Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told rank-and-file Republican lawmakers Friday he will roll out a new agenda next week focused on ending the coronavirus outbreak, rebuilding jobs, and preserving conservative priorities, including school choice and ending U.S. dependence on China.
In a memo to Republicans, McCarthy said the framework will distinguish the GOP agenda from that of the Democrats and that it “encapsulates our mission and plan moving forward.”
McCarthy’s Friday memo doesn’t provide many details but advises Republicans it will be the focus of a Monday night GOP conference meeting in the Capitol.
“Now, more than ever, our constituents deserve to know exactly where we stand and how we plan to combat the radical Democrat agenda to defund our police, Border Patrol, and military, dismantle our Constitution and democratic institutions, and destroy our economy and standing in the world,” McCarthy said in the memo.
The framework was written in collaboration with the Trump administration and 150 ideas submitted by GOP lawmakers.
No. 1 on the list is ending the coronavirus pandemic while preserving constitutional freedoms. Republicans have been critical of prolonged blue state lockdowns, and McCarthy pointed out last week that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has pledged to “shut everything down” if advised to do so by health officials.
The framework pledges to rebuild the economy by adding 10 million new, good-paying jobs and ending dependence on China.
The plan also calls for infrastructure investments and supporting schools and school choice.
“From day one, our goal was to present a unified Commitment to America offered by Republicans across the country, while pointing out the very real contrasts we have with our colleagues on the Left,” McCarthy said.
Republicans would have to win more than 20 Democratic-held seats to regain the majority they lost in the 2018 midterm elections.
