Recently I met with a senior Republican Party official who wanted to chat about what the GOP could be doing (with a few more bucks). He began his pitch by lamenting all the “strife” in the Republican Party, and his desire for “peace” among the “factions.”
Before he could finish whining, I stopped him. I told him that, frankly, he was wrong. I see no evidence of “strife” among conservatives. Indeed, on the issues we focus there is near unanimity.
For example, 94 percent of Republican primary voters want government spending strictly limited to no more than population and inflation. Legislation doing this was passed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, State Sen. Kelly Hancock and the state senate. It was gutted by the governing cabal of Democrats and liberal Republicans in the Texas House.
[side_text]If the GOP wants to be the party of conservatives, then House lawmakers need to stop obstructing and start producing serious, systemic policy reforms.[/side_text]Likewise, opposition to labor unions is a no-brainer for conservatives. A measure protecting state employees from having their paychecks raided by unions was passed by the senate, endorsed by the Republican party… yet killed by the House leadership.
Repeat that pattern for Gov. Greg Abbott’s popular ethics overhaul, and a litany of other measures ranging from tax relief to education reform. Each made significant headway in the Senate, only to be killed, gutted or watered-down in the House.
There are essentially only two “factions”: the vast majority of Republican voters, and a small group of legislative obstructionists who wear elephants on their lapels while acting like donkeys. What was described as “strife” is just the righteous indignation of conservative voters tired of being lied to by their elected employees.
The “peace” this party official seemed poised to embrace is one in which voters reduce their expectations, and we all stop pointing out that these would-be emperors are ideologically naked.
Not. Going. To. Happen.
Texans want serious reforms. If the GOP wants to be the party of conservatives, then House lawmakers need to stop obstructing and start producing systemic policy reforms. After more than a decade in control of Texas, conservative voters shouldn’t still be waiting on table scraps from Republican politicians.
The time for excuses is over. No more promises; the people want action.
