In the Agora: Back to Basics?

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September 29, 2005

Back to Basics?

Novak has a great account of a new block of serious fiscal conservatives in the Senate who want to take back the Republican Party from its free-spending habits.

The Senate was up to its old tricks Monday evening. It prepared to pass, without debate and under a procedure requiring unanimous consent, a federal infusion of $9 billion into state Medicaid programs under the pretext of Katrina relief. The bill, drafted in secret under bipartisan auspices, was stopped cold when Republican Sen. John Ensign voiced his objection.

After Lincoln's tirade, another member of the Republican economy bloc -- Sen. John Sununu of New Hampshire -- responded by coolly analyzing the bill's excessive spending. Also on the floor were two other bloc members: freshman Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and McCain. Although previously out of step with his party on tax cuts, McCain is aligned against tax increases as "a cop-out" to avoid budget trimming.

Among others in the bloc are the two South Carolina senators, Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint. Graham wants this group to join the House's conservative Republican Study Committee in a "full frontal assault" on runaway spending. The culture of Washington is against them, but stopping one $9 billion outlay is a start.

Posted by Joshua Claybourn at September 29, 2005 11:43 AM

Comments

I may have to protest vote Libertarian, the extra spending is really upsetting me. It seems no one in the leadership of the GOP has the backbone to stand for the principles that swept them to power in '94. I definitely buy into the conventional wisdom that this spending, combined with the blind eye towards immigration, will lead to a new 3rd party offering ala Perot. The GOP leadership are a bunch of RINO's.

Posted by: Scof at September 29, 2005 02:12 PM | permalink

Where have these "serious fiscal conservatives" been for the past 4.5 years? We could have used them to block the succession of deficit exploding budgets we've been seeing year after year.

Posted by: Doug at September 30, 2005 11:23 AM | permalink

The group is modeled after the House group led by Rep. Mike Pence of Columbus, Indiana. He has taken Hoosier values to Washington, D.C. in remarkable contrast to our junior senator.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 30, 2005 03:52 PM | permalink

It's nice to see Jim DeMint propose something useful. Last I saw anything about him, the loony was pushing for a law that prevented gays and single mothers from being school teachers.

Posted by: Ed Brayton at September 30, 2005 04:31 PM | permalink

September 29, 2005

Back to Basics?

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