House and Senate Republicans have two big questions for President Trump when they meet in downtown Philadelphia for their annual strategy retreat: what do you want to do, and how do you want to do it?
Republicans have rallied around their unexpected new leader this week, as Trump has signed executive orders to resume the Keystone pipeline, ease federal regulations and freeze federal hiring. Another order expected on Thursday will move to reverse President Obama’s executive action on immigration.
But other issues are thornier, like how to repeal Obamacare, which will take real planning if Republicans are going to be successful in taking down the law. Trump has already pushed congressional Republicans to move more quickly, by replacing parts of the law at the same time they repeal it.
Lawmakers said Trump’s appearance at the retreat will help lawmakers learn about his goals, but also help him understand how important it will be for him to establish a relationship with Congress, in order to fine-tune the details. Trump has frequently used Twitter to communicate his views, which has at times confused and frustrated lawmakers.
“The president is going to work with Congress to get much of what his wishes through so I’d like to see how he outlines that ongoing relationship,” Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., told the Washington Examiner. “I suspect at times he’s going to go over our heads to the American people, but still at times he’ll need 60 votes. So I think to the degree we discuss that and come up with some modus agendi, is probably going to be very productive.”
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., said he wants to hear Trump’s proposals and “what his priorities are.”
Vice President Mike Pence, already a frequent visitor to Congress, will address the group at lunch on Thursday. Pence is viewed as a critical link between Trump’s White House and the GOP Congress.
House Republicans set the stage for their retreat at a closed-door meeting on Tuesday. It’s the first time in nine years a president will attend a Republican retreat, so GOP leaders at the meeting instructed the rank-and-file members to dress accordingly.
“They reminded us that since the president and [British Prime Minister] Theresa May will be there we have to actually bring a coat and tie and it’s not just business casual,” said Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y.
May’s presence, along with an expected visit from former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, has turned the mid-week event into something of a glitzy occasion, on top of all the strategy that needs to be ironed out. One GOP aide explained that Republicans invited Manning, whose Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl last year, “because he’s awesome.”
Manning will be the guest of Sens. Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, both of Tennessee. Manning donated to Alexander’s 2014 re-election campaign.
Corker called the NFL star “a long-time friend” and said he will deliver an inspirational talk to lawmakers.
“Passing meaningful legislation takes a great deal of teamwork, a skill Peyton has certainly mastered throughout his football career,” Corker said. He called Manning, a former University of Tennessee quarterback, “a leader, a team player, and a great example of what hard work and perseverance can achieve.”
Other speakers include Mark Strand, president of the Congressional Institute and American Enterprise Institute president Arthur Brooks.
Brooks is notable for writing recently that the GOP’s initial plan to repeal the law without an immediate replacement was “a terrible idea,” and he, like President Trump, called on them to repeal and replace most of it simultaneously in the same legislation.
Glitz and glamor aside, Republicans now have serious work ahead with little time to accomplish big legislative goals. They plan to complete tax reform legislation by August, but must first finish the daunting task of repealing the massive health insurance law and replacing it with their own reform measures.
The retreat agenda includes a joint House-Senate session on tax reform on Wednesday, and joint sessions on national security and healthcare reform on Thursday.
Despite their size, past Republican retreats have been productive. Last year, the GOP announced six-part agenda at their retreat in Baltimore that they turned into specific proposals a few months later.
