[OneWingedShark]

So why should I believe they are serious now?
Cynically, since they have lately played for the other team for the most part, are they making a list of people to penalize for speaking up?

IMO, you shouldn't believe that they're serious.
IMO, the Republican party want it to be like abortion or current gun-control laws: always there, as a threat that's just always about to get worse, that only they can stop, so please-please-please vote for them because if you don't these things'll come to pass... even though they do nothing against these when they're actually in power.

[Darksheare]

Zactly.
Hence why they are so freaked out over TEA party types.
If it is successful in any goal, it is a harbinger of doom for the con game of “we tried, honest!” by the RNC and GOP.