One year ago, 87 House Republican freshmen came to Washington. The voters who hired us had high expectations based on the bold plans we promised during our election “interviews.” Unfortunately for the Americans who put their confidence in new Republicans, the first-year report card is unimpressive. A promise Republicans made to the voters — the Pledge to America — outlined a new way forward. It enumerated policies and processes by which we would help restore America to her greatness and give the American people the transparency and results they deserve.
Chief among the promises was a commitment to cut $100 billion from the budget “in the first year alone.” Because the previous Democrat Congress didn’t fulfill their responsibility to finish the fiscal 2011 budget, House Republicans ambitiously debated for more than 90 hours in an open amendment process. The result — H.R. 1 — reduced spending by a prorated $68 billion for the remaining months of that fiscal year — and did it in a transparent, open process.
![[VIDEO] Rep. Tim Griffin asks “Who Said It?” about the nation’s debt](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/wex_yoast_1200_v4.png?w=600)
