Today the Heritage Foundation hosted a briefing with Congressman Tom Price (R-GA), an orthopedic surgeon and former State Senator. He came to hammer home a message we’ve heard from lots of House Republicans lately — we got the message. In his commentary, he talked about the many mistakes that House Democrats have been making and the importance for Republicans to remember the conservative principles that voters value. His speech touched on four main points: 1) Fiscal issues: Price pointed out that the approval rating for Congress has been dropping like a stone since the start of the year, and he asserted that spending and taxing help account for it. He said that Congressional Democrats have brought ‘Orwellian Democracy’ to Washington — saying one thing and doing something completely different. He cited in particular the card check legislation backed by Congressional leaders to eliminate the secret ballot for forming unions, and the moves in Congress to dramatically increase spending and taxes while talking about fiscal restraint. He said that while the voters may have wanted a new direction, we didn’t want to go back to 1994. 2) Iraq: Price argues that it becomes clearer each day that the Democratic leadership is vested in defeat in Iraq. He pointed to the comments and actions of Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid, in particular. He noted pointedly the hypocrisy inherent in voting to allow General Petraeus to complete the mission and report back in September, only to vote a few weeks later on a withdrawal timetable. 3) Health Care: Congress will soon consider expansion of health insurance for poor children, except they have a funny definition of ‘poor’ Price stated that Chairman Dingell favors the extension of S-CHIP to the ‘poorest’ 90 percent of American children. He says that it’s just one more step in the socialization of health care. Price says that the GOP will stand for a ‘patient-centered’ system of care, with defined contributions rather than defined benefit. 4) Fairness Doctrine: Price says that the proposed reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine is a real and imminent threat to freedom and discourse. He’s very concerned that if it does not attract greater public attention in the coming weeks, it could definitely pass the House. Also, a President — by changing one Member of the FCC — could appoint a majority to implement the Doctrine without act of Congress. Price was interesting and effective, and hit on a number of the points that Newt Gingrich — who formerly represented his district — might have made. Taken with the words and actions of House Republican leaders in recent weeks, it’s clear that they are convinced that the route back to the majority is the traditional conservative values that got them there. While that’s heartening for conservatives, it promises continued friction both within the Congress and between the GOP and President Bush. Watch for education in particular, to be a flashpoint in the weeks ahead, as House Republicans push for a more conservative approach than the president — and perhaps the Senate.
