Will Trump eclipse Ryan agenda?

[Valin]

The Hill:

Scott Wong

06/05/16

 

Speaker Paul Ryan this week will begin rolling out an election-year agenda for House Republicans in what his team is branding as “A Better Way.” But that agenda is at risk of being overshadowed by Donald Trump, the party’s polarizing standard-bearer with a reputation for going his own way.

 

In recent days, the celebrity businessman has dominated the airwaves by arguing that a federal judge presiding over a case against Trump University cannot be impartial because “he’s a Mexican.” And even when Trump isn’t making controversy, it tends to follow him wherever he goes.

 

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“It will be hard,” added another of Ryan’s GOP colleagues. The House agenda “gives us something to run on in our districts. But all the conversation will center on the parts of our agenda Trump incorporates and talks about.” And that’s if Trump chooses to adopt any of Ryan’s agenda at all.

 

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Starting Tuesday, House Republicans will do their best to nudge their way into the media spotlight. The Speaker, several committee chairmen and other rank-and-file GOP lawmakers will unveil a number of measures focused on fighting poverty, the first of six policy planks that make up Ryan’s “A Better Way” agenda.

 

They’ll do so at a faith-based nonprofit in the heart of Anacostia, one of Washington, D.C.’s historically African American neighborhoods. A protege of anti-poverty crusader Jack Kemp, Ryan is trying to ensure the GOP is seen as an inclusive and compassionate party, especially as Trump’s controversial statements and policies have alienated a number of groups including Hispanics, Muslims, women and people with disabilities.

 

At the House of Help City of Hope nonprofit, Republicans will make the case that the trillions of federal tax dollars spent on anti-poverty programs in recent decades have yielded poor results.....................(Snip)