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Have you heard about the Republican arguments against President Bidens economic plans? Me neither.

Its not that Republican opposition doesnt exist. Every Republican in Congress voted against Mr. Bidens economic recovery package, the American Rescue Plan.

But roughly 100 days into Mr. Bidens presidency, as he has proceeded with spending plans that the administration and friendly observers have increasingly described in historic terms as an update to and expansion of the New Deal and a wholesale reorientation of the relationship between the federal government and the economy the Republican opposition has largely been a matter of dull reflex.

What Republicans havent done is make a concerted public argument against Democratic economic policies. One complication is that to do so would be to engage in hypocrisy so blatant and obvious that it would negate any impact. But this stems partly from a deeper problem, which is that the party no longer has a cognizable theory of government.

Republicans spent the presidency of Barack Obama leveling attacks on Democratic fiscal policy: Debt and deficits were out of control, they said, and spending restraint had disappeared. The Tea Party was, at least at first, nominally a movement in response to Obama-era economic policy the stimulus in the wake of the housing market crash and then the Affordable Care Act that conservative activists saw as overreach.

Yet Donald Trump campaigned on not touching Medicare and Social Security, and during his presidency, the Republican Party ran up federal debt and deficits and increased federal spending even before the pandemic. Tea Party-style lawmakers in the House Freedom Caucus, instead of resisting this move, became some of the most vocal defenders of the Trump agenda.

And when the pandemic hit, many Republicans supported enormous, deficit-financed spending bills in response, totaling nearly $4 trillion. It was not the first time that Republicans had recently run up the federal tab: Total government spending and deficits grew under President George W. Bush as well.

So who would believe that this party genuinely supports limited government?

Part of the Republican Partys weakness as an opposition party is structural. Republican politicians dont care that much about solving problems through public policy because Republican voters dont care that much, either: In a recent Echelon Insights poll, only 25 percent of Republicans said they believed the goal of politics is to enact good public policy; that number shrank to 19 percent among the partys most dedicated Trump supporters.

Part of it is historical, an outgrowth of the partys recent strategy of opposing Democratic plans without unifying around alternatives of their own. That generalized refusal to engage with policy trade-offs became endemic under Mr. Trump, whose shallow approach to so much economic policy made the already difficult work of developing and uniting around innovative policy ideas effectively impossible.

Its not that the party has no ideas at all. But there is little in the way of consensus on economic policy and how to improve it, even among those who are looking to forge new paths for the right: Notably, when Senator Mitt Romney of Utah introduced a proposal for a broad-based child allowance, he was attacked by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida who had previously made waves by pushing to expand the child tax credit.

This highlights another quandary for the party: To the extent that the party is trying out different ideas, they are often scaled back variations on policy ideas more typically associated with Democrats. Mr. Bidens recovery plan, for example, included a one-year expansion of the child tax credit.

Mr. Rubio, meanwhile, recently backed the drive for a union at an Amazon facility in Alabama. And Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has called for an increase in the federal minimum wage to $10 an hour not the $15 an hour favored by Mr. Biden, but still an increase.

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri has called for a $15 minimum for large corporations, and last year teamed up with Senator Bernie Sanders to push for larger direct payments to households as part of pandemic relief legislation. Outside the realm of budgets and spending, Mr. Hawley has proposed antitrust legislation of the sort one might normally expect to find coming from Senator Elizabeth Warren.

And this points to the deeper problem: The Republican Party, at the very least, lacks a coherent sense of what economic policy and legislation should do and what it is for.

Because it has no theory, the Republican Party cannot offer much in the way of a critique of Democratic governance. Its not as if there arent arguments to make: The recovery bill was larded with pre-existing Democratic spending priorities that had little to do with pandemic relief.

So the substantive debates are conducted not between left and right but between the left and the center left or perhaps the obstreperous left. Its telling that some of the most stinging critiques of Mr. Bidens macroeconomic policy have come from the likes of Larry Summers, an economist long associated with the Democratic Party.

