GOP Already Breaking Campaign Promises

Well, that was fast. Republicans are already backpedaling on a number of provisions of their “Pledge to America,” including promises to cut spending and reform Congressional rules. The GOP had railed against Democrats’ strong-arm legislative tactics, pledging to send all bills through a full committee process and to “let any lawmaker—Democrat or Republican—offer amendments.” Yet with its very first act—health care reform repeal—it will break both pledges, Politico reports.

Republicans also haven’t put the constitutional citations they promised on any early bills, though they say they may add them later when the bill hits the floor. The GOP has also ditched a promise to publicly reveal who attends committee meetings, something that could be used against reps who play hooky. Oh, and that pledge to cut $100 billion in spending in the first year? They’ve admitted that’s not actually feasible, the AP reports, thanks to the vagaries of the budget cycle. (More 112th Congress stories.)