Republicans need to get serious now if they want to win the presidency later, according to Kevin McCarthy.
McCarthy, the House majority leader, warned GOP donors Sunday that the party needs to seriously govern in the final two years of the Obama presidency to set itself up for future success, according to Politico.
“I do know this,” the California congressman said to a group of Long Island donors. “If we don’t capture the House stronger, and the Senate, and prove we could govern, there won’t be a Republican president in 2016.”
This is just one of many of his goals for a Republican-controlled Capitol Hill, according to a series of interviews with Politico.
If all goes as planned, House and Senate Republicans will kick off 2015 at a joint retreat to get on the same page — united and without the dysfunction former Majority Leader Eric Cantor allowed, McCarthy said. This will set the stage for the GOP to plan its bigger goal of winning the 2016 White House, he said.
Then, he said he wants tackle a long-term government-funding bill, renewing numerous expired business-focused tax provisions, repealing the medical device tax, and fixing energy policy — among many other goals.
McCarthy wants to be as efficient as possible in governing so the Republicans can win back the trust of voters and constituents ahead of the 2016 presidential election, he said.
So, who does he like for 2016? A governor — specifically Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, he told Politico.
McCarthy expressed incredible excitement for the next two years and on — but only if things go his way.
“Ahh, it’s tough,” he said of the Senate. “If it stays Democratic, it’s going to be a frustrating time.”
