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The Public Policy
Republicans Return to Fiscal Conservatism
Crazed Democrat spending has left them no choice.
A confluence of events has forced Republicans back to fiscal conservatism en masse. This is a happy coincidence for fiscal conservatives, who until recently could be forgiven for wondering if they had a political home. These events are likely to keep Republicans fiscally frugal at least long enough to see how this stance plays out in the 2010 elections.
The first event pushing Republicans to revisit spending restraint was the need for a stark contrast with the Democratic majority. Such is always the fate of the minority — either find an issue that shows you are favorably and distinctly different from the majority, or become accustomed to political obscurity. The burgeoning budget deficit immediately offered just such an opportunity.
The Congressional Budget Office provided the incoming Congress with a projected $1.2 trillion federal deficit for the current fiscal year. That is a 160% increase from the previous year’s record $455 billion deficit. CBO also estimated deficits over the next two years as well — both also higher than the 2008 deficit.
High as they are, these figures understated the deficit impact almost as soon as CBO released them. First, they measured expenditures from the $700 billion TARP rescue program in net present value — not the higher cash accounting used by Treasury. The estimates also did not include the costs of any additional recession responses — such as the recently passed $800 billion economic stimulus bill.
Hand-in-hand with Republicans’ need for just such a contrasting issue, went the fact that their deep minority status allowed them the luxury of seizing it. Effectively excluded from power in the federal government’s elected branches, Republicans were at the same time freed of the responsibility for governing.
For the majority party, governing’s responsibility is never long absent. And this year’s predominant issue was awaiting Democrats as soon as they returned to Washington. The recession, which fueled the large projected deficits, had to be immediately addressed. Democrats in particular had to address the economic crisis. Virtually encoded in the modern party’s DNA, the Depression left Democrats with an ingrained belief that their party’s effective rebirth came as a result of Hoover and Republicans’ inaction during that crisis.
A sense of urgency meant Democrats could not wait long to act. Control of the White House and dominant congressional majorities meant Democrats did not have to — or seriously include Republicans broadly when they did. They did none of these, producing a signed stimulus bill within a month’s of the President’s inauguration.
Combined with more than enough votes to pass their own proposal, they also had the political necessity of serving their expectant supporters as well. Both the process and the resulting product did not present Republicans with serious wedges that would splinter potential unity. If anything, it solidified it. The recession’s seriousness left few politicians of any persuasion of the opinion that nothing need be done. The division was over what. However, the overwhelming political imbalance meant that division never had to be seriously explored.
Where a tax cut-tilted stimulus bill could have presented Republicans with significant incentives to support, the final product did not. CBO estimated the $787 billion bill as being 3-1 spending increases to tax cuts — with just $212 billion in revenue reductions over ten years.
In the end, just three Republicans in both bodies supported the stimulus bill. The remainder must feel themselves much the same as Brer Rabbit did when thrown into the briar patch in Joel Chandler Harris’ children’s story.
The fox in that story, having finally gotten Brer Rabbit at his mercy, is convinced that no fate could be worse than being hurled into the thorny thicket. Of course, the fox quickly discovers his error. As soon as the rabbit lands safely in the briars, he is heard to holler back “Bred and born in a briar patch, Brer Fox — bred and born in a briar patch!”
It has yet to be determined if Republicans will equally prosper having thusly been returned to their roots, but for the moment, they have no less hope that they will. And very little choice but to try.
About the Author
J.T. Young served in the Department of Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget from 2001 to 2004 and as a Congressional staff member from 1987 to 2000.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (31) | Leave a comment
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jack preston| 2.25.09 @ 7:14AM
Obama is President and Socialists are in charge because the Republicans have no fiscal responsibity. The only reason they appear to have it now is because they are in the minority. They controlled both houses and the presidency for four years and were just as corrupt and fiscally irresponsible as the Dems had been for the prior 40 years. We have the most corrupt federal government in the world and have become a banana republic because Bush and Republicans proved they were just as mendacious and fiscally irresponsible as Dems. The country realizes there is no alternative. Our only hope,short of revolution or civil war, is another Gringrich style movement,but this time if the Reps win they must not walk away from promises the first day in office as they did with term limits.
Michael Tomlinson| 2.25.09 @ 10:22AM
Jack Preston is a prime example of why Democrats are in charge -- he is more interested in castigating Republicans and whining than actually governing and making America a better place to live now and in the future (under President Bush and Republicans in Congress the economy was growing at 3-5% annually & the deficit was lower per capita than in the Reagan/Gingrich years). Obama and the radical left must love these types of people.
