DONATELLI: The GOP after Massachusetts

We agree with most of the article except for bi-partisan healthcare for this year. The only way Republicans are going to get a seat at that table is to oust the Democrats and Pelosi from House Leadership in November. The Senate is not much better.

It would be virtually impossible to get Tort Reform with Pelosi and her crew and without Tort Reform any healthcare needs to be DOA. You also need a bill where Pharmaceutical Companies didn't cut a deal with the President. Until this Congress goes back to basics on a Healthcare bill, the current House and Senate ones need to die and not be resurrected in any way shape or form.

We agree wholeheartedly that the most important issues are what Scott Brown talked about todayy -- cut Federal spending, cut taxes, and national security. Those are three issues every Republican in this Country should be running on for the House and Senate. We need to paint the Country bright red come November 2, 2010.

DONATELLI: The GOP after Massachusetts
Feb 4, 2010

By Frank Donatelli

Scott Brown's historic win in Massachusetts scrambles the politi -cal picture for both parties. For Demo-crats, it means they will have far more dif- ficulty turning their momentary supermajority into a permanently larger federal establishment. For Republicans, it gives them a toehold on power in Washington, a seat at the policy table and an even greater opportunity to make real gains in the 2010 midterm elections.

The Republican Party needs to move on five main things right now.

First, the party needs to do everything possible to defeat Obamacare. More than anything, this was the signature issue that gave rocket fuel to the Brown campaign. (snip)

Second, after the bill is defeated, Republicans should seek to engage the administration on true reform of the system that focuses on cost containment. Measures for discussion must include tort reform, enhanced health savings accounts and creating more vibrant markets and competition for individuals to purchase their own health plans. (snip)

Third, the party should move to limit the uncertainty that surrounds business decisions by the private sector. How can firms possibly make decisions about expansion and new hiring if they have no idea about future costs of labor, energy and health care? (snip)

Fourth, Republicans need to engage the administration on real job-creation measures. The recovery is under way, but unemployment is still at 10 percent and it shows no sign of decreasing anytime soon. Part of the solution is to remove uncertainty in the marketplace for businesses, and a second step is to create tax incentives for businesses to expand payrolls. Past stimulus bills focused on temporary government jobs, not creation of permanent private-sector jobs. (snip)

Fifth, the party must step up efforts to recruit the best candidates to challenge Democrats, everywhere. If Massachusetts can be won, so can every other state, including Wisconsin, Oregon and Maryland, where the party is still seeking top challengers. Strong Republican candidates are also needed in a number of congressional districts that were won by President Bush and Sen. John McCain in the last two presidential elections. (snip)

Frank Donatelli is chairman of GOPAC, a center for training and electing the next generation of Republican leaders.

Excerpt: Read More as Washington Times