Toxic Dysfunction Drives Growing GOP Exodus from Congress
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A growing number of House Republicans are retiring, citing the "toxicity" of life and dysfunction in Congress as a key reason. This includes young and powerful lawmakers like Reps. Mike Gallagher, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Mark Green.
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Multiple retiring committee chairs say Congress is "broken beyond repair" and that infighting has made legislating extremely difficult. Some see this "brain drain" as jeopardizing Congress's ability to function.
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Some Republicans welcome the departures, hoping to replace veteran institutionalists with more conservative firebrands who demand purity. Rep. Matt Gaetz said the "knowledge" being lost often helps lawmakers "enrich themselves."
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Internal GOP divisions are a major source of dysfunction, pitting institutionalists open to compromise against hardliners who see bipartisan deals as capitulation. Conservatives recently torpedoed a bipartisan Senate border deal.
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Lawmakers cite unproductive Congress, Speaker turmoil, near-default, and failed Republican rule votes as manifestations of divisions. Rep. Kelly Armstrong said failed party-line votes have been "completely accepted."