health policy as the new Congress approaches.
Republicans still hold both chambers until January 3, leaving Senate leaders a final period to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominees without Democratic votes. Fine said he would stay in Washington through the transition and urged colleagues to use the time. He won re-election on November 3 with 58.9 percent, against Eric Yonce’s 39.9 percent.
Reported by Raw Story, The Daily Beast.
