Small Change?

From IBD:

Republicans: It could have been worse. It could have been better. In choosing John Boehner as the new majority leader, the House GOP gives a nod — but maybe not much more — to reform.

It's hard to avoid the impression that, in Thursday's vote to fill Tom DeLay's old post, the party couldn't quite make up its mind and decided to leave tough decisions for later. If they haven't embraced the status quo, they haven't quite voted to change their ways, either.

On the issues that most vex the party right now, Boehner's record is a mixed bag. The Ohio congressman takes a principled stand against pork-barrel spending. He also has political baggage from his dealings with lobbyists and with industries that have business in front of his education and the work force committee.

A few days before his victory, The Washington Post reported that Boehner's campaign for majority leader was largely bankrolled by private student-loan firms and for-profit colleges and trade schools. Unlike DeLay, he seems free of any ties to the influence-buying lobbyist Jack Abramoff. But he's too at home on K Street to play a convincing reformer in Washington's political theater.

Also mixed is the signal sent by the party when it chose him in something less than a blowout. The vote, on a second ballot, was 122-109, with the status-quo candidate Roy Blunt of Missouri coming in second.

Arizona's John Shadegg, who looked like the real change agent among the three declared contenders, dropped out after finishing third on the first ballot. It's not clear who voted for whom in this private process. But it's probably safe to say Shadegg's votes ended up with Boehner, and reformers settled for their second choice.
One thing we know for sure. Picking Boehner will give Republicans no relief from political attacks. But there's probably nothing the GOP could have done. What Democrats' call the "culture of corruption" — things like free trips, skyboxes and expensive meals for House members — is thoroughly bipartisan. But the Democrats aren't going to let facts get in the way of a good election-year line.

What a new Republican leader can change is the party's stance on issues that really matter in the long run — fiscal discipline and transparency. The Abramoff scandal is only one threat to the GOP's majority in Congress. The much greater danger is that the public will decide, based on Republicans' unrestrained spending, that the party has flunked its test of governance.

If nothing else, the party is in danger of losing a crucial battle this year on extending President Bush's tax cuts. Tax hikes aren't popular, but the Democrats — the party of higher taxes — can market them as a lesser of two evils if Republicans can't hold back on spending. To his credit, Boehner has set a personal example on earmarks, refusing to add new spending without prior authorization even if it would benefit his own district. What he needs to do now is make his colleagues do the same.

That won't be as easy. But such a step is needed. So is a firm policy of sticking to budget resolutions and making spending bills public 72 hours before final votes. Republicans voted this week as if they're at least half-interested in reform. Boehner now has to show he's 100% committed.