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Beleaguered House Republicans kicked off a week in which they hope to coalesce around a single agenda with a memo from their leadership that details some of the conference's plans. The memo argues that Washington is broken and that Democrats are taking the country in the wrong direction. “To the American people, we say that Republicans will deliver 'the change you deserve,'” said the memo, which was sent to every member of the GOP conference. It highlighted a “positive agenda” of issues House Republicans plan to promote this week, although it gave few details. The memo said Republican Conference Vice Chair Kay Granger (Texas) will unveil a blueprint Wednesday that will outline challenges the party believes American families face. It also promised that Republicans would announce a new energy policy the week of May 19. The memo comes after another tough week for his conference. The GOP lost a Republican seat in a Louisiana special election on May 3, and then saw Rep. Vito Fosella (R-N.Y.) ensnared in a scandal after his arrest for drunk driving in Virginia. Days after his arrest, Fosella admitted to an affair and an out-of-wedlock child, and it is unclear whether his political life will survive the week. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) last week warned the GOP could face a “real disaster” on election day and called for an emergency tete a tete between GOP leaders and their flock. He said House Republicans should instruct GOP Leader John Boehner (Ohio) to come back with a new plan for the conference by the Wedneday before Memorial Day. Republicans hope their fortunes will change on Tuesday, when voters in Mississippi go to the polls in a runoff special election to replace Rep. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who moved to the Senate earlier this year. A Democratic candidate nearly won the seat outright weeks ago, but some Republican leaders predicted they would win Tuesday. Deputy Republican Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) told The Hill last week, “We are going to win this one and stop the bleeding.” |
