The United States Congress and policymaking is an a peculiar state. Now more than ever our politicians elected to Washington to serve our interests and beliefs are voting among strict party lines. House Resolution 333, a bill to avoid a government shutdown while prohibiting federal funds for the implantation of the Affordable Health Care Act, “Obamacare,” passed the Republican controlled House of Representatives 320-189, representing a “split almost exactly among party lines.” (Dinan 2013) The democratically controlled Senate voted in the same week to strip a provision in this legislation to defund Obamacare while avoiding a government shutdown by a vote of 54-44, thus continuing to vote among partisan lines (O’Brien). As evident by the vote on Capitol Hill over the course of this past week, the ability to pass crucial legislation in each chamber of Congress respectively is ultimately determined by the number of Congressman/ women each political party retains in the upcoming election.
In recognizing this point, House Republicans over the course of this past week pinpointed Congressman Jeff Denham among 20 other House Republicans as vulnerable candidates for re-election in 2014, thus directly raising three million dollars through its Patriot Program to contribute to their re-election campaigns (Cahn 2013). Through the Patriot Program, a portion of the funds raised are designed to assist Congressman Denham in communication as well as fundraising support in his bid to remain the representative of California’s 10th District of California (Cahn 2013).
Through this direct support by the Republican Party in the House of Representatives to aid in a district that already provides a Democratic challenger for the House Seat in 2014, it is a clear indication that his seat is in jeopardy and the Republican party not being sold on his ability to retain a republican strong hold over the district. The 10th District of California in which Congressman Denham represents were carried by President Barak Obama, a democrat, by 4 points in the presidential election of 2012 (Trygstad 2013). Because of the competitiveness of the district, strong presence of the Democratic Party as evident by the most recent presidential election, and increasing possibility of change in leadership, Congressman Denham was additionally placed in National Republican Congressional Committee’s incumbent protection program, further signifying the party’s worries over his ability to retain his seat in the House (Trygstad 2013). The trust of the Republican Party for Congressman Denham to remain the incumbent through his own volition is gone, thus requiring direct action of contributing not only capitol to his campaign, but also increasing the recognition of his name to constituents in his district. The aid of a political party to individual candidates such as Jeff Denham ultimately represents the true nature of our system as well, one that seeks to influence our nation among party ideals and influences.
In a time where our elected politicians are voting strictly among party lines, the difference of losing or retaining a vote over national legislation that impacts millions of Americans is truly colossal. The Republican Party, specifically House Republicans, have recognized the grave importance of retaining ever vote possible, thus giving Congressman Denham everything the have to give. Simply, the Republican Party will do whatever it can to keep Republicans in Office.
http://atr.rollcall.com/house-republicans-raise-3-million-for-vulnerable-members/
http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/27/20720258-senate-votes-to-send-government-funding-bill-back-to-house?lite
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/20/house-passes-spending-bill-defund-obamacare/
http://atr.rollcall.com/beekeeper-challenges-jeff-denham/
No comments:
Post a Comment