“What do we do now?”
So asks Bill McKay, the imaginary senator-elect from California played by Robert Redford in the 1972 film “The Candidate.” Republicans must have had similar thoughts after learning that they had achieved historic gains in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Republicans have already talked about several minor policy goals they believe would be politically impossible for President Obama to veto, such as repealing the Obamacare medical device tax. Although this is not a bad thing, voters across America did not send more Republicans to Washington to repeal a tax on medical devices. That is not an agenda, unless you are a lobbyist on K Street.
Time Magazine asked Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., what would be his top priority as Senate majority leader heading into 2016. “Keep the majority, of course,” was his reply. Keeping power for its own sake is not an agenda either. But using power responsibly to promote reforms that lead to economic growth will indeed lead to a larger and more sustainable majority in the future.
McConnell and Republicans in Washington should look to the states for guidance. Governors in blue and purple states passed pro-growth reforms, ran on their records, and were re-elected. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Florida Gov. Rick Scott promoted positive messages of reform. They spoke loudly and clearly about what they wanted to do and why they wanted to do it. They used political capital to get it done. And they got re-elected.
Gov. Sam Brownback passed substantial pro-growth tax cuts that will reap major rewards for the Kansas economy. He won re-election despite endorsements for his opponent by the so-called “moderate” wing of the Republican Party in Kansas. In Michigan, Gov. Rick Snyder took on public employee unions. You will be seeing him in Lansing for another four years.
Republicans in Washington won on Nov. 4 by not being something: they were not Democrats and they were not Obama supporters. Republican governors in states such as Wisconsin, Florida, Kansas, Michigan and Maine won by being something. They were reformers who delivered on their promises. Voters reward politicians that keep promises — especially promises that lead to economic growth and broader prosperity. Washington Republicans should learn from and follow the example of how to use and keep power from these reform-minded governors.
When they are done repealing the medical device tax, Republicans should start by passing something big, such as fundamental tax reform. They should give Obama the opportunity to sign it or to make clear the choice voters will have in 2016. If the choice is to retain a Republican majority that uses its power to promote a pro-economic growth agenda, then the 2016 results will look a lot like they did this year for Republican governors. If the choice is to maintain a Republican majority obsessed with retaining power for its own sake, the 2016 results will look a lot like those of 2006.
The answer to Bill McKay’s question is pretty easy: Republicans should use their majority or lose their majority. A majority used to maintain a majority is no majority at all. A majority used to promote a platform of pro-growth policy will be a majority worth keeping.
Chris Chocola, a former congressman from Indiana, is president of the Club for Growth. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions for editorials, available at this link.