Republicans have effectively abdicated responsibility for both economic policymaking and economic policy argument, and so Mr. Bidens $1.9 trillion recovery plan sailed through Congress, with an even larger wave of infrastructure spending likely to follow.

Republicans have attacked that plan as not being infrastructure a fair point, to some degree, but also not exactly an argument for why Mr. Bidens proposals shouldnt pass. (Republicans finally did release a loose counterproposal.)

Rather than push back on the proposals particulars, they have focused more on attacking its tax increases. Taxes are the one major economic policy issue Republicans continue to care about, but a party that cares only about taxes and not about spending is, in some ways, how we got here in the first place.

Republicans are not only failing themselves; they are failing their duty, as an opposition party, to present an informed critique of the ruling partys governance. If the party expects to convince the public that Democrats have overreached and overspent with Mr. Bidens economic programs, they will need to make sure voters have also heard coherent arguments against them.

Peter Suderman is features editor at Reason Magazine.

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Opinion | The Republican Party Is Failing in Too Many Ways - The New York Times

The speech offers Scott a national platform and a chance to speak to many Americans for perhaps the first time at a moment in which he is playing a critical role in the effort to weave together a policing bill that can pass the narrowly divided US Senate.

While Scott is keeping many of the details of his speech to himself, the South Carolina Republican said he's done "an appropriate level of practice."

"You do your homework and you do your best to ... anticipate what he's going to say and be in a position to share with the nation a different way, at least what I think is a better way," Scott said on Tuesday.

Scott would not elaborate on which issues he plans to address or if he would be discussing the effort to overhaul policing.

"I think it should be a surprise to everybody," he said of his speech, but, as a well-known fan of colorful socks, he did divulge that he had bought a new pair especially for the occasion.

Working toward a compromise bill

But a new political environment in a non-election year and an increasing sense of urgency spurred by a number of police shooting deaths across the country have given this effort a better chance of bipartisan success.

Bass recently told CNN that lowering the standard is essential to cutting a final deal.

"Because the point is that we have got to hold police officers accountable," Bass said. "Essentially now the standard that's used to prosecute an officer is so high. That's why they're never held to account. So you need to lower it just like you would for anybody."

On Tuesday, Scott declined to say if the group had resolved those two key issues.

"I think we're actually making progress overall," Scott told CNN. "I hate to litigate and/or fight with through the press on these issues. They are really important issues to communities that are very vulnerable. We are trying to get to a place where we can solve those issues."

Booker said Tuesday that the group is getting closer to its goal.

"It has to be meaningful, substantive reform. We're not going to get everything done in one bill. There are larger, deeper problems in our country around policing that we have to try to address, but this bill must make meaningful strides to making real reforms and making people safer, making policing more accountable and more transparent and making sure that we hopefully curtail or end certain practices that we shouldn't have in the United States," Booker said.

But it could take some time. Bass has said she hopes to have a deal by the anniversary of Floyd's death on May 25.

'A very healthy relationship'

All eyes remain on Bass, Booker and Scott, who will ultimately decide if a deal can be reached. There is genuine friendship and respect among the three, who have spoken effusively of one another as this has played out.

"A very healthy relationship," Scott said of the trio. "That does not mean we all agree, but the good news is I think we trust each other enough to actually make progress on substantive issues where there is disagreement. I think it's really helped."

"Tim is a friend and an honest broker," Booker said on Tuesday. "We may disagree on a whole host of things, but we have worked together to get major bills done in the past. I have a lot of faith in him. I believe we're in a historical moment. History has its eyes on us. And there's an urgency in our country, and may we both rise in this Senate negotiation to get something substantive and meaningful done."

Booker added that Scott is a "good faith actor, and he's also a Black man in America who knows a lot of these issues personally. If anybody can get it done on his side, he's the right person to be negotiating with."

Bass has praised Scott as a "wonderful ally and partner."

When Bass was seen heading to Booker's office on Monday to meet with Scott and him, she was carrying vegan cupcakes. Booker, who is a vegan, was about to celebrate his birthday.

The three also bring with them the strong backing of their leadership and the understanding that if they agree to it, their leadership will as well.

