Disbanding Jan. 6 Commission, 'Remain in Mexico,' National Abortion Ban: GOP Plans for the House

What’s the story?

• House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy outlined his plans for if the GOP wins the House in Tuesday’s midterm election. During an interview with CNN, he revealed that his plan includes tackling inflation, increasing border security, cutting government spending, and more. 
• The issues McCarthy laid out are all central to the final campaign pushes that Republican candidates are delivering to voters. This includes increased oversight and investigations, which continue to be key issues for the GOP. 

What does the plan entail?

Security

• As McCarthy told CNN, security is a main priority of his plan. He mentioned keeping Trump's version of the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy — a measure created by former President Donald Trump and revised by President Joe Biden that forces migrants to remain in Mexico while they wait for their immigration proceedings in the U.S.
• McCarthy added: 

“The first thing you’ll see is a bill to control the border first…You’ve got to get control over the border. You’ve had almost 2 million people just this year alone coming across.”

• While the Biden administration has received criticism for its border policy, it continues to rely on Trump’s pandemic emergency rule of Title 42, which allows authorities to turn migrants away at the U.S.-Mexico border. In 2022, more than one of the two million migrants who came to the U.S. border were turned away under this title.
• McCarthy also plans for a more vigorous fight against crime rates in the country, noting that Republicans would increase funding to the police and provide grants for recruiting and training. He added that the House would look into how crimes are prosecuted today and alter the process as the GOP sees fit. 

Government spending

• The GOP House leader stated that the party would bring down inflation and gas prices for the country by reducing government spending. According to McCarthy, these reductions will allow America to create a more energy-independent and efficient economy, bringing down financial pressures.
• He signaled that Republicans would demand cuts in spending in exchange for lifting the debt ceiling, criticizing the trillions that Democrats spent under President Biden. CNN said this would cause a “risky fiscal showdown that could lead to a disastrous debt default.” McCarthy disagreed and added:

“If you’re going to give a person a higher limit, wouldn’t you first say you should change your behavior, so you just don’t keep raising and all the time? You shouldn’t just say, ‘Oh, I’m gonna let you keep spending money.’ No household should do that.”  

Rep. Greene’s committee assignments 

• McCarthy vowed to reinstate Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to her committee assignments, which Democrats stripped her of last year due to her offensive remarks on school shootings, 9/11, violence against Democrats, and more. Rep. Greene will not be limited to which committees she can serve on, according to McCarthy, who will have a direct say in dolling out assignments if the GOP takes the House. 
• McCarthy added:

“She’s going to have committees to serve on, just like every other member…Members request different committees and as we go through the steering committee, we’ll look at it. She can put through the committees she wants, just like any other member in our conference that gets elected.” 

Other anticipated measures

Outside of McCarthy’s plan, experts expect various other political moves from Republicans if the GOP wins the House. 

National Abortion Ban

• In overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion and moved the decision to states. This GOP bill would ban abortions nationwide, regardless of state laws.
• The “Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act” -  introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and co-sponsored by more than 100 House republicans - will ban abortions, in every state, after 15 weeks.

National "Don't Say Gay" Bill

• Introduced by House Republicans, the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act" would prohibit using federal funds to develop, implement, or facilitate any program, event, or media that introduces gender identity, sexual orientation, or "related subjects" to children under the age of 10. It's inspired by Florida's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill. 

Disbanding the Jan. 6 committee

• House Republican leaders are expected to disband the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack after continuously expressing disapproval of the trials. McCarthy has even threatened to investigate telecom companies that hand over phone records to the committee, while other Republicans want to investigate the committee members themselves. 

Investigating Hunter Biden, Afghanistan, and more

• Republicans may launch their long-anticipated investigation against Hunter Biden, looking into allegations of tax fraud and lying during a background check. 
• The GOP could also launch a major investigation into the Biden administration, including how Biden ended the war in Afghanistan, the FBI’s search of Mar-a-Lago, Biden’s border policy, and more. 

Do you support or oppose the GOP's plans?

-Jamie Epstein