Washington Spotlight: Recess Isn’t So Fun Anymore
With Congress in recess this week, legislators can finally take a break from the grind of D.C. politics – fighting with the other party, fighting with their own party, and of course, the spotlight of a relentless national media. But in a lot of cases, members may have it better in D.C. than back home.
Many of them return to disgruntled constituencies which are showing up in record numbers to town hall meetings, community events and other forums to blast members of Congress on issues all over the political landscape – healthcare, taxes, immigration, the environment and many others. For Republican members in particular, this is their first trip back to their districts since the healthcare debacle and they are preparing themselves for the wrath that is sure to come.
Moderate Republicans in the Northeast and Midwest are going to get slammed for not standing up to the Freedom Caucus “bullies” and letting an opportunity to repeal and replace Obamacare slip away.
Conversely, staunch conservatives will be forced to endure a verbal beat down by chamber of commerce-types for killing a repeal while being applauded by Tea Party activists for “staying the course.” And that’s just on the healthcare issue. Taxes and immigration will be front and center as well.
RETAIL: For retail operators, the tone and tenor of these meetings during the congressional recess could determine how ambitious Congress is when it is back in session. Either they come back with a renewed vigor to tackle some of the most pressing problems for employers – reasonable healthcare reform, a more competitive corporate tax system and some tough decisions on trade – or they are so beaten down that they fear the political backlash of even minor changes in policy.
While elected representatives and senators are back home in their districts, operators need to get out of their stores to make sure their voice is heard – that protecting job creators needs to be at the top of Congress’s priority list.