Sen. John Cornyn on Monday sent a letter to fellow Senate Republicans pitching his policy vision for the conference next year, jump-starting the slow-moving race to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell as GOP leader.
Mr. Cornyn of Texas, the former GOP whip, is one of three declared candidates vying to replace Mr. McConnell of Kentucky, who is stepping down as Senate Republican leader in November a record-breaking 18 years in the role.
Mr. Cornyn said he was writing to lay out a few “non-comprehensive ideas” for the next Congress given the rapidly approaching election and the potential for Republicans to reclaim the White House and Senate majority.
His policy vision includes a desire to bring back former President Donald Trump’s border and immigration policies and prevent large portions of his 2017 tax law from expiring, building on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act “to protect hardworking families and ensure America remains the best place to do business in the world.”
He also advocated for a strong stance on national security.
Sens. John Thune of South Dakota, the current GOP whip, and Rick Scott of Florida, former chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, are also running for the leader job.
Most senators have yet to declare their preferred candidate, while most of the discussion about the race has taken place behind closed doors.
Mr. Cornyn said in his letter that he appreciates his opponents have approached the leadership election “in a respectful and civil manner” and that he has “tried to do the same.”
The Senate returned Monday from its summer recess and is only scheduled to be in session for three weeks before adjourning again until after the November election. Face time with fellow senators in those weeks could be critical for the GOP leader candidates as their internal conference election will likely be held when Congress returns for a two-week session between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.
Mr. Cornyn invited conversation with his colleagues, who he said have already provided valuable feedback in the six months since he announced his bid.
On foreign policy, Mr. Cornyn said he believes President Reagan’s 1980s policy of peace through strength “still works.”
“We know it is cheaper to deter wars than to fight them,” he said, noting Sen. Roger F. Wicker, Mississippi Republican, “has offered a sensible solution to our national security needs that is an important contribution to our ongoing discussions.”
Mr. Wicker has proposed a detailed investment plan that would boost spending on defense to roughly 5% of GDP.
Mr. Cornyn argued for the need to increase domestic energy production, streamline permitting and eliminate restrictions on American oil, natural gas, and coal, complimenting several GOP senators for their work on that front.
Mr. Cornyn slammed President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their “weakness” in all those policy areas.
He also wrote about a desire to “claw back unspent portions of the partisan, inflationary spending bills from Democrats and the Biden-Harris Administration,” using part of the money to reduce the debt and another portion to fund national security needs.
“We should also review and reconsider all current federal spending,” Mr. Cornyn said, saying Congress considers only 27% of the federal budget during the discretionary appropriations process and needs to examine mandatory spending too.
“It should be obvious that no one — not government, not individual taxpayers — can get a handle on, much less balance, their budget by addressing only one-quarter of the money they spend,” he added. “But that is exactly what the U.S. government routinely does. Our current fiscal dilemma shows the folly of that approach.”
Mr. Cornyn also cited the need to “reject excessive regulatory overreach that stalls economic growth and kills jobs” and strengthen Congress’ oversight role in the regulatory progress.
Outside of policy, Mr. Cornyn reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the legislative filibuster as some Democrats have floated changing Senate rules to allow some or all bills to advance with a simple majority vote instead of 60.
“Liberal activists may like the idea of nuking the filibuster today, but they will rue the day when the shoe is on the other foot,” he said.
• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.
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