To fulfill their promises to voters, Republicans must govern like Democrats

The Hill

5 hours ago

Say this about Democrats: They know how to pass their agenda much faster than Republicans.
Four-and-a-half months into the second Trump administration, Republicans have achieved next to nothing legislatively, despite its total control of Washington.
Sure, President Trump has issued a slew of executive orders, but all of them will be repealed the moment a Democrat wins the White House. Laws are what really matter and stand the test of time. And despite endless talk about the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' Republicans are still weeks away from passing it. There's a decent chance they won't even be able to do it.
Compare this Republican failure to Democratic success exactly four years ago. By this point in the Biden administration, he and Democratic majorities in Congress had already passed a major bill on a much faster timeline. The American Rescue Plan was a $1.9 trillion monstrosity that rewarded leftist special interests, trapped millions of people on welfare and stifled a stronger economic comeback — all while making America's mountain of debt even higher.
Democrats showed the same speed the last time they controlled the White House and Congress. In 2009, they passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — another pork-barrel, debt-heavy, anti-growth monstrosity — within a month of President Obama's inauguration. And that's just one of many big laws they had passed by this point. Democrats clearly felt the need to act — to show voters they would do what they promised.
What are Republicans waiting for? Unlike Democrats, they have the benefit of supporting an agenda that will strengthen America. They want to cut taxes for families and job creators, spurring a new era of entrepreneurship and growth. They want to cut spending and reform entitlements like Medicaid and food stamps, connecting welfare to work. And they want to secure the southern border, protecting Americans from crime while restoring the all-important rule of law.
It's the understatement of the year to say these policies are urgently needed. They should have been passed yesterday — or perhaps Jan. 21, the day after Trump returned to the White House. But Republicans in Congress are too busy bickering.
The infighting is coming from multiple sides. On the one hand are conservative purists who say that Congress isn't cutting spending or taxes enough. On the other side are moderates who want less aggressive cuts and more carveouts for issues like state and local tax deductions. Neither camp is huge, but both have enough members to stop legislation in its tracks. After months of squabbling, it's an open question whether the GOP can make everyone happy and pass their bill.
In the first Trump administration, the answer was no. Their bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare — the party's signature policy — was in limbo through July. And when it finally came to the Senate floor for a vote, the Republican majority still couldn't pass it. Imagine if that happened again — if the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' goes down to defeat in a month or two, killed by the party that authored it.
Guess what: Democrats have the same kind of divide, between relative moderates who want a slightly bigger government and wacko leftists who want outright socialism. But they still find a way to get bills across the finish line. In 2021, they had basically the same slim majority that Republicans do now, but they papered over the differences to move America dramatically to the left.
Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot. I personally tend toward the conservative purist position. But you know what I like better than a perfect bill? A bill that can pass. A bill that moves America in the right direction. Tax cuts, spending cuts and welfare reforms that are good enough. I recognize that they can be improved, and hopefully will be improved the next time Republicans are elected.
By any stretch of the word, Republicans have an exceptional bill. It does so much of what they want — so much of what America needs. Perhaps most important, it keeps so many promises to the American people. Voters aren't stupid. When they vote for change, they want to see change. And in 2024, they voted for an enormous change.
Halfway through 2025, voters are still waiting for Republicans to keep their promises. They can certainly be pleased with much of what Trump has done unilaterally. But they're still waiting for the important reforms — the kind that only Congress can pass. Democrats govern when they get the chance, even if they move the country in the wrong direction. If Republicans don't get their act together, and fast, it may be a long time before the American people trust them again.
John Tillman is CEO of the American Culture Project.