James Gerber's column yesterday ("Conservatives no more?," April 6) brought attention to a very serious chasm in the Republican Party: fiscal conservatives versus social conservatives. For much of the Republican revolution there has been a healthy balance between the two major factions in the party. Recently though, the Republican Party has become the party of only the social conservatives. Opinion polls have consequently reflected the result of this.
Last week's polls showed President Bush's approval rating to be at the lowest level of his presidency. There are likely many contributing factors to the recent decline. Last week was a pessimistic time in America, with rising gas prices and the media's unhealthy obsession with Terri Schiavo. In fact, it is the Terri Schiavo ordeal that has caused many of the recent grumblings. Poll after poll showed that even those that consider themselves to be evangelical Christians did not think Congress should intervene in the case.
However, many Republicans still felt the need to pander to the hardcore right. By doing so, Republicans alienated the other half of the party. National Republicans seem to be forgetting that their party's membership is comprised not just of social conservatives but of fiscal conservatives as well. These members of the party to which I belong want government, particularly the federal government, to stay out of their lives. The popularity of the Reagan and Clinton presidencies was due, in part, to their commitments to devolution. Now, we find Congressional Republicans overstepping their bounds and interfering in a decision already made by the state of Florida.
Republicans who favor limited government have not just been alienated by the recent actions of Congress. They have also been betrayed by a spending addiction within the Bush White House. Much to the chagrin of fiscal conservatives and the probable surprise of liberal Democrats, domestic spending under Bush increased 11 percent from 2001 to 2003. Discretionary domestic spending increased at an even greater amount, nearly 16 percent between 2001 and 2003. In addition, these numbers do not reflect the increased spending due to the war on terror and the war in Iraq. By comparison, overall federal spending has increased at twice the rate under President Bush than under President Clinton.
In essence, President Bush has only given fiscal conservatives half of what they wanted: the tax cuts. The tax cuts, however, have had their desired effect. The economy is growing at a healthy four percent and tax collections are up 10 percent this year. Unfortunately however, spending still continues to rise. Budget outlays for this year have increased seven percent. While this does mean that the budget deficit this year will be slightly less than last year, fiscal conservatives are not getting the deficit yield they should expect from a Republican controlled government.
Thankfully, President Bush appears to be taking steps to correct the problem. His most recent budget proposal suggests freezing all domestic levels of spending. While any budget cut or freeze can be expected to make any liberal heart bleed, any true conservative will argue that the government does not need to be taking any more of our money. In the words of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, we don't have a tax problem, we have a spending problem.
In fact, I believe the President should not wait until next year to begin making budget reforms. He can begin to fix the problem now. President Bush can offer a budget rescission immediately. Such a move would not be unprecedented; President Regan made a similar rescission in his Presidency. The result of the budget rescission would be a six month head start on his effort to curb government spending. Both the Cato and Heritage Foundations have found room for approximately $150 billion dollars in budget cuts for this fiscal year. Holding the remaining six month non-defense outlays to one percent growth would reduce this year's deficit by $25 billion. Moreover, it would also make for highly entertaining politics, with Democrats likely whining that Bush is again ignoring domestic issues when in actuality he has increased domestic spending more than their savior, Bill Clinton. It is also likely that both parties would have an identity crisis.
If the Republican Party refuses to act, a very wide door will be left open for the Democrats in the midterm elections. Part of the Contract with America that swept Republicans into office emphasized fiscal restraint and even a balanced budget. Republicans seem to have long forgotten these promises. The Democrats should remind America of the fiscal restraint and success it enjoyed under the Presidential leadership of Bill Clinton. It is time for President Bush to employ traditional Republican fiscal restraint. President Bush should propose a budget rescission today. The Republican Party is made up by more than just social conservatives.
Mike Schrimpf is a senior majoring in political science.
