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Plenty of
explanations
have been
offered as to
why the 2006
elections went
the way they did
for Republicans,
but most seem to
confuse the
voters’ overall
frustration with
a call for a
radical policy
shift.
After all,
evidence of the
Republican
Congress’s
numerous
successes is as
plain as day.
Pro-growth
policies have
helped create
over 7.2 million
new jobs in the
last
three-and-a-half
years, over
thirty eight
million seniors
now have
prescription
drug coverage
through
Medicare, and
our ongoing
offensive
against terror
has translated
into no attacks
on American soil
since September
11, 2001.
For
the voters,
however, a loss
of confidence in
the integrity of
the Congress and
its leaders was
enough to
encourage them
to seek an
alternative.
House
Republicans will
work to earn
back the trust
of the
electorate by
breathing new
life into
conservative
principles, so
that we may
continue to
offer the
American people
a positive,
innovative
agenda that
builds on the
progress we have
made.
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Jobs
and the economy.
As a matter of
first
principles,
Republicans
believe
hard-working
Americans should
be able to keep
more of what
they earn to
save and invest
for
the future.
That
is why the
Republican
Congress
delivered
historic tax
relief in 2001
and 2003, the
success of which
could not be
clearer. The
U.S. economy has
grown for 21
straight
quarters, and
has created over
7.2 million new
jobs since
August 2003.
Homeownership
has hit record
levels, and so
has the Dow. In
addition, we
have been able
to cut the
deficit in half
two years early.
Tax cuts are
working, raising
more revenue
than expected
while keeping
rates low for
Americans. They
should be made
permanent.
We
will also work
to implement
tough spending
reform, which is
an integral part
of building a
smaller,
smarter, and
more efficient
federal
government. If
we can address
the pitfalls of
earmarks in a
responsible
manner, continue
to rein in the
growth of the
rate of federal
spending and
pass the
line-item veto,
we will go a
long way toward
getting the
budget in
balance sooner
rather than
later.
The
responsibility
for fiscal
accountability
ultimately lies
with the
government. And
government must
make the same
tough choices
any working
family would
make when faced
with a budgetary
crisis – reduce
wasteful,
unnecessary, and
superfluous
spending.
Unfortunately,
Democrats
believe they can
go on a federal
spending spree
and then raise
taxes to pay for
it. House
Republicans will
protect
taxpayers from
Democrat tax
hikes.
––––––
Protecting our
national
security.
Since the
attacks of
September 11,
2001, the first
priority of the
federal
government has
been to protect
our homeland and
vanquish terror.
In
some cases, that
has meant
sending the
brave men and
women of our
Armed Forces
into harm’s way.
As their elected
representatives,
we have an
obligation to do
everything in
our power to see
to their safety
and support
their success.
Today, that
obligation
compels us to
focus on events
in Iraq. There
are certainly
differences of
opinion about
how best to
succeed there,
but our troops
should never
become a
political tool.
With
that in mind,
House
Republicans have
come together to
craft four core
principles that
guide our
commitment to
victory in Iraq:
1.
There is only
one
Commander-in-Chief.
2.
Failure in Iraq
is not an
option.
3.
We are opposed
to cutting off
funding for our
troops.
4.
Congress has a
constitutional
right and
obligation to
exercise
oversight.
In
accordance with
the fourth
principle, we
have identified
a set of
strategic
benchmarks
designed to
measure the
effectiveness of
President Bush’s
new strategy in
Iraq, and to
hold the Bush
Administration
and the Iraqi
government
accountable for
their roles in
achieving
success.
Finally, we have
proposed the
creation of a
bipartisan panel
to monitor these
developments, so
we can work
together across
party lines to
track these
benchmarks and
help ensure the
success of this
critical
mission.
This
Congress will
not lack for its
share of
conflict on the
battlefield of
ideas. That is a
good thing for
the American
people as it
will allow them
to see clearly
where the two
parties’
priorities
differ.
The principles
of fiscal
conservatism,
limited
government, and
personal
responsibility
remain the
beacons by which
we communicate
our ideas to the
American people.
If we can
breathe new life
into these
values and
provide an
effective
counterpoint for
the Democrat
agenda, we will
have gone a long
way towards
restoring our
trust with the
American people.
RF
Adam Putnam
represents the
12th District of
Florida in the
U.S. House of
Representatives.
He serves as
Chairman of the
House Republican
Conference. |
