Rep. McCotter Wants to Eliminate His Leadership Position
by Capitol ConfidentialAmong my favorite stories from political lore is that of a candidate who runs on a platform of eliminating the office they seek. It mostly plays out on the local level, where slightly odd and antiquated offices can stack up like lemurs on a Madagascar beach. Rarely does this play out on the national level, until now.
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter is Chair of the Republican Policy Committee, the number 4 position in House GOP Leadership. It’s website provides the following description of the Committee:
Envisioned as the principal forum for the consideration of forward-looking legislative initiatives, the Republican Policy Committee is an important means for every Member of the Republican Conference to develop sound legislative ideas into meaningful legislation.
Created just over 50 years ago, the Committee is charged with establishing conference-wide policy for the House GOP. But, it isn’t just a forum; it has its own taxpayer-funded budget. The $400,000 taxpayers kick in to fund the Committee is just a small blip in the federal budget, but blips add up. Eliminating thousands of line-items like this are critical to getting the overall budget under control.
And, Rep. McCotter has taken the lead. He wants to eliminate his own Committee and give the money back to taxpayers.
In some respects, McCotter’s move to eliminate the position is obvious; does the GOP really need a stand-alone, taxpayer-funded Committee to establish its policy positions? With the Constitution as a guide and a basic understanding of free market economics, what more could a GOP member need to discern their policy positions. After all, it is pretty basic.
In fact, soon after taking charge of the Committee, Rep. McCotter oversaw the creation of the document, “We the People: Wide Awake for our Newest Birth of Freedom”, detailing the basic principles that should guide GOP policy. Impossible to go wrong if you stick to these:
- Our liberty is from God not the government;
- Our sovereignty is in our souls not the soil;
- Our security is from strength not surrender;
- Our prosperity is from the private sector not the public sector; and
- Our truths are self-evident not relative
But, McCotter’s move is more than just eliminating a silly redundancy. The move to eliminate the Committee would also remove a position from GOP Leadership. Unsurprisingly, that has met resistance from some of his colleagues. From today’s Roll Call:
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Chief Deputy Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) balked at the idea [of eliminating the Committee] when Boehner brought it up during the daily leadership meeting Wednesday. McCarthy, Cantor and a spokesman for Boehner declined to comment Thursday night.
This is both ridiculous and, unfortunately, unsurprising. Even GOP members have a hard time letting go of an automatic annual budget, which can be used to hire staff and raise a member’s profile. Moreover, a position in GOP leadership has its own value, one that can be traded to help a member’s rise up the leadership ladder. It is an important tool in how politics is done.
But, it is time for that to stop. The challenges our nation faces are daunting. The odd $400,000 spent by the GOP Policy Committee won’t make a difference in the overall budget, but it stands as an important principle. If the GOP can’t commit to eliminating silly things like their own Policy Committee, how can they take a hard look at other wasteful items in the budget? The GOP, under Rep. Cantor’s leadership, is promoting its “You Cut” initiative, where citizens can recommend budget cuts. Perhaps it should establish a “We Cut First” initiative.
The GOP famously lost its way in the majority and became addicted to spending and earmarks as a way to hold on to political power. It is now telling the public that they’ve learned a lesson and can be trusted to control spending. Supporting McCotter’s move is an important test case.
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64 Comments
It is a sad state of affairs when $400,000 isn't even a blip.
But as he said blips add up.
We need people like McCotter to keep getting rid of the blips and drips in our government.
Sound eminently reasonable, but then it comes from Thad McCotter.
I have a better idea:
Lets get rid of the office of "Chairman of the RNC" and give that office's powers to the "Chair of the Republican Policy Committee."
That way we would have a person with a set of b@lls running the RNC.
Anyone know the Repubs plan to overturn Obamacare?
Plan to secure the border?
Plan to clean up the Gulf?
Plan to fix the economy?
Neither do I!
Yea, and McCotter also supported all of the labor union bailouts. Maybe he just needs something to reinforce his CINO (Conservative in Name Only) creds.
Something smells about this. Sounds like bs to me. Sounds like a new way for the Republicans to hand over more power to the enemy.
Wow, what kind of bribes did these guys take?