Booker said this week that he's confident Scott can deliver GOP votes if they are able to get a deal. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has publicly supported Scott's current efforts on overhauling policing after asking him last summer to craft the original GOP proposal.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that he had met with Booker and Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat who is Senate majority whip and chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, for an hour earlier this week to discuss a potential bill. Booker has said he's been given "wide latitude" to do everything he can to get a deal.

"They're making good progress with Sen. Scott," Schumer said on Tuesday. "This is a serious problem. We need strong legislation. And we're hopeful that the Booker-Scott negotiations can produce just that."

CNN's Manu Raju, Lauren Fox and Ali Zaslav contributed to this report.

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Tim Scott's Republican rebuttal comes as his role in policing bill negotiation is also in the spotlight - CNN

Lisa Desjardins:

That's right, Judy.

We have never seen an address like this in U.S. history. And it's possible, we may not ever see one like this again. Because of COVID restrictions, let me run through a little bit about what's going to happen in the House chamber tonight.

First of all, just 200 people total, about that many, will be in the chamber for that speech. That's different than the 1,400 that are usually crammed in side by side, even up in the galleries.

Now, tonight, everyone in the chamber will have needed to either be tested negative for COVID or prove that they are fully vaccinated, meaning two weeks after that final vaccination shot.

And to space out the lawmakers that will be in there, they will be using the balconies. So, it's hard for me to say what people will be seeing, but likely you will be seeing lawmakers dotted throughout the chamber. I was able to get in there and look, and you will see that some rows only have one person in them. Republicans are seated on one side of the chamber, Democrats on the other.

They had been mixing that up in years past, but, this year, it looks like they will keep them in partisan aisles.

Now, as much as I think that that will be the dominant image, this strange image of lawmakers dotting the House chamber, we will also have something else unprecedented happening tonight. That will be the two people standing behind President Biden will be two women for the first time, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris, because she is the president of the Senate.

So, that is something also to look forward to. And, in addition, we will have the first address from an African American Republican senator be in the response for the Republicans, Tim Scott. He told me he's been practicing for days.

And we know a little bit about what he's going to say. To counter President Biden's message of his agenda, we expect Senator Scott to talk about the Republican agenda, the idea that Republicans are the party of opportunity. And he will say that the economy was at its best before the pandemic, when Republicans were in charge.

And he will make an argument that Republicans should be back in charge again.

Link:
What to expect from Biden's joint address to Congress and the Republican response - PBS NewsHour

Asked specifically by Wallace whether former President Donald Trump had, as CNN has reported, told him in a phone call that the rioters cared more about the 2020 election than he did, McCarthy side-stepped, offering this:

"What I talked to President Trump about, I was the first person to contact him when the riots was going on. He didn't see it. What he ended the call was saying -- telling me, he'll put something out to make sure to stop this. And that's what he did, he put a video out later."

"Speaking to the President from inside the besieged Capitol, McCarthy pressed Trump to call off his supporters and engaged in a heated disagreement about who comprised the crowd. Trump's comment about the would-be insurrectionists caring more about the election results than McCarthy did was first mentioned by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, a Republican from Washington state, in a town hall earlier this week, and was confirmed to CNN by Herrera Beutler and other Republicans briefed on the conversation."

So, McCarthy is engaging in a massive bit of underplaying of that phone call. But he's doing more, too.

He says Trump "didn't see" the rioters overtaking the Capitol building. Which is very hard for me to believe, given that a) it was on EVERY cable channel as it was happening and b) Trump watches cable constantly. It is, of course, possible that he turned off cable TV on the day that the Electoral College results were being certified (and shortly after his headlining of the "Stop the Steal" rally in DC) but, man oh man, is it unlikely.

Then there's McCarthy's timeline. He told Wallace that Trump ended the phone call with him by insisting that "he'll put something out to make sure to stop this. And that's what he did, he put a video out later."

Which, uh, not exactly.

"It's been more than two hours since a chaotic mob of rioters surrounded and breached the Capitol. Despite many calls from both Republican and Democrats for President Trump to demand his supporters leave the Capitol building, the President has not yet done so."