MikeF| 2.25.09 @ 10:27AM
I am hopeful that the Republicans, especially the young ones, are truly repentant and reformed. Yet I remain somewhat skeptical. Michael Steele, the RNC and the party have a lot to do to prove to the American people that they got the message. They need to offer sound conservative alternatives to the Dem's huge government expansion and belief that government is the answer. But, at the same time, they have a lot of work to do to show the American people that they are serious. They still have a lot of house-cleaning (excuse my pun) to do in the House and Senate to get rid of the remaining Big Government/Big Spending Republicans. Their first opportunity will come in 2010. It will be interesting to see if they send the right signal that the conservatives are back in charge by running conservative candidates in the primaries against those in the party who led them astray.
J David| 2.25.09 @ 10:50AM
I. Do. Not. Believe. It.
The pragmatist politicians do not scruples, repentance is not on the list of options.
It is all just a matter of positioning and posturing, and empty rhetoric. Those pipe-dreamers visualizing *repentance* have some more shocks just ahead.
I've said it before, and I will say it again, that every single *Republican* legislator in Congress -- both House and Senate -- are not bringing legal actions on behalf of their constituents against the Federal gov't (as well as in the states themselves) for violations of Constitutional LAW means its all over but the wimpering submission(shortly to follow). The "fat lady" is warming up the vocal cords...
J David| 2.25.09 @ 10:55AM
Until people realize that the *Revolution* is well underway, and their freedoms as a people and country are OVER, there will be no counterrevolution. We are now prisoners/serfs voluntarily funding our own enslavement.
Thomas| 2.25.09 @ 11:42AM
Good to see you back, Mr. Tomlinson.
I find it hard to believe that a leopard changes its spots overnight and that is what the Republicans in Congress would have us believe. The Congressional Republicans that voted against Porkulous are the same ones who voted for TARP. In fact, Porkulous could not have passed without the three Republican Senatorial votes it received. Now, I don't want to sound overly Machiavellian, but does anyone out there really believe that the tax and spend Republican Congressmen suddenly became fiscal conservatives? And is it conceivable that a major national political party can not control all of its elected membership, if it really wants to? And it stretches the bounds of credulity to believe that just the exact number of Republicans necessary to pass this abomination defected. I'll believe in the new found fiscal responsibility of Republican officials when I see some genuine, long term evidence of it. Until then, I applaud Republican opposition, but I don't see it as a significant change in attitude.
J David| 2.25.09 @ 11:42AM
Any reality beyond the FACT the Constitution, all of it, is no longer the law of the land, is superfluous jibber-jabber. All of the "Lovable Little Fuzz-ball's" manic exclamations of hope in the American people suddenly waking up, whether it happens or not, is meaningless. We are now a communist country in leadership, voluntarily, by over 50% consent, and they have the cops, the army, the electricity, social services, our bank accounts, our food, our communications and transportation, our children, our very homes and every worldly possession. THAT is the REALITY...everything else is just jibber-jabber.
Pat| 2.25.09 @ 12:12PM
Please, not another dreary article on how the GOP have learned their lessons after the 2008 elections and want to return to their core principles - you're killing us out here in reader land with your "50 nifty topics for writers" -- free and courtesy of the Republican Party Central Committee. And, "A confluence of events has forced Republicans back to fiscal conservatism en masse". Oh c'mon, who talks like that? "En masse" - very U. C. Berkeley pseudo-intellectual and quite precious word usage, but there isn't the slightest proof that assertion is true. Conservatives aren't flocking back to the Republican Party and all the sly hints and wish fulfillment from GOP Central won't alter that fact.
The GOP needs money to pay their bills - "hey, Conservative buddy, can you spare $100?" They also need to pick themselves up off the mat and get ready for the 2010 elections. So the call goes out to the formerly faithful - " please return, we need you desperately!" Many zombies and other dwellers among the brain dead will answer that call but a growing band of skeptical Conservatives may not.
And what's the penalty if Conservatives don't return - the GOP will quickly remind you, "if not us, you get the Democrats" - hey, thanks, but we already have the Democrats. For Conservatives, the current choice is like asking a man dying on the desert floor whether he prefers his corpse to be eaten by "tax and spend" vultures or to be eaten by "spend and tax" vultures. Since you'll be dead at the time, what does it matter?
Gill O'Teen| 2.25.09 @ 12:23PM
In her dissenting opinion to Kelo v. City of New London Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote that stevens, kennedy, souter, ginsburg and breyer had essentially made unelected private nonprofit corporations the beneficiaries of government’s seizing private property, thus allowing the rich to steal from the poor. In practice, these beneficiaries tend to be profit motivated, at least around here. All obumah wants to do is balance the equation by allowing the poor to steal from the rich. Until all our church-going leaders recognize that the command “Thou Shalt Not Steal” was mandated by One for Whom nothing is above His pay grade, our only protection is to invest in precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum or lead. Let’s have a Tea Party!
jack preston| 2.25.09 @ 1:09PM
Dear Mr.Tomlinson, had the Republicans been fiscally responsible the Dems would not be in power now. If moderate Rebuplicans like yourself had supported the Republican led move to regulate fannie early in the decade,we may have avoided much of the present financial crisis. If Bush had appointed competent people in the SEC, Wall Street would never have been able to raise leverage on sub prime mortages from 3-1 to 30-1. The same moron threw out the uptick rule and allowed etf vehicles to make the stock market las vegas rather than a place to invest.
