The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
If the political prognosticators are right, the Republicans will win enough seats to control the House of Representatives. They may even control the Senate, though the odds are that they will fall just short. It is always hard to switch from campaigning to governing (just ask President Obama!). One of the most important things for success is that the Republicans have a legislative agenda ready to pass in the first 100 days -- that was one of the signal achievements of the Contract with America in 1994. Even if Obama vetoes some or all of the legislative agenda, that will put the President on record as opposing popular legislation or it will cause him (as it did President Clinton) to approve conservative policies to stay politically viable.
So what do Ricochet readers think should be the first 10 things that a Republican Congress should do? Here are some ideas to get thing started:
- Repeal and/or defund Obamacare
- Extend the Bush income tax cuts
- Extend the elimination of the estate tax
Other ideas?
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May '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
1. Audit the Federal Reserve and monitor its board meetings.
The Fed caused the economic crisis; if it can't be abolished now, at least allow Congress and the public to scrutinize it. Congress ought to know everything about the Fed's open market operations, its qualitative easing, and its quantitative easing.
Edited on Oct 22, 2010 at 5:07pmRe: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
John: It would be very gratifying if the new Congress would somehow affirmatively delimit the authority of the EPA -- and specifically repeal its ultra vires actions such as doing an end run around Congress to declare carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse gases" toxic pollutants and regulable under the Clear Air Act.
What is the best procedural way for Congress to reverse some of these outrages? Another example is Obama's de facto cancellation of NASA's Constellation project while issuing an Orwellian denial that he did so. He canceled bids for some of the essential projects and assembled five Tiger Teams to begin shutting down the project, all the while denying he had terminated the project contrary to the authority of Congress.
What in your view would be the most effective way for Congress, which needs Obama's signature to pass legislation, to exercise checks on these and other of Obama's extra-constitutional actions?
Edited on Oct 22, 2010 at 5:04pmJul '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
May '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
Republicans should quickly target some of the low-hanging legislative fruit that Democrats left on the tree in their rush for stimuli and Obamacare. In addition to what you've suggested (I'd replace "Extend" with "Make permanent" for number 3), they should offer loophole-free, plainly worded restrictions on earmarks. I'd also like to see a requirement that final bills really, truly be available online before they're voted on.
This stuff would go a long way to ensure the public that the GOP means business - and not business as usual - as opposed to just offering red meat to the Tea Party while continuing shameful behavior that's gone on too long.
Speaking of things that have gone on too long, the GOP must take big, serious steps to disassemble Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The sooner the better.
May '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
I'm most interested to see the reaction of both sides to the recommendations of the "debt commission," which will be released pre-holidays, I think. Will Republicans signal their willingness for a VAT so long as it's accompanied by substantial cuts? (hopefully not) Will Obama use it as a bludgeon or an olive branch? (the former probably)
How this early dynamic plays out could foretell the tacks of both the president and the new congress for the next two years.
Edited on Oct 23, 2010 at 5:06amMay '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
It's tough to improve on Kenneth's list, but my two changes would be to replace his "withdrawal from Afghanistan" and "don't ask don't tell" items. In their place, but higher up the list, I'd add a separate item to restrict a President's ability to appoint czars or any other high-level officer without Congressional approval. It was clearly the Founders' intent to have Presidential advisers pass an advice and consent hurdle. The fact that they didn't foresee the complex management structures of the 21st century doesn't alter the original intent. .
I'd also add at least a tax simplification, preferably a Flat Tax, effort.
Edited on Oct 22, 2010 at 5:31pmOct '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
Annulling Obamacare should be priority numero uno. There is a small window of opportunity to do anything on this front. Imagine trying to make an argument against the monstrosity once people start to depend on it - which will be a reality in about four years. You'll be asking the beneficiaries to trade a bird in hand for two in the bush.
May '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
I would second Kenneth's "withdrawal from Afghanistan" and "repeal don't ask don't tell" items. The latter is, I believe, a non-issue and the former is occurring without a clear strategy, a claim made even by high ranking commissioned officers. (A clear strategy to ensure our national defense, that is).
Edited on Oct 22, 2010 at 5:52pmAug '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
How about "get out of the way-get out of my pocket" Let the governors govern , fifty heads better n one.
Aug '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
Oh ! And crush our enemies while we are deployed.
Jul '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
Michael Labeit
I would second Kenneth's "withdrawal from Afghanistan" and "repeal don't ask don't tell" items. The latter is, I believe, a non-issue and the former is occurring without a clear strategy, a claim made even by high ranking commissioned officers. · Oct 22 at 5:37pm
I specifically put those two items in there anticipating a divided response from the community.
Bingo.
May '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
As long as the primary objective in Afghanistan is the protection of and concern for the welfare of Afghans, then that campaign should be abandoned.
Kenneth: I specifically put those two items in there anticipating a divided response from the community.
Bingo. · Oct 22 at 5:41pm
Jul '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
Jason Hart: Republicans should quickly target some of the low-hanging legislative fruit that Democrats left on the tree in their rush for stimuli and Obamacare. In addition to what you've suggested (I'd replace "Extend" with "Make permanent" for number 3), they should offer loophole-free, plainly worded restrictions on earmarks. I'd also like to see a requirement that final bills really, truly be available online before they're voted on.
