Unbeknownst to most voters, congressional Republicans have long maintained twin conservative caucuses that exert a growing influence on their party's leaders. In the House, the Republican study committee fields its own leadership candidates and keeps its own budget operation to challenge the earmarking habits of Democrats as well as their own. In the Senate, the Republican steering committee does the same job further under the radar.
Now the two clubs have undertaken a merger of sorts, creating a new bicameral group called - seriously - "Reagan21." Read on for details....
The group's mission statement includes a commitment to replacing the tax code with a "fairer, flatter" system, a remaking of Medicaid in the vein of Bill Clinton's welfare reform and the repeal of George W. Bush's signature education policy, "no child left behind."
Plenty of ink has spilled among Republican pundits over whether their current presidential field can measure up to Reagan or not. (McSweeney's magazine offered a compelling suggestion: just re-animate the Gipper.) But "Reagan21" poses a largely new question, whether the new breed of conservative has any business embracing the former president's legacy.
Sure, Reagan's 1986 tax reform went a long way toward simplifying the complex code. But as Bruce Bartlett remembers, Reagan signed at least six tax increases during his administration. Today's conservative caucuses seize pitchforks and torches at the mere hint of a hike.
And even as most Republicans rally in favor of presidential vetoes of spending bills, touting the importance of fiscal responsibility, the numbers show their idol presiding over a significant jump in the federal deficit.
As for eliminating earmarks, the new super-group may want to start with the easier task of preventing fellow Republicans from trying to earmark in Reagan's name.
