Posted on 09/26/2005 1:47:37 PM PDT by joyspring777
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Mike Pence, a 46-year-old former radio talk show host from Indiana serving his third term in Congress, is chairman of the Republican Study Committee. He has tried hard to cooperate with the regular House Republican leadership rather than confront it. So, he could not have been happy last Tuesday when he found himself in a closed-door autodafe, with GOP leaders as the inquisitors and Pence as the heretic.
Pence and the RSC's heresy was to propose that massive federal outlays resulting from Hurricane Katrina be offset by reduced spending elsewhere. Specifically, they requested offsets to cut highway projects earmarked by individual House members, and a delay in implementing President Bush's new Medicare plan. The negative reaction by the leadership was reflected when Pence, offered a seat at a later meeting, explained that he would be more comfortable standing because House Speaker Dennis Hastert had just tanned his hide.
At stake here is a basic disagreement over the philosophy of government within the Republican Party as it nears the end of its 11th year controlling the House.
Hastert believes it is not just the privilege but the duty of a House member to deliver federal projects to his constituents. Many younger conservatives could not disagree more, but most -- like Pence -- are loyal Republicans who are loath to criticize their leaders. An exception on the RSC to such reticence is 42-year-old Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona, who like Pence ran a conservative think tank before entering Congress.
Self-limited to three terms ending next year, Flake has acted as though there is no tomorrow from his first day in the House in January 2001. Flake believes big government is addictive. "The leadership hooks the new members when they come into Congress," Flake told me, "and they stay hooked."
(Excerpt) Read more at humaneventsonline.com ...
Hastert and Delay are BIG JOKES now!
In my opinion, and Senator Coburn's, we need a new conservative revolution, as Hastert (who never was a movement conservative) and Delay have totally lost their way!
You got scooped dude!
I would not give one more cent to the GOP. Give to these guys:
http://www.neoperspectives.com/club_for_growth.htm
Pence said his efforts were in a direct response to a meeting with the President. Senator Kyle was on television (Fox) this morning talking about offsets and how difficult it is to get members to give up their own pet projects. I don't think there is anything more than the usual stuff going on in Congress, and Pence will probably succeed in getting some offsets.
Novak needs to find a hobby.
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leaders pfishing for support .. they need a catch and release program in Congre$$.
Trying to outleft the left.
Usual stuff?
We didn't take over the House so we could do the usual stuff?
We need NEW LEADERSHIP!!!!!!! Hastert and Delay have no clothes in conservative circles!
I always knew Hastert was a nebish.
This is why the 12th year will probably be the LAST year of Republican control of the House.
The Republican Party is abandoning its principles. It has thrown in the towel and joined the libs and Dems.
We NEED a new party. This version of Democrat Light simply won't sell - to conservatives or to Dems.
Gotta love Novak.
I must have completely misread Delay's press conference. I did read it, after all, since I didn't see or hear it live. What I saw reading it was a use of irony by Delay. There isn't anyone in Congress that doesn't know the federal budget is as fat and bloated as that drunken blob from Massachusetts.
I can't say as it did any good. Yet I can't agree with just about everyone I have heard in the last week that says he has lost his mind.
Thanks again for reminding us how GRRRREAAAT the beltway mentality is. For a second there, I forgot.
Does anything the GOP and/or President Bush do bother you at all? Or do you just give them a free pass on everything?
He was being serious, that's my reluctant opinion. He's a huge defender of that silly highway spending bill. He's an oinker too, unfortunately.
I believe your history is wrong.
Who gives a rip how the media casts something?
Have you read Tom Coburn's book Breach of Trust?
We, indeed, need a new revolution...or we are headed right off the cliff...and OUT OF THE HOUSE MAJORITY!
And they currently deserve it!
Bull, Newts revolution was very successful and more than anything else lead to a balanced budget with Clinton was kicking and screaming.
It is called Federal Term Limits!!!!!
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