Byrne: President “Tone Deaf” to Mandate from Tuesday’s Elections

Following Tuesday’s overwhelming victory for the Republican Party in the midterm elections, Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) expressed a desire to work with the new Senate majority to advance bipartisan, commonsense legislation.

Despite the optimism for legislative cooperation with the Senate, Congressman Byrne worries that President Barack Obama failed to fully comprehend the mandate for new leadership and bipartisan cooperation brought on by Tuesday’s elections.

Byrne said: “Tuesday’s elections sent a clear message that the American people are tired of stagnation in Washington, and they want to see Congress advance real, commonsense solutions to problems Americans face every day. Unfortunately, it seems President Obama is tone deaf to that message and is content to continue his failed governing strategy of ‘my way or the highway.’

“Did the President not learn anything from Tuesday’s results? Take his rhetoric on immigration for example. The day after historic electoral losses, the President remained defiant and insistent on pushing forward with executive amnesty. More unilateral executive action flies in the face of Tuesday’s election results and will only make it harder to reach bipartisan consensus.”

Even with the defiance President Obama expressed in his press conference at the White House yesterday afternoon, Congressman Byrne outlined some key areas where he hopes the Republican-controlled Congress can make a real impact.

Byrne said: “Over the past four years, the House of Representatives has continued to pass bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing the regulatory burden, expanding domestic energy production, connecting Americans with good-paying jobs, and getting the federal government out of the way. These bills, which only  languished in the Democrat-controlled Senate, should be at the top of the list when the new Congress convenes in January.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to address real issues like ending the ill-conceived sequestration defense cuts, lowering energy costs, promoting career and technical education, reforming the tax code, and making a real difference in people’s lives. I sincerely hope President Obama will put politics aside and work across the aisle over the next two years.”