This stuff would go a long way to ensure the public that the GOP means business - and not business as usual - as opposed to just offering red meat to the Tea Party while continuing shameful behavior that's gone on too long.
Speaking of things that have gone on too long, the GOP must take big, serious steps to disassemble Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The sooner the better. · Oct 22 at 5:11pm
I was disturbed that the GOP's "Pledge" specified that bills should be online for 72 hours before a vote. That's totally inside-the-beltway thinking. What good does a 72-hour scrutiny of a flawed bill do? It's nothing but window-dressing. Make it 72 days.
Sep '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
Kenneth · Oct 22 at 5:05pm
Defund these and all other extra-constitutional programs by Obama, Bush, et al.
Oct '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
The Republicans can get a quick win with getting a clean bill together that would extend the Bush era income tax cuts. Put Obama on the spot and dare him to veto that.
I've talked about this in another thread, but the first rule of holes is that when you are in one, stop digging. We're in a terrible financial hole due to incomprehensibly bad governance by the political class. The Republicans should put forth the "Let's Stop Digging Budget Act of 2011" which would be a budget that would begin to roll back spending. The Republicans should be ready and willing shut down the government over fiscal responsibility. If they aren't serious about fiscal responsibility this time, we're all cooked.
Lastly, they should start on the repeal process for Obama's health care bill. They won't get it repealed because even if they get the votes to repeal it in Congress, it's unlikely they'll have enough to overturn an Obama veto. Use this bill to build up momentum to retake the White House and gain more seats in Congress so that it can be repealed after the 2012 elections.
Oct '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
Kenneth
I was disturbed that the GOP's "Pledge" specified that bills should be online for 72 hours before a vote. That's totally inside-the-beltway thinking. What good does a 72-hour scrutiny of a flawed bill do? It's nothing but window-dressing. Make it 72 days. · Oct 22 at 6:08pm
I agree completely, it smells too much of Obama's hyped up C-SPAN promises that fell flat. Transparency in government is essential but 72 hours isn't transparency as much as it is gimmicky.
As for immediate goals, I would have to agree with stopping Obamacare ASAP and then reforming:
1. Federal wages/pensions to be more in line with the private sector
2. Medicare: it clearly needs it and obamacare is clearly not the answer. There DOES need to be a solution
3. Social Security
If, as Kevin Williamson at NRO suggests, the real debt is over $70 trillion dollars when you take into account the unfunded liabilities, nothing else really matters. Border and immigration need fixing badly but stacked next to national insolvency that is heading us all to complete destitution they just don't matter as much.
Feb '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
Cut every spending program in sight-- slash and burn.
Oh, never mind. That will never happen. In fact, I'm half kidding.
However, if they could just cap spending at a fixed level, that would be the next best thing. In fact in the real world it might be better because people who have grown accustomed to depending on the government do need some ramp-up time (and ramp-down time from the drug of government money) to make the adjustment.
Republicans have been reasonably good at cutting taxes, but horrible at cutting spending. I want to see that change this time around! We truly cannot afford to have spending continue to rise by default (a la "baseline budgeting"), much less to have it increase even more beyond that.
When the Democrats inevitably come back into power, they will jerk up the spending right away. But if the Republicans have been stern enough in holding it down, that will just make the Democrats' spending look so much worse in contrast.
So yes, my first priority would be CUT SPENDING, CUT SPENDING, CUT SPENDING. If it's politically impossible to do actual cuts, put in some actual, fixed, non-indexed caps.
Edited on Oct 22, 2010 at 8:35pmJun '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
Establish a "Deregulation & Privatization Committee" whose sole charter is to recommended repeal of regulations and elimination of government programs. Every cut approved by the committee must come to the floor for a vote within a week.
Jul '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
We have to tackle the Ponzi entitlement schemes head on, and paint the picture clearly for everyone why and how. That is where the train wreck is going on.
Oct '10
Re: The First 100 Days of a Republican Congress
This is a war, not a battle. Republicans can't win the war with one major congressional victory; they need 6-10 years of patient, principled governance.
1. This fall, they should identify maybe three goals--perhaps Obamacare, federal spending, and monetary policy.
2. Sell the public on the value of limited government. Emphasize basic economics. Remember that most people don't understand why the government can't just print money for all.
3. Give Obama every opportunity to hurt himself. The biggest threats, like Obamacare, must be stopped. The stimulus spending is a smaller threat; rather than staging another government shutdown, it might be better to make predictions, say "I told you so" when inflation hits 12%, and collect at the ballot box in '12. Give Obama's supporters no chance to play the race card ("It's the liberalism, stupid").
4. Build political capital with an eye on the 2012 elections. Take a pay cut. Continue to fund NPR ("We care about educational programming ..."). Create a bipartisan redistricting committee.
5. Remember that you are only ONE of three branches. Aim to get TWO, and then don't piss it all away like a Texan in an oil boom.
Edited on Oct 23, 2010 at 1:02am