There are many things I liked about Bush, he didnt put his finger to the wind ,he did what he thought was right no matter what the media or left said. I liked his tax cuts. But in fact just like his daddy, a very nice guy, W has always been a big spending big government republican,and his compassionate conservatism seems to be another definition for total fiscal irresponsibility
Gill O'Teen| 2.25.09 @ 2:10PM
I was told that if I did not vote for John McCain, obumah would happen. So I voted for McCain instead of a person with a philosophy similar to my own. obumah happened anyway. I will never again vote for a candidate who does not have the same shining city on a hill vision for our country I have. I'm from Missouri. Republicans will have to "show me".
Thom| 2.25.09 @ 6:47PM
Michael, Jack and Thomas have valid points none the less. The differences between the Republicans and Democrats at this point in our history is more a matter of degree than principle. Once you throw out principle for the sake of the moment there is nothing left to stand on. Some of us are principled because we know where it will lead when you compromise the founding principles of this Nation --- Exactly where we are now with MOB rule and worse coming.
IT'S TOO LATE| 2.25.09 @ 6:58PM
WHY NOW AND NOT UNDER BUSH, WHO DESTROYED AMERICAN ECONOMY THUS AFECTING THE WORLD.
SHOULD HAVE DONE IT BEFORE.
Politicklish| 2.25.09 @ 7:25PM
So many cogent well-stated opinions; so much rightful indignation! Where are the new ideas that will save us from our predictable demise?
baseballguy2001| 2.25.09 @ 11:56PM
The ideas are the same. Low taxes, strong defense, less government. The problem is those ideas haven't been talked about by republicans since 1995. Back then, republicans talked about eliminating the education department. The Flat tax, entitlement reform, the balanced budget amendment. All gone in a few short years. By the year 2001, we got NCLB and the trillion dollar prescription drug benefit. So much for balanced budgets. A 2008 study from the Department of Education, “Reading First Impact Study: Interim Report,” analyzes the performance of students in 12 states who were in grades one to three during the 2004-5 and 2005-6 school years and concluded that the Reading First Program, a major billion dollar a year NCLB effort, had proven "ineffective." And now we are led to believe Republicans are really serious about fiscal matters? Months after they voted for the TARP bill? Remember, Harriet Miers was nominated to be a Supreme Court Justice BEFORE Samuel Alito was confirmed. How do you think she would have voted in D.C. vs. Heller?
Michael Tomlinson| 2.26.09 @ 11:05AM
Jack Preston is unfortunately misguided as to who derailed President Bush's call for bank reform -- it wasn't Republicans it was liberal Democrats. Christopher Cox was a fine choice for the SEC. The problem was Barney Franks, Chuck Schumer and the Democrats not Republicans allowed their cronies in the banking industry and on Wall Street to mismanage their institutions creating the currernt fiscal mess. As to Bush's spending and deficits they were actually well below Reagan's level of the GDP.
whyeseyec| 2.26.09 @ 5:55PM
Nobody1s gonna do nothin` but run their yaps!!
We the People get screwed and screwed.....
Discontent is brewing...........who will the military side with? DC or the commom man.......
Siegfried Xanten| 2.27.09 @ 5:27AM
There has been no change. McCain is running for re-election unopposed. Specter is running unopposed.
Not a bad word is said in the conservative media about Bush and McCain, the liberal Republicans who led the party to ruin. The conservative press is controlled more tightly than the Soviet media was by the Politburo. Nothing but demonization of Democrats, never any internal discussion or dissent.
Politicklish| 3.2.09 @ 4:36PM
Ah yes, even more despair; more blame for our plight. Not only have the Dems created a nation of losers and victims but now we conservatives are victims also. According to baseballguy2001 we don't need new ideas because conservatism speaks for itself. Siegfried says new ideas are useless because they are expunged by the conservative press. I guess there is nothing we can do but whine and whine and accustom ourselves to the oncoming socialism.
We need new ideas as to how we can reach the people of this country. How do we convince them that traditional conservatism is the change they seek? Clearly they are deaf to our call for tax cuts, reduced spending, and fiscal responsibility. All that is preaching to our own choir. Instead we need to re-ignite their sense of self-independence. Pure capitalism does not inspire faith and hope in those who are disposessed by it. So what does instill faith and hope? Don't we need to replace the handout state with the hand-up state? How do we DO that??
hgjgh| 11.25.09 @ 8:51PM
http://spectator.org/archives/.....no-offense
hgjhg| 11.25.09 @ 8:51PM
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