Lessons from the last Congress
December 28, 2006| By Nathaniel Ward
With some justification, many conservatives look back on the past two years and wonder what might have been. Had things gone differently, might Social Security today be on a path to reform? Might the death tax have been finally repealed and the 2003 tax cuts made permanent? Would traditional institutions like marriage be better protected? We’ll never know.
But we can draw lessons from what did happen. Heritage Vice President for Government Relations Mike Franc looks at conservative successes and what ill-conceived policy disasters they avoided—and what lessons they can draw.
Achievement: “The Confirmation of Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito.”
Lesson: “Undeniably qualified conservative jurists are confirmable.”Achievement: “Advancing the anti-terrorism agenda.”
Lesson: “The presidential bully pulpit can be decisive.”Achievement: “Extending pro-growth tax relief.”
Lesson: “Ignore the purveyors of class warfare. Create incentives for economic growth, and it will come.”Achievement: “The unnoticed and unappreciated House-passed agenda,” which included “permanent repeal of the death tax; line-item veto; opening ANWR and sections of the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling; eliminating regulatory roadblocks to refinery construction; reforming the Endangered Species Act to protect private property owners; requiring the UN to reform or lose half its U.S. contribution; reining in the trial bar, and passing a border security bill to enforce immigration laws and identify potential terrorists.”
Lesson: “Voters look to the bottom line. They don’t give Congress credit for partial victories.”
There’s also some near-disasters that Congress managed to avoid:
Disaster averted: “Stopping the Senate-passed immigration bill.”
Disaster averted: “Blocking the asbestos litigation bill.”
Disaster averted: “Purging pork.”
Disaster averted: “Stopping welfare for farmers.”
The lesson to draw from all these narrowly-avoided debacles: “When principled minorities of lawmakers persevere, they can succeed.”
Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation.
