Rep. John Boehner and Rep. Jeff Flake get it. Well, Jeff Flake does. I am not completely sold on Boehner. Anyway, these to introduced a moratorium on GOP earmarks until February 16.
The rest of the House GOP rejected it. They just don’t get it:
Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio and Eric Cantor of Virginia had unveiled late Wednesday a moratorium on GOP earmark requests through Feb. 16 while a new panel of Republicans comes up with proposals for permanent restrictions and disclosure requirements for earmarks
But Todd Tiahrt of Kansas, who is an appropriator, offered an amendment to strip the requirement for an earmark moratorium. And Tiahrt’s moratorium-killing proposal was approved by the full caucus, said several GOP aides. The amended rules package was then adopted.
Tiahrt has been a staunch defender of earmarks, and has been a rival of outgoing Republican Study Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling of Texas, one of the strongest proponents of a permanent earmark moratorium for all Republicans. Tiahrt lost a bitter head-to-head race against Hensarling for the chairmanship of the RSC at the start of the 110th Congress, and later opted to leave the conservative faction.
Before we go any farther, here is Tiahrt’s website and a link to his e-mail. The phone number to his Washington, D.C. office is 202.225.6216. His Wichita office number is 316.262.8992.
He stopped a key message to the American people. The message being, “Hey, we hear you. We lost our way. Limited government, fiscal responsibility, less spending. Here’s our way of showing you we hear you.”
Had this passed, it would have done a lot of good towards repairing the damage the Republicans have done to their brand. The fact they rejected it says a lot about them. They don’t get it and they will continue to damage themselves, the party and America.
I can only shake my head in disbelief that they didn’t embrace this idea.
As for Boehner, the day after he is elected, he betrays consevatives:
House Republicans are not shifting to the political right, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) told CNSNews.com on Wednesday, just hours after two of the top three GOP leadership spots were won by conservative lawmakers in an internal leadership election.
Members Reps. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Mike Pence (R-Ind.), and John Mica (R-Fla.), however, told CNSNews.com that they think the conference is shifting to the political right.
But Boehner said, “No, I don’t think it’s right or left. It’s what are the issues Americans are concerned about, and how do we build solutions on our principles? It’s not left or right.
“That’s minimizing and marginalizing the situation.”
Marginalizing the situation? What an idiot! This guy doesn’t get it at all. I don’t want a person with leftist principles leading the party, and those who voted for conservative leaders in the House show that.
What do you vote for if it isn’t someone who represents your beliefs and principles?
With this guy leading Republicans in the House, you can expect more losses in 2010.
