The Republican Pledge - a Good, but Tepid Start

Early drafts are leaking out on the Republican "Pledge to America," and it looks like a good start.  Here's a summary from CBS and Rumblethoughts alongside:

Jobs:

- Stop job-killing tax hikes  Need to go deeper here - we have one of the most non-competitive onerous corporate tax systems in the world.  We need fundamental corporate tax reform.

- Allow small businesses to take a tax deduction equal to 20 percent of their income This is a good tactic, a lot of the "rich" the Dems want to tax to death fit here.

- Require congressional approval for any new federal regulation that would add to the deficit 2/3 majority?

- Repeal small business mandates in the new health care law. Kill it, kill it dead.

Cutting Spending:

- Repeal and Replace health care Excellent - espouse free market wisdom here...

- Roll back non-discretionary spending to 2008 levels before TARP and stimulus (will save $100 billion in first year alone)

- Establish strict budget caps to limit federal spending going forward  You are going to have to attack the entrenched bureaucracy - how about shutting down all departments not mandated by the Constitution?

- Cancel all future TARP payments and reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac No - put Fannie and Freddie into receivership and on the glide slope to be totally shut down.

Reforming Congress:

- Will require that every bill have a citation of constitutional authority

- Give members at least 3 days to read bills before a vote 3-days to read 2000 plus page  bills??  

Defense: OK stuff here, but we are going to have to get serious about the cost of our overseas commitments - let's shut down foreign aid immediately to those countries that don't support the United States in our efforts to keep the peace?

- Provide resources to troops

- Fund missile defense

- Enforce sanctions in Iran