It Is Time For Real Change - For The Betterment of The USA

U.S. House: Under New Management

Most people will tell you that it's about a two and a half mile walk from the White House to the U.S. Capitol. But in two days, the distance between the President and the 112th Congress is bound to feel a lot larger. After four grueling years, House Democrats will hand over the keys to Republican Speaker John Boehner (Ohio). The pride of West Chester Township, Leader Boehner plans on bringing some hearty Midwestern values back to the capital city. And unlike his predecessor, who celebrated her new post with a series of expensive parties, the new Speaker will be in a far different place before his installation: church. After the official mid-week ceremony, there won't be Embassy concerts or champagne dinners. Instead, the Leader is insisting on something more meaningful--a public reading of the U.S. Constitution.
But the opening session of Congress isn't the only departure from the old regime. Plenty of new rules await--on everything from making bills public to citing the Constitutional grounds for legislation. The new environment "will be cumbersome at first," Boehner says. "But if we quit wasting time... naming post offices... honoring every sports team that won the local little league, guess what? We'll have time [to get down to business]." That's exactly what his freshmen class wanted to hear. There are 69 new GOP faces on Capitol Hill this week--and at least 50 of them are ready to get to work on something other than liberal social policy. Like Boehner, they know this may be the last chance for Republicans to define themselves.
For President Obama, the New Year will bring new challenges. When the First Family gets back from Hawaii, the President's clock won't be the only thing that needs adjusting. The administration will have to get used to a fresh way of doing business, and that includes a level of scrutiny his team has never experienced. "Democrats should be concerned about real oversight," the Washington Post warns, "the sort we've not seen in the last two years, while the Democratic Congress displayed precious little interest in examining the executive branch's performance on a slew of policy issues. In failing to... seriously examine the administration's policy initiatives... Congress abdicated its constitutional obligations..." The President said he's "willing to work with anyone of either party who has a good idea and a commitment to see it through. [We] have a shared responsibility to move this country forward." Fortunately for America, conservatives will have a say in which direction it moves.
As for FRC's resolutions for 2011, we aren't looking for Washington to solve our problems--we just want it to stop creating them. And so far, our priorities seem to be lining up with the new House majority. One of our top goals will be stopping the flow of our tax dollars to organizations and government programs that undermine the values that parents are trying to instill in their children. Repealing ObamaCare is first on the list, and even though the Senate probably doesn't have the stomach for it, we plan to work with House leadership to dismantle the law with language found in the Reps. Pitts (R-Penn.)-Lipinski (D-Mich.) bill. Obviously, our biggest goal will be getting taxpayers out of the abortion business. First up is the Rep. Smith (R-N.J.)-Lipinski (D-Mich.) "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" which would wipe the slate clean of most government projects that force us to subsidize the abortion business. Rep. Mike Pence's (R-Ind.) legislation, "Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act" takes care of the federal money line for abortionists. His bill is becoming even more important now that Planned Parenthood has told all of its affiliates they are required to perform abortions or lose the organization's support. In addition to cultivating a culture of life, we'll be working to aggressively protect religious freedom and the family--both of which are at risk as a result of legislation passed by the 111thCongress.
The incoming House leaders understand that the first few months are going to be critical in regaining America's trust. When the ball dropped in Times Square at the start of the New Year, it became the Republicans' job to prove that they won't drop the ball on voters' concerns in this new Congress.
** FRC's Kenyn Cureton, Vice President for Church Ministries, prayed in the New Year with a piece in the Christian Post. To read his hopes for 2011, click here. **