Disarray! Congressional Republicans Attempt To Arrive At An Agenda

The Republican Study Committee headed by Hensarling came up with An Action Plan for House Republicans. This document articulates eight principles that the Committee believes that Congressional Republicans should focus upon.

1) THE END OF PORK-BARREL SPENDING House Republicans are committed to ending pork-barrel spending. We will not wait on the Democrat Majority to end “Bridges to Nowhere” and “Monuments to Me”—we declare an immediate earmark moratorium and pledge to reform the system. We also pledge to uphold any future veto of a spending bill that is pork laden and does not lead to a balanced budget.

2) LIMITING WASHINGTON TAXES AND SPENDING TO WHAT MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES CAN AFFORD House Republicans are committed to eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax and preventing the scheduled tax increases in 2010 from taking more from the paychecks of hard-working, middle class families. We are also committed to amending the U.S. Constitution to limit the growth of federal spending to the level at which middle class Americans can afford. Except in time of war or national emergency, our spending limit amendment would prohibit federal spending from growing faster than the economy.

3) A FAIR, SIMPLE TAX CODE THAT AMERICANS CAN UNDERSTAND AND HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT House Republicans are committed to ending a tax code that is too long, too complex and too unfair. Specifically, our legislation would provide comprehensive, individual income tax reform by providing individuals an alternative, two-tier flat tax system that can be filed on one page. Taxpayers can choose the new, simplified system or stay with the current tax code—whichever option suits them.

4) A FAMILY-FOCUSED, PATIENT-CENTERED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM House Republicans will reform and improve our current health care system, by 1) providing a refundable health care tax credit to every American to purchase affordable health care coverage, and 2) broadening the array of choices for health insurance plans, by allowing individuals to purchase plans available in other states. These measures will allow Americans who like their current health plan to keep it, while encouraging all individuals to own and control a personal and portable health insurance policy.

5) AMERICAN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE THROUGH INCREASED EXPLORATION House Republicans are committed to increasing American energy supplies to lower prices and reduce dependence on Middle Eastern Oil by incentivizing conservation and allowing energy exploration in Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf, as well as the development of cleaner coal technologies and alternative fuels.

6) A LEGAL FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS US TO PREVENT TERRORIST ATTACKS House Republicans are committed to preventing terrorists from attacking America. House Republicans will empower our intelligence agencies to intercept terrorist communications with sources outside of the United States without the lengthy process of getting a warrant that could jeopardize the ability to thwart an attack.

7) A MORAL APPROACH FOR PARENTS TO PROTECT AND EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN House Republicans are committed to supporting parental rights, by 1) ensuring that a child cannot be transported across a state border for an abortion without the consent of a parent or legal guardian, and 2) empowering parents to maintain control over their family’s personal education decisions.

8) A WELFARE SAFETY NET THAT FOSTERS MARRIAGE AND WORK House Republicans are committed to extending many of the current welfare work requirements to other programs—namely food stamps and housing—so that those who are not old, young, or disabled are either working in the private sector or serving in their community. Such reforms will ensure a more stable environment for low-income children by encouraging their parents to marry and raise them in two-parent homes.

A more detailed document is available here:

Meanwhile, Illinios Rep Mark Kirk, re-introduced his Suburban Agenda. A moderate Republican, Kirk focuses on college savings accounts, online preditors and food safety.

Over half of all Americans live in the suburbs. The Suburban Agenda is designed to meet the needs of families in four key areas: education, health care, conservation and the economy.

In May of 2006, The Suburban Agenda Caucus unveiled an agenda of seven bills scheduled to pass the House. All seven have either passed or been incorporated in larger bills and two have become law.

House Minority Leader John Boehner laid out his plan to retake control of Congress by providing the American people with The Change America Deserves: The Republican Agenda to Fix a Broken Washington. This four-point plan deals with energy, the economy, national security and healthcare.

ON ENERGY: Republicans will help make America energy independent, bring down energy prices long-term, and create jobs here at home. We will increase production of American-made energy, build new nuclear power plants, cut red tape and increase the supply of gas at the pump, and offer conservation tax breaks to Americans who go green and make their home, car and business more energy efficient. [READ MORE]

ON THE ECONOMY: Republicans will put America's economy back on track, restore the promise of homeownership, and balance the federal budget by 2012 without raising taxes. We will stop the largest tax increase in American history, cut taxes for families and industry, eliminate the unfair Alternative Minimum Tax, and make the Internet permanently tax-free. We will stabilize home values, encourage home purchases, and help needy homeowners who are truly victims. We will rein in Washington spending, pass meaningful entitlement reform, and enact an immediate moratorium on earmarks. And we will reduce the size of government by eliminating duplicative or wasteful programs.

ON SECURITY: Republicans will work to secure our borders once and for all, take on rising crime in our communities, and give terrorists plotting new attacks no place to hide. We will crack down on the gangs, enact new laws to stop sex predators before they harm kids, impose tougher penalties for drug trafficking, and secure our borders and ports. We will give our intelligence agents the tools they need to intercept terrorist plots. And we will provide the resources and support needed by our troops in harm's way, take care of our veterans, and make sure our reservists and National Guard receive the benefits they have earned.

ON HEALTH CARE: Republicans will work to guarantee access to affordable, high-quality health care for every American. We will offer a health care tax breaks, allow families to enroll in nationwide health plans or plans in other states, and reverse the dangerous shortage of physicians in high-risk practices by reforming our medical liability system and ending wasteful, unnecessary lawsuits. We will increase the number of low-income children with health insurance in America. We will give Americans control over their own health care by expanding the availability of tax-free health savings accounts. And we will expand the use of health information technology and electronic medical records.

In addition to the above plans, according to the Politico, individual representativesalso laid out a variety of agendas and plans to achieve success in the fall. If a consensus was achieved at all, it was on the need to act, rather than merely continue to talk.

Nevada Rep. Jon C. Porter, who was facing the prospect of a difficult reelection until his top challenger dropped out of the race, told leaders they should wrap up work on their plan by June and focus more on action than on planning. A

rizona Rep. John B. Shadegg echoed that sentiment, telling his Republican colleagues that “leadership” requires “acting, not talking.”