House Republicans Struggle to Protect Legislative Agenda From Trump's Turbulent Week

WASHINGTON — GOP lawmakers insist publicly that all is going as planned with the push for their ambitious legislative agenda. But amid the upbeat spin, there are growing signs of acknowledgment that moving forward on Capitol Hill would be much easier without having to respond almost every day to a new bombshell involving President Donald Trump.From sharing secret intelligence in a meeting with Russians, to requesting that FBI Director James Comey drop the Russia investigation before firing him, to the appointment of a special counsel investigating the matter, the Trump-related headaches hounded Republicans all week after they returned to Washington from an 11-day recess.“It’s a distraction, in all honesty,” said Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock. “I’m not saying my focus isn’t on the people’s business and advancing the interests and values of my district, and I’m sure others are focused on that. But I wouldn’t be forthright if I didn’t tell you that it’s a distraction.”Though Texas Republicans still attribute most of the blame to Democrats milking the scandals for all they are worth — “political opportunism,” Arrington said — there is increasing recognition that some of Trump’s problems have been self-inflicted, even if they downplay the significance.“There are things that he does that I wish he wouldn’t do or that he would do better, but I’m still confident in his ability to lead the country,” said Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan.  Continue reading...