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Sterling, Va. • Surging House Republicans made a pledge to voters that, if given the chance, they would cut spending and regulations, continue the Bush-era tax cuts and take aim at the new health reform law.
Republican leaders took over a lumber yard 15 miles outside the Washington, D.C., Beltway to announce their campaign agenda, dubbed "A Pledge to America" — a national to-do list similar to the famous "Contract with America" that became the centerpiece of the GOP's 1994 landslide.
Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz joined a dozen of his colleagues in the announcement, taking the podium to detail his party's plan to change the way Congress works. He said the GOP would allow for more amendments from the other party and require every proposal to be tied to a specific constitutional authority. He also vowed that, under Republican rule, the House would not lump disparate proposals in the same bill.
"We can't perpetuate the status quo," said Chaffetz, clad in jeans, with two-by-fours on his right and a stack of plywood on his left. "No more of these big, huge, massive bills that are used as a piggyback for a piece of legislation that would never stand on its own. One issue at a time."
Thursday's event possessed added heft because Republicans have a strong chance to take over the House this November, with voters upset at slow economic gains and President Barack Obama's approval ratings falling.
The pledge was immediately assailed by not only those on the left, but some on the right as well. On the White House's official blog, spokesman Dan Pfeiffer said that it was a repeat of the agenda pushed by President George W. Bush.
"Instead of charting a new course, congressional Republicans doubled down on the same ideas that hurt America's middle class," he said.
And Erick Erickson at Redstate, an online conservative forum, the Club for Growth and some tea-party activists lamented that the pledge didn't include a balanced-budget amendment, similar to the original "Contract with America," or other big changes that would reduce the size and power of government.
"This document proves the GOP is more focused on the acquisition of power than the advocacy of long-term, sound public policy," Erickson said.
House Minority Leader John Boehner and Chaffetz said the critics are misrepresenting the purpose of the pledge. The plan, they said, is a starting point, not an all-encompassing list of priorities.
"It is not intended to be a party platform. It is not intended to be a catch-all. This is the first step," Chaffetz said.
It is also a document that had to balance the policy positions of tea-party darlings with establishment Republicans running in less-conservative areas.
That is one thing that caught the attention of Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who praised the pledge.
"When you can unify the hundreds of Republicans on Capitol Hill, that is pretty good," he said.
The pledge — presented in a glossy 45-page booklet — is largely based on the GOP's signature issues, or ideas tested through public campaigns earlier this year and, as such, there isn't much that is new.
On the economic front, the plan calls for permanently extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, canceling any unspent economic stimulus money and returning to 2008 spending levels, which would result in a $100 billion budget cut.
On health care, the GOP would either repeal Obama's signature health reform law or try to cut its funding, though it would keep some popular items such as banning insurers from rejecting people because of pre-existing conditions.
On foreign policy, Republicans promise to enforce sanctions against Iran, stop detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from entering the United States and boost funding for missile programs.
The pledge treads lightly on Social Security and Medicare, which make up a massive and growing section of the budget. Instead of calling for specific changes, the GOP plan promises to "make the decisions that are necessary to protect our entitlement programs for today's seniors and future generations."
The platform also offers few specifics on social issues, though it promises to defend "traditional marriage" and stop any taxpayer money that would support abortion.
In a nod to the tea-party movement, the pledge would require every bill to identify the specific clause of the Constitution that justifies the changes in law.
The pledge makes only a passing reference to earmark reform, which has been a signature issue for Chaffetz and many within the tea-party movement.
The GOP promised not to include pet projects in bills that fund troops.
Chaffetz, one of two House freshmen selected to participate in the announcement, said he's proud that House Republicans agreed to forgo any earmarks this year, and he doubts the policy will change if a slate of conservative challengers win in November.
"The cavalry that is coming over the hill, they are not going to tolerate going back to earmarking," he said.
Chaffetz's Democratic challenger, Karen Hyer, said the pledge and its presenters were long on lofty rhetoric but short on political courage.
"I find it ironic that those who presented the 'Pledge to America' attack politicians in Washington but don't look at themselves," she said. "Are they willing to pass term limits? Are they willing to have tougher campaign-finance measures that will keep special interests from controlling our politicians? Will they do away with conflicts of interest?"
She also said that extending tax cuts and giving small businesses a tax deduction won't be enough to fix the economy. Hyer said the Republicans failed to account for jobs shipped overseas or acknowledge the need to develop clean-energy technologies.
Why Chaffetz?
Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz was one of a handful of Republicans selected to announce his party's campaign agenda.
"He's kind of a revolutionary," said Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the chief deputy whip and lead author of "A Pledge to America." He has watched Chaffetz buck congressional practices such as shunning earmarks. "He's been a champion for that before anybody else."
Chaffetz said congressional clout is partially based on relationships, and he has become fast friends with some of the leading Republicans in Washington. He said his speaking role "is an expression that they have gained a lot of confidence in me in a very short amount of time." —
The details
The economy
Permanently extend the Bush tax cuts.
Require Congress to vote on any regulation that has an impact of more than $100 million in a year.
Give small businesses a tax deduction worth 20 percent of their income.
Cutting government
Cancel all unspent economic stimulus funds and return federal spending to 2008 levels, which would reduce the budget by $100 billion.
Hold weekly votes on spending cuts.
Establish a hard budget cap on discretionary spending.
Remove Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from government oversight.
Health care
Repeal the 2010 health reform law.
Pass medical malpractice reform.
Expand health savings accounts.
Congressional reform
Post bills online for three days before a vote.
Require every bill to identify the constitutional authority for the change in law.
Have an open debate on spending bills.
National security
No earmarks in troop funding bills.
Require suspected terrorists to have military, not civilian, trials.
Enforce sanctions against Iran.