You don't need a majority.....

This week GOP leadership rolled out an Economic Reform Agenda they would undertake if they are able to once again secure a majority in the House. The agenda contains laudable objectives including: taking sizable measures to lower gas prices through increased domestic supply, expanding welfare-work requirements and battling back ever-rising taxes. While the GOP laments the fact that it will take a Republican majority to advance many of the items in the agenda, there is one reform that can be undertaken immediately: a moratorium on congressional earmarks.

The signals are clear, the conductor is waving his arms and the earmark train is leaving the station. The American public is rightly sick and tired of the earmark process, which at least has the appearance of impropriety and at worst is downright corrupt. Whichever party acts first and jumps on the earmark moratorium train will gain the upper hand in the spending debate. Why not take the initiative, do what the American public is asking and at the same time lay claim to the issue for the November elections?

There is no better time than a presidential election year to highlight the differences between the parties with respect to tax-and-spend policies. No one will debate the GOP’s dominance on the tax side. (See permanent AMT relief, opposition to cap-and-trade taxes, and making the Bush tax cuts permanent) However, the American public is still confused on which party takes a hard line on federal spending. The GOP has a chance to take a bold step, go without earmarks for a year, and make it crystal clear during a presidential election year which party is addicted to spending.