Conway gripes about Congress that ‘can’t get basic things done’

Top White House adviser Kellyanne Conway on Thursday upped the pressure on lawmakers to act quickly on relief legislation for Hurricane Harvey while expressing frustration that Congress has shown so far that it “can’t get basic things done.”

“The president will go, he will ask Congress for money, depending on where the needs are. But that is his intention. He wants to make sure people know that he is there — that we are all there for them and put politics aside,” Conway said in an interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.” “We only hope that Congress can do that. I mean, the last eight months, if past is prologue, have not been, really, profiles in courage.”


Lawmakers will return from their August recess next week with a crowded agenda that will include not only an aid bill for the portions of the Gulf Coast devastated by Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent flooding, but also must-pass legislation to keep the government open due by the end of September and the beginnings of a push to overhaul the tax code.

Some lawmakers have already had to face tough questions about their past disaster-relief votes, including Republican Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, both of whom voted against an aid package for New York and New Jersey in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Both senators have said they opposed the bill because it was packed with funding unrelated to the storm, an explanation that a Washington Post fact checker said does not hold water.

Regardless, Trump has made big promises on how quickly Congress will act, despite frequently complaining about Congress’ failure to pass an Obamacare repeal bill or quickly act on his other top legislative priorities.

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Addressing The Dallas Morning News, Trump said at a news conference on Monday, “I think that you’re going to see very rapid action from Congress, certainly from the president. And you’re going to get your funding.” He added, “We think you’re going to have what you need, and it’s going to go fast.”

In her Thursday morning interview, Conway struck a more skeptical note about Congress’ abilities. She cast blame on both parties on Capitol Hill, castigating Republicans for an inability to make good on campaign promises and labeling Democrats as “obstructionists.” She also took a rhyming swing at Democrats’ “better deal” agenda.

“Republicans have promised repeal and replace Obamacare, pass tax reform, do minor things, the president stands ready to sign these major issues into law. There's obstructionists and resistance by the left,” Conway said. “They said that they're for a better deal, all we see is same ol' spiel. So we hope when it comes to basic Hurricane Harvey funding that we can rely on a bipartisan and, may I say, nonpartisan push.”

