By Alan K. Ota CQ-Roll Call
House Republicans are devising a political platform informally dubbed Ten for 10" to better position their party for the 2010 midterm elections a moniker oddly reminiscent of the game plan Speaker Nancy Pelosi used to mount the Democratic takeover in 2006. Several senior Republicans said the party would draft a policy agenda that stylistically certainly not ideologically mirrors the half-dozen policy objectives that Pelosi D-Calif. unveiled as the Six for 06" platform before that years midterms.
While GOP leaders would not discuss the specifics of the emerging agenda they said it will make the case that Republicans are better suited to revive the nations economy. We are going to lead to an economic narrative for 10 that will ... prove to the people that we deserve to lead" said Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia.
Tom Price of Georgia chairman of the House Republican Study Committee said members of the conference are coming up with recommended policy planks that would provide voters a commitment to accomplish certain ends."
Among proposals floated so far by members: a ban on spending unused funds from this years economic stimulus law (PL 111-5) tougher earmark disclosure requirements and an all of the above" climate change plan that would expand offshore oil drilling.
Last year Republicans adopted the platform of their presidential nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
In advance of next years midterms they face internal pressure to develop a unified message to rebut anti-incumbent criticism generated in part by conservative tea party" rallies.
GOP leaders showcased last week a one-page no new taxes" pledge by centrist Republican Dede Scozzafava the leadership-backed candidate in the Nov. 3 special election to replace former Rep. John M. McHugh R-N.Y. (1993-2009) now Army secretary.
Scozzafava faces tough competition both from Democratic lawyer Bill Owens and from a conservative third-party rival Doug Hoffman who has the backing of the Club for Growth and former House Majority Leader Dick Armey R-Texas (1985-2003).
