Opinion Pieces

Something remarkable happened Tuesday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admitted she is guilty of the very accusation levied (without evidence) at President Trump. Except, instead of being guilty of withholding aid to Ukrainians, Pelosi is guilty of withholding aid to Americans.

We had dual announcements made by Pelosi and Democratic leaders in the House Tuesday morning. First, they announced two articles of impeachment. Then, just an hour or two later, they announced we will finally pass President Trump’s United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

It was pretty convenient that Pelosi was able to counter detractors who dogged her for not getting anything done during impeachment. Maybe it wasn’t convenient at all. Maybe it was planned that way.

That’s what one reporter thought. At the press conference announcing the USMCA will pass, a reporter asked if it was a coincidence the USMCA announcement came the same day another impeachment milestone was reached. The speaker let slip that “it’s not a coincidence.”

Just how long (days, weeks, months) was the USMCA on hold to achieve this perfect timing?

Think about this for a minute. That means she’s guilty of the very same accusation being levied at President Trump: putting politics ahead of the national interest.

Hardworking Hoosiers in my home state have paid for Pelosi’s political games out of their own pocketbook. About 47% of Indiana’s exports and 250,000 jobs rely on trade with Mexico and Canada. How many families with skyrocketing medical bills had to forego bigger paychecks waiting on Pelosi’s politically motivated timing? How many Hoosier farmers with dozens of employees on their payroll have missed out on essential trading deals they could have made?

Ever since Trump negotiated this trade deal with Canada and Mexico, Hoosiers have been begging Congress to pass it. In the district I represent, which has the highest percentage of manufacturing jobs than any other district in the country, manufacturing workers, especially those in the automotive industry, were desperate waiting for this trade deal to pass. The USMCA ensures 40% of auto content is made by workers earning at least $16 an hour, a wage only 15% of Mexico’s workers equal or surpass. On top of that, this bill guarantees that 75% of auto parts in every car are sourced from North America, an increase of 12.5%.

Additionally, we were waiting for the new deal that extends copyright protection on industrial design from 10 years to 15 years, which is crucial to the booming medical device industry in Indiana. The USMCA also doubles the length of data protection for agricultural chemicals, a boon to our farmers.

But Pelosi wasn’t just snubbing Hoosiers, the entire American economy will be in overdrive after USMCA passes. It is estimated the USMCA will spur over $68 billion in new economic activity and 176,000 new jobs. A strong economy is vital to all because it means we can use the extra cash to boost national defense spending, pay our bills, and, if Congress ever gets its act together, start chipping away at our national debt.

But Pelosi put all that aid to American workers on hold. For what? Her own personal political gain.

So, the dog has caught its own tail. Pelosi, in her attempt to snare the president, has snared herself by committing the very folly she’s accused the president of committing.