GOP can't or won't govern

To the Editor:

Great things were going to happen when the Republicans gained control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate after the last midterm elections. In January of this year the news was full of statements by the GOP leaders saying, "we are going to show the American people that we can govern." The new agenda was dedicated to unraveling the President's gains in Obamacare and Immigration; implementing the Keystone Pipe Line (why are we building a pipeline for a Canadian Company?); tax reform: and implementing measures on energy and National Security. Instead our legislature has careened from one mishap to the next disaster. Immigration reform has devolved to a 'Deport them all' scenario. The Homeland Security bill was pulled from voting because of tea party riders. The Transportation bill has been moved from a six year plan to a three month extension because of feuding in the Senate. The FAA, a major government agency has shut down because the Senate is going on recess and couldn't be bothered to approve funding. There was time for another attempt to destroy Planned Parenthood. Both the Senate and House have squandered countless hours making multiple attempts to defund Planned Parenthood and Repeal Obamacare, instead of addressing measures to help the middle class. The Huffington Post headline on Saturday called the last 30 days "A month of epic dysfunction for the GOP" . . . but meanwhile the President has made major policy gains in the last six months. Normalization of relations with Cuba; The Supreme court has repealed the Bans on Gay Marriage and struck down the lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act; TPP legislation has passed and the Iran Nuclear Pact is in review. One major achievement for the GOP is the Benghazi Commission, three years, millions of dollars and hundred of hours wasted and they have done NOTHING. Good job, Republicans.

Now there are renewed rumblings of shutting the government down over Planned Parenthood. It only cost about 126 billion the last time Ted Cruz bullied his colleagues into that debacle (so why not?) and it accomplished nothing. America deserves better government than this. Fire the incompetents.

Terry Baker

Qulin, Mo.