Repost from Daily Torch.
“I just think there’s a difference of opinion. Some people don’t want to have a plan.”
That was Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) on Fox News with Laura Ingraham on March 7responding to criticism from within the Senate Republican Conference of his Rescue America plan located at www.rescueamerica.com, an outline of the of legislative proposals and ideas for Congressional Republicans to pursue in 2023, including supporting an America first trade policy, should they reclaim the House and Senate in the 2022 Congressional midterms.
The Scott plan calls for continuing to reduce American reliance on Chinese supply chains: “We will gradually end all imports from Communist China until a new regime honors basic human rights and freedoms. We will build supply chains that rely solely on American workers and allies. We will not be at the mercy of our enemies for medications or any essential commodities. We will terminate any trade deal that takes away American jobs.”
It is very much an approach to trade that was favored by former President Donald Trump in his 2016 Electoral College victory over Hillary Clinton, helping him to secure the Rust Belt states of Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
It made a big difference not only in the campaign but beyond, as Trump took an issue Republicans had been weak on for decades, and made them stronger.
In response, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) publicly chastised Sen. Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, essentially for daring to offer specifics, whether on tax policy, trade, immigration or anything else.
“If we’re fortunate enough to have the majority next year, I’ll be the majority leader. I’ll decide, in consultation with my members, what to put on the floor,” McConnell said, blasting a part of Scott’s proposal that called for every citizen to pay income tax, “even if a small amount.”