And remember that even AFTER the insurrection at the Capitol, almost 150 Republicans voted to object to the Electoral College results -- despite zero evidence to back up Trump's claims of fraud and theft.

McCarthy's whitewashing of what happened on January 6, then, is a survival tactic for him. In a party in which untruth about the election and January 6 has run rampant, the only way for McCarthy to hold onto power is to tell you that what you saw and heard is not what you saw and heard.

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The top Republican in the House is trying to rewrite history on the January 6 Capitol riot - CNN

Editors note: South Hills Record is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election.

According to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list, in Whitehall, five Republicans are running for four spots on the ballot incumbent Linda Book, John Paravati, Harold Plusa, Stone Sobieralski and incumbent William Veith.

Democrat Kathy DePuy is running unopposed in the primary.

Incumbent Mayor Jim Nowalk, a Democrat, is running unopposed in the primary. He will face Republican Chris A. Mooney in the November election.

Here are the Republican council nominees and their responses to the election questions posed by South Hills Record.

Linda Book

Why did you decide to run for election? I want to continue to provide Whitehall residents the best services they deserve in our police department, public works department, parks and recreation and Whitehall Library, along with strong support for our dedicated Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? To continue providing those services to Whitehall residents with responsible planning and budgeting during the uncertainties of the pandemic.

What should voters know about you? As a Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs member of the board of trustees and board of directors, I work to provide updates to our borough regarding training and education and utilize the opportunity to reflect on state-level discussions of the important issues to Whitehall, such as grant availability, infrastructure, police radar and veteran benefits, just to name a few.

As an Army veteran, I am proud to continue working annually with our Whitehall resident veterans and Whitehall Lions Club to provide the annual venue in honoring our veterans on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

John Paravati

John Paravati did not respond to requests for information for this article.

Harold Plusa

Why did you decide to run for election? As a Whitehall resident and homeowner for 22 years, I have pursued my interest and involvement in borough affairs as a member of the Whitehall Environment Action Committee (formerly Wildlife Management) and, prior to the pandemic, regularly attended borough council meetings.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? I am an advocate for term limits for all elected executive positions and legislative bodies, including borough council. Our council needs a combination of experience and fresh, new ideas. The most significant issue facing the borough today is replacing the borough swimming pool. My wife, Lynn, and I have discussed this with family members prior to responding to the borough survey. To the best of my knowledge, decisions regarding the pool will have been made prior to the election. A swimming pool is an important component to any community.

What should voters know about you? I am a lifelong resident of Allegheny County (excluding active military service). A graduate of South Hills High School and Duquesne University, Im married with grandchildren in Baldwin Whitehall schools. I have more than 20 years of military service, Army and Army Reserve, as a unit commander, staff officer and assistant professor of military science. Im a member of the American Legion, the Reserve Officers Association, Veterans Breakfast Club and a Whitehall Library discussion group organized for World War II veterans. I have more than 30 years of experience in human resources management and information systems, and I am a Republican Party committeeman for Whitehall Borough and Allegheny County.

Stone Sobieralski

Why did you decide to run for election? Whitehall is an outstanding community to be a part of. I would like to help contribute to the continued success of the borough.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? Fiscal responsibility. The borough had an operating deficit in 2019 of $1.2 million. The councils number one job is to spend money responsibly and as efficiently as possible, which I would be committed to. Property taxes also need to remain the same since they have not gone up in 16 years. As big projects start to be mentioned, it is more important than ever to have someone on council that will consider the financial positions of the Whitehall residents.

What should voters know about you? I am hardworking and dedicated to helping my community.

William Veith

Why did you decide to run for election? Im seeking my fourth term to continue to keep Whitehall Borough one of the most respected boroughs in the state.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? One of the biggest challenges we face is maintaining our wonderful community resources and amenities without increasing taxes.

What should voters know about you? I have lived in Whitehall for the past 31 years, serving on many committees both locally and statewide.

Katie Green is a Tribune-Review news editor. You can contact Katie at kgreen@triblive.com.

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5 Republican candidates running for 4 Whitehall council spots on the ballot - TribLIVE