Last week, all three candidates battling for the House Majority Leader position appeared on Hewitt’s radio program, and each also conducted a conference call with bloggers. Over the past several days, I’ve parsed through the transcripts of all six sessions, and extracted out the candidates’ answers to key reform and policy questions.
The full table of results can be seen on the main GOP leadership page, and there are predictably some key policy differences between the candidates.
But in reviewing their responses, what struck me is how all three were willing to make broad commitments to key reform measures. Those who, like myself, are most focused on this race because of an interest in implementing genuine reform, will be heartened to see the wide consensus on proposals that probably would have been considered radical just a few months ago.
For example:
– All three candidates said they would support a measure to require ‘earmarks’ be identified by the name of the suggesting member of Congress
– All three candidates endorsed the application of FOIA to Congress, and the suggestion that all legislation be posted on the Internet 72 hours prior to a vote
In addition, the candidates expressed dissatisfaction with the free-speech limitations imposed by McCain-Feingold, and generally agreed that reforms are needed in the area of subsidized travel for Congress.
If this all seems too good to be true: well, maybe it is. But thanks to the work of the team of bloggers who participated in these sessions, we now have quite a few commitments to reform on-the-record from all three candidates. So whoever wins the race, we should expect — and, politely, demand — to see some genuine action on implementing these proposals.
The Majority Leader election is scheduled for February 2nd, less than two weeks from today. But for those of us interested in achieving real change in the way Congress does business, that will be just the beginning…