With New Year’s on the horizon, millions of people will be making resolutions for 2018, including national leaders in Washington. For some of them, the new year will be a time to fulfill campaign promises made on issues such as immigration and healthcare. Those in the minority will likely resolve to use whatever tactics necessary to hobble the Trump administration and flip power in Congress during the midterm elections. Others may simply wish for a year with lesser drama and more governing (though it should be noted here that 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February).
Fiscal conservatives are one of many political groups who have had a difficult relationship with President Trump. Of the “three pillars” that make up the modern conservative movement, fiscal conservatives typically prioritize economic growth and personal freedom through small government and low taxation over a strong national defense and traditional social values. Though they do their best to harmonize these three issues, it is not always a natural fit and such intra-party conflicts have publicly erupted in recent years.
