The 119th Congress did more by making government do less
The phrase "did more by doing less" is a clever line, and it captures a real philosophy. If you think the federal government is the problem, then repealing rules and letting tax cuts stand is the work. McClain is grading her own team on their own terms, which works as a rallying point but not as a final verdict.
What I'd want next is the independent scorecard. Which regulations were repealed, and what did they actually protect? Did the tax extensions help families or mostly corporations? Border security measures sound straightforward, but the details matter. Those are the questions that turn a talking point into a record.
The framing also has a political edge. "Doing less" sounds humble, but it's really a claim that restraint is action. That argument appeals to voters who feel the government overreaches. The counterargument is that some problems need federal attention, and a Congress that defines success as shrinking Washington is making a choice about who gets help and who doesn't. There's no neutral way to grade this Congress, but the op-ed at least states one side's case clearly.