Bloomberg to Spend $80 Million to Flip the House

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is planning on spending $80 million to support Democratic congressional candidates with the aim of winning back the House from Republicans, The New York Times reports.

In a statement released Wednesday, Bloomberg said he has "never much liked political parties," does not "believe in partisanship," and noted he has supported Republicans in the past, including Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., in his last re-election campaign.

"I've never thought that the public is well-served when one party is entirely out of power, and I think the past year and half has been evidence of that," he said.

"Republicans, who control both houses of Congress, have done little to reach across the aisle to craft bipartisan solutions – not only on guns and climate change, but also on jobs, immigration, healthcare, and infrastructure. As a result, Congress has accomplished very little.

"In addition, and no less troubling, Congress has essentially stopped acting as a co-equal branch of government, by failing to engage in the kind of oversight of the law that the Constitution requires and the public expects."

Bloomberg notes some congressional Republicans, singling out Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in particular, "have taken their constitutional and legislative responsibilities seriously," but the GOP has "had almost two years to prove they could govern responsibly. They failed. As we approach the 2018 midterms, it's critical that we elect people who will lead in ways that this Congress won't – both by seeking to legislate in a bipartisan way, and by upholding the checks and balances that the Founding Fathers set up to safeguard ethics, prevent the abuse of power, and preserve the rule of law."

So, Bloomberg ends with a vow to "support Democrats in their efforts to win control of the House," even though he has "plenty of disagreements" with some of them, noting he opposes those that call for President Donald Trump's impeachment.

"Nothing could be more irresponsible," he said. "But I believe that 'We the People' cannot afford to elect another Congress that lacks the courage to reach across the aisle and the independence to assert its constitutional authority. And so I will support Democratic candidates who are committed to doing both."

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