Bush may have to
deal with these wackos now, the price he paid for his second term.
Pence's group [the conservative House Republican Study Committee] claims about 100 members, compared with 40 in the late 1990s. Many were dismayed when the federal budget surplus turned into a $422 billion deficit in Bush's first term, but they stood by him. No more. Now, "Congress needs to assert itself more," says Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn.
The points of contention conservatives plan battles over:
Immigration. Hard-liners oppose Bush's plan to give guest-worker status to illegal immigrants. They prefer to see amnesty laws tightened.
Abortion. Conservatives such as Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., say they'll oppose Supreme Court nominees friendly to abortion rights. Bush opposes a "litmus test" on nominees.
Spending. Conservatives will seek deeper cuts in non-defense spending than Bush is expected to request.
Education. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., says Congress "must undo" Bush's signature No Child Left Behind Act, which sets national standards for education. He says Washington should stay out of schools.
Political money. Conservatives want to repeal limits on political fundraising that Bush signed into law in 2002.
Prescription drugs. Fiscal conservatives such as Pence want to limit the new Medicare benefit to poor seniors and those without coverage before the program starts in 2006. Bush opposes such a move. True onservatives, like Republican "moderates", have talked a good game under the Bush presidency before caving in to pressure like a house of cards.
Time to see if the new lame-duck Bush presidency will embolden those critics within his party.