Sometimes The Changing Of The Guard Is Difficult

Yesterday’s Washington Examiner posted an editorial about the decisions that now have to be made regarding Republican leadership in the Senate.  Yesterday I posted an article about the Republican Conference Chairman, which will be either Michele Bachmann or Jeb Hensarling.  Michelle Bachmann represents the Tea Party, which some Republicans do not wholly accept, and Jeb Hensarling represents more of the standard Republican mold.

Now John Boehner has to back someone as the new Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.  The Washingon Examiner points out:

“It would be a horrible mistake to give the nod to either Rep. Jerry Lewis of California or Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky.  Lewis and Rogers are both Old Bull Republicans who love earmarks and pork barrel politics.  Apppointing either would split the House GOP caucus and spark a revolt among conservatives who have been fighting earmarks for years.  Most if not all of the freshman would join the revolt, with dire consequences for the GOP.  The next two Republicans in line are C.W. Young of Florida, another earmark-loving Old Bull who would be a disaster as chairman, and Frank Wolf of Virginia, whose undoubted experience and skills would be better utilized elsewhere, especially on homeland security issues.”

The battle here is totally understandable and was totally predictable.  The historic gains made in the House of Representatives by the Republicans were not the result of people loving Republicans–they were the result of people opposing the rapid increase in government spending.  The historic gains need to be followed by a new way of doing businesss in the House.  The Washington Examiner recommends Representative Jack Kingston of Georgia for head of the Appropriations Committee.  Representative Kingston has asked for earmark reform for years and has the experience to know how to run the committee well.  He would be a good choice, although he is not technically the next person in line for the position.

The Washington Examiner reminds us:

“To be sure, the federal budget won’t be balanced simply by banning earmarks.  But just as it is impossible to be a little bit pregnant, House Republicans cannot be against most earmarks but for some of them, which has been the position of Boehner and Kingston.”

These are the decisions that will determine the economic health of the country and also the election results of 2012.  Keep in mind that the campaigns for the House, the Senate, and the Presidency have already begun.