Washington's Red Carpet

Based on the speeches at the Golden Globes on January 7 and the Oscars on March 4, it’s clear awards season has become a thoroughly politicized event. As I noted in January, Oprah Winfrey’s Golden Globes remarks launched presidential speculation. In her acceptance speech this past Sunday, Academy Award Best Actress winner Frances McDormand offered an entirely new policy proposal for Hollywood to consider. (If you haven’t already, search “inclusion rider” in your browser.)

If Hollywood can turn an awards show into a political campaign, there’s no reason Washington can’t turn politics into an awards show.

To be sure, as the chart included here indicates, the current cast of D.C. characters is lagging behind their predecessors in terms of productivity. As of March 7, 2018, President Donald Trump has signed into law only 130 bills and joint resolutions that Congress has sent to him. With only nine months left in the 115thCongress, it doesn’t look like he’ll match the 383 laws signed by President George W. Bush in his first two years in office, the 107th Congress, or the 385 signed by President Barack Obama in the 111th Congress.

Although we don’t have a lot to judge, there has been some significant progress and action over the last 14 months. With that in mind, here are the 115th Congress’ winners for:

Best Picture. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, directed by House Ways and Means Committee Chair Kevin Brady (R-Tex.) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and starring across the board tax rate cuts. This legislation is expected to produce new growth and new jobs. Despite a lackluster performance on opening weekend, Americans are starting to warm to this compelling piece of legislation.

Best Directors. “Chuck and Nancy”—Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)—for keeping the Democratic caucus together. The two leaders stopped full-scale Affordable Care Act repeal as well as the president and conservative senators’ efforts to reduce legal immigration.

Best Cinematography. Any idea what cinematography is? Exactly. While directors are famous, cinematographers are obscure. Cinematographers add art to what directors shoot. It’s not easy to manage the various factions that have emerged in the Republican conference and Speaker Paul Ryan directs this feat with the help of Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) who, while largely unknown to the American public, has represented Washington’s 5thcongressional district since 2004.

Best Original Screenplay. For a presidency unlike any other, this award goes to Donald Trump. Jeffrey Engel, director of Southern Methodist University’s Center for Presidential History, told The New York Times in December, “We’re seeing the presidency completely and utterly transformed in a way I don’t think we’ve seen since before the Civil War.” Truly legendary.

Best Adapted Screenplay. Remember “repeal and replace”? It’s back … in the form of Democrats’ effort to get rid of most (though not all) of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Democrats want to use the funding to pay for their $1 trillion infrastructure plan. Will the sequel go over better than the original? We’ll see.

Best Actress. Oprah Winfrey, a real-life performer, for saying she’d never consider running for the White House. She’d obviously consider it, and probably has, whether she’ll do it is another question entirely. Steadman thinks she might … if “the people” want her to.

Best Actor. This award goes to another 2020 contender, Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio), who is keeping voters in suspense about whether he'll run in two years as an independent. Gov. Kasich recently met with fellow Republican and Trump critic Jeb Bush and, according to Politico, will make an appearance later this year with the entire Bush family. Is this the beginning of a new third party?

Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The “best supporting” awards often go to up-and-comers, ingénues who’ve stormed onto the scene with riveting performances. This year’s award for best supporting actor goes to Peter Navarro who, as The Washington Post has said, is getting his 15 minutes of fame with the steel and aluminum tariffs. Now that Gary Cohn has left the White House, will Navarro ascend to a lead role? Quite possibly.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Ivanka Trump. Engaging. Tireless—she helped advance the family-friendly portions of the tax bill. Compelling, and there couldn’t be a better definition for“supporting” than the first daughter.

Best Musical Score. Democrat Congressional Committee Chair (DCCC) Rep. Ben Ray Lujan for his effort to orchestrate a wave election in the U.S. House. In 2017, the DCCC raised $105.4 million, smashing the previous record of $68.2 million, which was set in 2015.

Best Documentary. The best stories in Washington are always the bipartisan stories, so there was no contest in this category. The clear winners are Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) and Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) for their “bipartisan buddy movie.” The most impressive part of this saga? It was improvised. The two jumped in a rental car after their flights back to Washington were canceled due to weather.

Best Costume. Democratic senators running in red states. Whether it’s Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court, federal spending and tax cuts, or immigration and tariffs, to ensure electoral success in November these senators must walk a fine line between aiding the White House and adhering to Democratic principles.

Lifetime Achievement Award. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who is a hero and a statesman and who continues to fight for his constituents and the country.

Nat Wienecke is the Senior Vice President for Federal Government Relations at the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, a national trade association of nearly 1000 insurance companies. He has over twenty years of public policy experience in Congress, the Executive Branch, and the government relations arena. Previously he served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Legislative Affairs nominated by President George W. Bush.

The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and they do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, the Association’s staff, or its members.