Republican Jewish Coalition

— Featured —

2020 was a tough year in many, many ways,

and it didn’t really end until yesterday, when all but one of the 2020 election results became final. We now know who will be President and who will serve in the Senate and House (with the exception of the race in NY-22, which is still in a recount).

In the coming weeks, we will share with you our priorities and plans for 2021. Today, we offer some insights on the past week.

Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the joint session of Congress yesterday.

RJC Responds to the Biggest News Stories of the Week

The Republican Jewish Coalition condemned the mob attack on the US Capitol yesterday, tweeting yesterday afternoon:

Protesters must stop now. We support peaceful protest, but storming the halls of Congress and the Capitol building is unacceptable. We condemn these actions.

G-d bless the @CapitolPolice

This morning, the RJC released this statement from National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and Executive Director Matt Brooks on the result of the 2020 election:

The Republican Jewish Coalition congratulates Joe Biden on his election as President of the United States. After the abhorrent mob attack yesterday on our Capitol, our elected officials went back to work, fulfilled their duty under our Constitution, and certified the results of the 2020 election. Now is the time for the same peaceful transition of power that the US has carried out for over 220 years. It is also time for healing and unity in our country, because we face many serious and significant challenges.

As President-elect Joe Biden takes office, the COVID-19 pandemic has already taken many lives and disrupted our vibrant and growing economy. Our adversaries and competitors abroad will be watching the new administration closely. It is vital that we come together as a nation and pursue policies that are consistent with our founding principles and that strengthen the uniquely successful federal republic that our founders built.

In particular, we hope to work with the incoming Biden administration on issues such as the US-Israel relationship and preventing a nuclear Iran. Peace and stability in the Middle East can be achieved when America takes a leadership role, supports Israel, opens doors for cooperation between Israel and her neighbors, and – very importantly – acts prudently to restrain the hegemonic ambitions of the theocratic dictators in Iran.

We are blessed to live in the most free, safe, and prosperous country in the world. America’s Founding Fathers created a constitutional government that has weathered many challenges, including outright civil war. In these troubled times, we must come together so that this remarkable country will continue to thrive, in peace and security.

Senator Chuck Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi

The 117th Congress Faces Challenges

The Democrats have a slim majority in the House (only six more than the requisite 218) and exactly 50 members in the Senate. This will all lead to challenging dynamics in both chambers. In order to pass legislation, House Democrats will need to hold almost every member of their own caucus or bring Republicans to vote with them. In the Senate, ties will be broken by the vote of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Instead of Democrats negotiating with Republicans to pass legislation, centrist Democrats will be negotiating with their far-Left colleagues, to keep their caucus unified for votes. Emily Brooks, David M. Drucker, and Kerry Picket at the Washington Examiner note the intense pressure that centrist Democrats will be under as the party’s far-Left pushes their agenda forward.

Politifact offers a look at how a split Senate might function:

There are three prior periods when the Senate was evenly split between the parties.

… The third came after the 2000 elections. The two parties’ leaders, Republican Trent Lott of Mississippi and Democrat Tom Daschle of South Dakota, forged a power-sharing agreement that lasted for about five months, until Sen. Jim Jeffords, R-VT, became an independent and shifted to caucus with the Democrats. At that point, the Democrats were able to take the clear majority.

Democrats in the House are already taking advantage of their majority, slim though it is, to change the House rules in ways that seriously disadvantage the Republican minority. The editors of the Wall Street Journal explain:

More important for legislation, however, the rules all but eliminate what is called the motion to recommit. This legislative tool has existed since the first Congress, and for nearly 90 years it has allowed the minority party to offer the last amendment to legislation. The motions typically fail, but they are a way for the minority to highlight and provoke a debate on controversial questions.

… At the demand of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the new rules strip the minority of the ability to use the motions to amend bills. Republicans will only be able to offer motions that send a bill back to committee. This spares swing-district Democrats from difficult votes and reduces [Nancy] Pelosi’s chance of defeat on the floor. Even former GOP whip Tom DeLay never imposed that one.

There’s Good News and Bad News

In foreign affairs, this week brought both good news and bad news. The good news was the signing of the Abraham Accords by Sudan. Lahav Harkov reports:

Sudan became the third of four countries to agree to sign on to the Trump administration-brokered accords, following the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and before Morocco.

Though Khartoum announced its willingness to join in late October, its government waited to proceed until the US removed Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism last month, following the overthrow of dictator Omar al-Bashir in early 2019. Sudan paid $335 million in compensation to American victims of terrorism and their families as part of the removal process.

During [US Treasury Secretary Steve] Mnuchin’s visit, the countries also settled Sudan’s World Bank debt, a further step toward economic recovery for the African state, which has over $60 billion in foreign debt.

The bad news is that Iran has resumed enriching uranium at 20 percent, as the Washington Post reports:

Iran on Monday resumed 20 percent uranium enrichment at its sensitive Fordow nuclear facility, state media reported — a major step away from a 2015 nuclear deal struck with world powers.

The move could complicate the incoming Biden administration's plans to restart nuclear talks with Tehran. Iranian forces also seized a South Korean-flagged ship transiting the Persian Gulf.

— Short Takes —

Media adopts canard that Israel denies vaccine to Palestinians

Major media outlets are playing a role in promoting the lie that Israel is somehow barring Palestinians from getting vaccinated against coronavirus. You have to dig deep to learn that the Palestinian leadership cut off cooperation with Israel and is receiving – and distributing – vaccines to their people, with the help of the World Health Organization.

— Tweets —

— Events —

Virtual Meet-and-Greet with Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis

Join us on Wednesday, January 13 at 6:00 PM for a virtual meet and greet event with Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11). Malliotakis defeated incumbent Democrat Max Rose in a hotly contested race, flipping NY-11 back to the GOP. Click here to reserve your spot.

While RJC offices are closed and our staff are teleworking, you can reach us by email or by phone (please leave a voicemail message and your call will be returned). Contact information for our offices can be found on our web site. Please visit us online for the latest RJC news, to see details of upcoming events, and to donate to the RJC.

The RJC Weekly Newsletter

January 07, 2021

Your weekly look at the latest news, analysis, and RJC activities around the country.

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