In early 2017, freshman Rep. James Comer found himself aboard Air Force One with the country’s two most powerful Republicans, President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. As they returned to Washington from a Kentucky rally, the conversation turned to the president’s first legislative push, with McConnell encouraging Trump to pursue an infrastructure deal. But Trump and House GOP leaders chose instead to carry out a futile fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act. It was a mistake that Comer believes has cost his party for years – and one that serves as a lesson for him as he takes charge now of the powerful House Oversight and Accountability Committee. “Let’s commit to things that are achievable, not just red-meat talking points that will get you on Fox News for 4 1/2 minutes,” Comer told The Associated Press in a March interview as Republicans campaigned to regain control of the House. Those high-minded words will soon be put to a test. Comer, the grandson of rural Kentucky political leaders, will lead a committee whose members are among the most hard-line conservatives in Congress. Some have introduced articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden and pledged far-reaching investigations of his administration and family, particularly his son Hunter.
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