Democrat’s Surprising Move Echoes GOP Strategies

Clear Facts

• Democratic Rep. Josh Harder has launched the bipartisan Build America Caucus, focusing on energy and housing, using GOP policy points.
• The caucus aims to address issues like red tape, housing costs, and energy grid strain, with support from both Republicans and Democrats.
• Harder’s approach mirrors Republican efforts, such as those by Sen. Tim Scott and former HUD Secretary Scott Turner, to reduce regulatory burdens.

Democratic Representative Josh Harder of California has initiated a new Congressional caucus that is strikingly reminiscent of Republican policy strategies. The bipartisan Build America Caucus, which focuses on energy and housing, seems to have adopted several Republican talking points in its mission statement.

The caucus, spearheaded by Harder, is a response to what some Democrats perceive as a need to refine their post-2024 messaging and address governance challenges in Democratic-led cities and states.

In a press release, Harder’s office describes the caucus as “pro-growth” and committed to “unleashing American energy” and “cutting red tape.” These are policy positions often championed by Republican lawmakers.

Harder emphasized the caucus’s bipartisan nature, stating it includes nearly 30 members from across the ideological spectrum, with 11 Republicans and 18 Democrats.

“Voters have lost faith in government because they don’t see results — they see gridlock, red tape, and delay,” said Harder. “It’s time to get back to building. Housing costs are out of control, our energy grid is strained, and foreign adversaries are racing ahead in critical manufacturing.”

The caucus aims to unite Republicans and Democrats to “deliver real, pro-growth solutions” and “pass effective legislation that unleashes America’s full potential.”

Harder noted a growing interest in reforming the permitting process to ensure projects are completed “faster, better, cheaper.” He remarked, “I think this may be one of the only active bipartisan caucuses doing work that has folks across the ideological rainbow.”

The caucus’s focus on reducing red tape aligns with efforts by Republican figures like Sen. Tim Scott and former HUD Secretary Scott Turner. Scott has prioritized cutting red tape in housing permits and zoning regulations, highlighting how over-regulation disproportionately affects low-income families.

Turner has also targeted regulatory burdens, particularly those impacting federal land use for housing. He described building on federal land as a “nightmare of red tape” and has worked to streamline these processes.

In the energy sector, Republicans have long advocated for reducing regulatory hurdles. Recent legislative efforts aim to streamline energy production and secure resource access.

Rep. Harder’s office did not respond to requests for further comment on the caucus’s initiatives.

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