House GOP or “House of No?”
“Standing on principle and doing the right things for the right reasons, on behalf of your constituents, will never get you in trouble.” Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)
With Barack Obama set to announce his $50 Billion housing bailout out today, the day after signing his $1.5 TRILLION spending package, there’s a debate going on amongst conservative circles (the MSM has already decided we’re wrong no matter what we do) as to how much we can just say “no,” how many alternatives to present to what the D’s want to do, and what the happy medium is.
As it stands, Republican Whip and conservative heartthrob Eric Cantor already opposed Obama’s housing bill two days ago…
“Homeowners, right now, are suffering under skyrocketing property taxes. And if we put the bill for $50 billion plus on top of all the bills that families have right now, you may very well be set to encourage more foreclosures,” said Cantor.
Cantor said that the vast majority of U.S. families are keeping up with mortgage payments and are wondering who will pay for the “continued succession of bailouts.”
I’m torn. On one hand, I lean towards the side that as long as conservatives are saying “no” on the side of fiscal responsibility, we’re on the right side of an issue. The ground troops are fired up, which is something we desperately needed. And as we get to the various bailouts, which most American’s oppose with majorities of 60% or more in some case, it’s easy to say not.
The housing crisis is low hanging fruit. When 91% of homeowners aren’t in risk because they did the right thing, saved money, paid their bills on time, and acted responsibly, I know of even a few liberals who have issues bailout out the 9% who did anything but act responsibly.
We also said no to the auto bailout, arguing that we were going to give them a loan without a plan, and that they were going to come back without a plan and asking for more money. And what happened? They’re coming back this week without a plan and asking for more money.
But the danger is in being labeled “The Party of No,” with out reaching out to the President and presenting fresh ideas of our own. Rep. Cantor holding economic round tables (there’s one today in NYC) is a great to keep the ideas flowing and out in the public. However, I think a more perfect opportunity to do this would be next week with the “Fiscal Responsibility Summit” President Obama is holding next week.
If we send over cats like Rep. Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney, Meg Whitman to participate and present our alternatives, while being open to listening to what everyone else is presenting as well. Of course that’s even if Republicans are invited to participate in the first place, but since the President is so mad bi-partisan, I can’t imagine they wouldn’t be.
Saying “no” against wasteful spending and legislation we honestly feel is bad for the American people is what we should be doing. But without fresh alternatives, like a new “Contract for America” or Rep. Ryan’s “Roadmap to America’s Future,” it makes it more difficult fight the label of the “party of no.”
Then again, maybe being the “party of no” isn’t a bad thing. ::shrugs::
UPDATE: Did I say 50 Billion…
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