We need term-limits more now, than ever. We are bankrupt, and they still act as though prime-rib and a bottle of really nice Cabernet is on the menu — time for a reality check of rice-and-beans, and canned peas and corn — how about some tap-water to wash it all down. NO MORE FREE LUNCH !!!
a blip here and a blip there and pretty soon you are talking about alot of blips.
Me thinks that the republicans in office are sitting back and chillin,,,,expecting the TEA Party to do all their work for them come November.
We need to hear from all the republicans with actionable ideas and policies to get the Obama destruction repaired and/or repealed,,,,,but all I hear is crickets.
You are so right — that's Right with a capital R. Clean-house across the board !! I like that phrase, "clean-house". That pun was unintentional, but I really like it !
No plan seems to be the plan. I think I'm going to puke.
Way to go McCotter. You are EXACTLY on the right track here. Screw DC – it's time we walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Tea parties and the GOP and Independents want reform! Anyone that says otherwise is on the wrong side of reform! Keep up the good work. and thanks for the $400k back to the people!
[...] » Rep. McCotter Wants to Eliminate his Leadership Position – Big … [...]
if only I could give you 1,000 thumbs up,…this was the best post i have read today,…..
there is nothing "spacey" about you.
Too many times, people look at saving money and consider one option and then reject it because "it's just a blip." Well, how many blips are there in our government bureaucracy? I'd imagine there are way more than anyone thinks.
Ah, precious little Cantor can't part with a bullshit committee.
How about eliminating all committees? How about we go back to congressmen writing legislation and seeing if it passes? Antiquated? No, it simply circumvents the unconstitutional power structure in Congress.
There is a putrid smell coming from Congress these days.
"Make no small plans"
Wow McCotter,……. this LITTLE ploy has been tried soooooo many times before.
Come on Republicans,………get off your ass.
Wow…this is the type of leadership that we need from Republicans in Washington! Way to go McCotter!!!
For once we have some common sense coming out of Washington! Kudos to McCotter!!! What the heck is going on with Cantor and McCarthy though? McCotter in 2012!!!
I think I'm in love.
Perhaps someone from McCotter's district could pose the question to him; "why do you support the Obey Amendment to H.R. 4899 , Nancy Pelosi and Big Labor’s Police and Firefighter Monopoly Bargaining Bill that is attached to the war supplemental funding bill. http://biggovernment.com/dloos/2010/07/02/shamele...
"You see, if passed, this dangerous bill could force every police officer and firefighter in the country under union boss control, override state and local labor laws across the nation and lead to MAMMOTH state and local tax hikes."
"The $400,000 taxpayers kick in to fund the Committee is just a small blip in the federal budget, but blips add up. Eliminating thousands of line-items like this are critical to getting the overall budget under control."
Well this bill in one fell swoop would overshadow "thousands of line-items like this". Care to explain Thaddeus?
There is still hope for our country! As Republicans, we need to have ideas for how to reform government, not just be the party of "No." It is "out-of-the-box" ideas like this that we need to adopt. $400K isn't much money when considering our national budget, but at least it is a start. Keep up the good work Congressman McCotter.
No leader is ever perfect, but McCotter has it right on this one! We need more leaders like this in the Republican party. This is the type of change we can believe in!
The top of the iceburg looks so pretty.
Where's the rest of the Republican leadership on this? Cantor has is precious little website trying to promote himself as cutting government, but when an actual chance comes along to do so he balks! Come on! We need more people like McCotter!!!
McCotter for President.
A $400,000 committee? Here. This is for free, GOP:
- If you don't have the votes, cause gridlock.
- If you do have the votes, undo the damage the Libtards have done.
- No compromises. Never again. The GOP solution to a 10% tax hike is not a 5% tax hike, it is a 10% tax cut with spending cuts at least to match, if not exceed. Jumping from the 20th floor kills you just as much as jumping from the 10th floor. Leave the jumping to the Democrats.
Randy, the House voted on that yesterday and McCotter opposed it. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll430.xml
Hell yeah, besides having the right vision for the direction of our country, he rocks one of the coolest names ever….
I'm glad to see we have people like Rep. McCotter in Washington who are in tune with the people. I would hope the GOP is smart enough that it doesn't need taxpayer dollars to "stimulate" creative solutions to America's problems.
