For much of the past year, the Republican Party has been doing its best to scare people. Its electoral strategy depended on people feeling we’re a nation in decline. The GOP knew the only way it would do well at the polls was by making people feel bad about our country. 

The problem with that strategy? America is not a nation in decline. In fact, after staring in an unprecedented abyss, we’ve come roaring back with a vengeance. Our economy is stronger today than it has been in over a decade. 

America is in a better place today because we fought hard for our values and refused to give up in the face of relentless opposition. Just look at the facts. 

Our economy is experiencing its fastest pace of growth in over a decade.

• The GDP rose to 5.0% in the third quarter of this year.
• The deficit has been cut by 2/3 under President Obama, according to Treasury Department figures.
• More Americans are back at work. And, we’re not only creating more jobs, but better-paying jobs — wages are up and higher-paying industries are adding workers. 
• We’re in the longest stretch of private sector job growth on record, with nearly 11 million jobs added over 57 straight months, according to the Council of Economic Advisers. 
• In November, we saw the highest single month of job creation in nearly 3 years, and 2014 was the strongest year for job growth since 1999.

The American people are also saving money at the pump. In fact, we’re now the world’s number one producer of oil and natural gas. And, gas prices are headed to their lowest level in 11 years — a decrease expected to save American families $550 next year. 

Americans recognize the progress. They know these numbers are more than statistics, they’re signs of our nation’s resurgence. The number of Americans who think now is a good time to find a quality job is back to pre-recession levels. And, we’re heading into the new year with consumer confidence at a seven-year high. 

These are the accomplishments of a President who’s fighting every day to make life better for American families and a Democratic Party fighting right alongside him. 

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about today’s Republican Party. Its year consisted of partisan opposition and unprecedented obstruction at every turn. While Democrats fought for economic policies that helped middle-class families, Republicans continued to fight for the wealthiest and most fortunate among us while pushing policies that leave the rest of us behind, or worse, stick us with the bill. 

Republicans in the 113th Congress should take a step back and look at what they actually spent their year doing:

• Forcing a government shutdown costing our economy $24 billion and 120,000 jobs, according to the Council of Economic Advisers.
• Attempting to sue the President at the taxpayers’ expense simply because he was doing his job.
• Voting to:
  • block equal pay for women and
  • against a minimum wage increase that would help ensure that Americans working full time do not have to raise their families in poverty. 

The GOP also voted repeatedly, and unsuccessfully — more than 50 times — to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act, even as it is providing quality, affordable health care to millions, the uninsured rate has reached a near historic low and health care spending is slowing down. 

We believe elected representatives must continue to ask themselves:

Are we doing all we can to help the American people? Are we working to move our country forward and are we putting what is best for our constituents above all else?

While there is so much more work to do, this year, Democrats can confidently answer yes to each of these questions. Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle most certainly cannot. 

In 2015, Democrats will continue to fight for:

• more well-paying jobs,
• a living wage for all Americans,
• equal pay for women,
• investments in our children’s education,
• state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology,
• a cleaner planet, and
• safer streets.

While reflection is important, we also must keep our eyes on the future. There’s so much more we need to do in the year ahead. 

Unfortunately, we can expect the GOP to continue to fight against us, to continue to try to roll back progress. Republican leadership has already been clear about what they plan to do next: They will try to restrict women’s access to reproductive health care, attempt to take health care away from millions of Americans with yet another vote to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, and continue to push redundant hearings, lawsuits, threats and other stunts that do nothing to serve the people that elected them. 

The American people deserve better.

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