How to waste a year of America’s time

Americans “want a Congress that delivers results for the people, opening up opportunity and lifting up their lives. When our new members take the oath, our Congress will be refreshed, and our democracy will be strengthened by the optimism, idealism and patriotism of this transformative freshman class.” That was newly elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on January 3, during the opening session of the 116th Congress. Whether she meant those words at the time is now irrelevant, as the actions of her party this year have betrayed any such vision of a real legislative agenda for working Americans. Yesterday, Congressional Democrats gave yet another snapshot of how they spend their days now. After months of pressure, Speaker Pelosi caved to the far-left base (sorry, “transformative freshman class”) that she has been unable to appease, announcing that she is launching official impeachment inquiries into President Trump. Although Democrats have been hinting at impeachment as a political weapon for two years, the latest excuse they give comes as a response to hyped-up reports of a supposed “quid pro quo” offered to President Zelensky of Ukraine. Slight problem: It turns out the story was completely false. The transcript released by the White House today proves that Democrats simply made up their claims of a “quid pro quo” between President Trump and President Zelensky. Here we go again. Democrats in Congress devote all their time and energy to rumors and innuendo rather than governing. It doesn’t matter if none of it turns out to be true—by then, their media surrogates have spread the lie far and wide. In the process, Speaker Pelosi’s ranks have squandered nearly a year’s worth of time on a single failed agenda item: endless investigations and obstruction. Yesterday’s antics explain why Americans are fed up with Washington and why Congress’ approval numbers sit at an abysmal 18 percent. Imagine all that could have been accomplished had Democrats devoted this year to issues that actually matter to middle-class Americans, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement: Americans deserve elected officials who focus on key issues to improve the lives of families, strengthen our communities, grow our economy, and keep our country safe. In President Donald J. Trump they have someone who has not only focused on those goals, but delivered results.     In a far departure from all of the work and results of this President, House Democrats have destroyed any chances of legislative progress for the people of this country by continuing to focus all their energy on partisan political attacks. Their attacks on the President and his agenda are not only partisan and pathetic, they are in dereliction of their Constitutional duty.     The Trump Administration will continue to be vigorous in laying out the facts and standing up for the many forgotten men and women who elected him. The window for Democrats to do anything of substance this year is closing fast. When Nancy Pelosi spoke about a “new dawn” while accepting the gavel as Speaker earlier this year, she gave the impression that Congress would finally function differently under her watch. It doesn’t. And no one’s holding their breath that her party will start putting the American people before their political ambitions. Must read: “The Impeachment Farce Is A Slap In The Face To American Voters” NOTHING TO SEE HERE: “Democrats Wrote to Ukraine in May 2018, Demanding It Investigate Trump”

NEW: President Trump secures trade agreement with Japan While Democrats work overtime on obstruction, President Trump is delivering results for workers across the country. In New York today, the President signed a document with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that outlines major steps toward a new trade deal between our countries. “Under the market access agreement that we’re announcing today, Japan will open new markets to approximately $7 billion in American agricultural products. Japanese tariffs will now be significantly lower, or eliminated entirely, for U.S. beef, pork, wheat, cheese, corn, wine, and so much more,” President Trump explained. “This is a huge victory for America’s farmers, ranchers, and growers. And that’s very important to me.” The second part of the deal secures robust commitments on $40 billion worth of digital trade for both our economies, expanding commerce for cutting-edge products and services. This is what working hard for the American people looks like. Read: President Trump secures major trade agreements with Japan.