All excellent points. I agree with Ralph- a shame i can't give more thumbs up. You're right on the money.
What say we get all the REPS and Senators OUT OF WASHINGTON and back into the DISTRICTS they serve.
We could save BIG BUCKS with Office Staff, Space, transportation, etc. Term Limits AND Responsible to
We the People, WORKS FOR ME AND MINE.
A little off topic.
Bill Crystal just called for Steele's resignation. http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/letter-michae...
Agreeeeee peaches1…………..perhaps a hissy-fit by Mc Cotter since they're probably ignoring his
advice/ ideas/ policies?
Thanks for update. I went to McCotter's own site and could find no info on it.
GOoooooo Order66, Gridlock in the mornin, gridlock in the evenin, gridlock at suppertime…………..
NO C-WORDS, X comprehensive, X compromise, X c______?_____, ! oops can't remember my other 1.
We did an entire list last winter, and it was good, included ideas similar to yours.
These questions need to be posed to our Reps face to face when they are in our
districts pimping for votes. We will be able to witness their facial expressions and
read their body language, that way. No matter their verbal answers, their body lan-
guage never lies.
Good Lord. I hope they have someone lined up for the position. Four months before a mid-term elec-
tion doesn't gove the GOP much time to regroup and organize. I have suspected the organize part
of the equation has been Steele's downfall.
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I'll put my thumb on the scale here too. We'd like the GOP more if we heard more ideas and less critique. Not saying that's bad, but people like to hear positive input sometimes too.
They could promote somebody from the custodial staff…..at least he'd know how to sweep up…and maybe out….with the RINOs.
[...] so he’s running into some opposition even from fellow Republicans. More on the story at BigGovernment.com. ……………….Share [...]
Thad is a sexy beast.
McCotter is another incumbent that needs to be re-elected.
He's also great on Fox News' Red Eye!
TGS, i've been saying this for some time. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter is the real deal.
He'd get my vote.
McCotter is one of the few politicians that have made me proud to have voted for them.
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[...] » Rep. McCotter Wants to Eliminate His Leadership Position – Big Government [...]
[...] » Rep. McCotter Wants to Eliminate His Leadership Position – Big Government [...]
Hopefully they'll come up with something before the elections…Maybe they don't want to
show their hand yet, to only be ripped apart by the commies in office!!,,,,,That's just a
thought!!…I do think they should be saying more, but we all know the Republicans are
the "dumb" party………..
As Illinois State Treasurer, Judy Barr Topinka (R) suggested eliminating her own (State Treasurer) office and consolidating the offices of Treasurer and Comptroller (lots of overlap or redundancy in their respective domains). Illinois pols of all stripes dissed that idea.
Judy should have been elected to the Governor's Office, but went down to defeat in large part by the teacher's unions (in spite of their dislike for her opponent, Democrat Blaggo). Think there's a bit of poetic justice in what's happened to the teacher's pension fund money under the current Treasurer, who presided over the bankruptcy of his family's bank as well as the squandering of public money, and is now the D-candidate for the US Senate seat once held by Obama? Yeah, me too.
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[...] » Rep. McCotter Wants to Eliminate His Leadership Position – Big Government [...]
I guess when the democrats repeat their talking points over and over even the conservatives start to believe their lies. Paul Ryan has a plan – http://www.roadmap.republicans.budget.house.gov/ – tell your friends.
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[...] » Rep. McCotter Wants to Eliminate His Leadership Position – Big Government [...]
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[...] » Rep. McCotter Wants to Eliminate His Leadership Position – Big Government [...]
Yes he his. Rita is a lucky woman!
[...] abolishing the House Republican Policy Committee. Since the news broke, there have been several stories about the role the incumbent policy committee chairman, Thaddeus McCotter, has played in pushing [...]
[...] » Rep. McCotter Wants to Eliminate his Leadership Position – Big Government [...]
[...] » Rep. McCotter Wants to Eliminate His Leadership Position – Big Government [...]
[...] » Rep. McCotter Wants to Eliminate His Leadership Position – Big Government [...]
[...] » Rep. McCotter Wants to Eliminate His Leadership Position – Big Government [...]
[...] » Rep. McCotter Wants to Eliminate His Leadership Position – Big … [...]
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