To the contrary, the actions of today’s Republicans demonstrate that they find Reaganesque principles to be expendable. Oh, Republican politicians cite Reagan approvingly, of course, knowing how fondly he is remembered by Republican voters. But their verbal tributes are all too often followed by actions that would surely make Reagan roll over in his grave.

How can these Republicans be so unlike Reagan, yet somehow be astonished and confused when they are turned out of office or receive low approval ratings from voters? Their obtuseness is startling.

Today’s Republican leaders find themselves in this position, at least in part, because they have used the War in Iraq as a crutch. It has become easy to blame the war for virtually any discontent expressed by voters. No war is without its problems and low points, and the problems of war may seem almost unavoidable. Those Republicans who blame the war need not look to see how they may have personally failed (particularly those Republicans who were not intimately involved in the decision to go to war). Painful soul-searching and mea culpas can be avoided. Real problems—and thus real solutions—remain undiscovered.

Unfortunately, Republican leaders are avoiding the very actions needed if the party is to return to the days of Reagan. The party has strayed far from its roots. A painful soul-searching is exactly what is required.

This author has often noted the spendthrift, big government ways of congressional Republicans. But the problem extends beyond the national level, infecting state legislators as well. Indeed, many supposedly conservative Republicans in Texas have turned into big government sympathizers, a fact that may surprise their constituents. Last year, Republican legislators pushed through a tax increase. This year, flush with extra government funds, they are creating all sorts of new public initiatives. Legislators seem oblivious to the fact that government does not need to propose and enforce a “fix” for every issue. They have forgotten Reagan’s preference for private solutions that rely on individuals, rather than expensive, inefficient government bureaucracies. Government should be as small as possible, allowing voters to spend their own money and run their own lives.

Much of this legislation is passed behind the scenes, out of the media spotlight. Even a small sample of these bills may surprise readers who think their representatives are small government Reaganites.

On April 26, the Republican-led Senate passed SB 556, a big government initiative that promises to help prevent obesity in the State of Texas. No Texan should be expected to go on a diet on his own. It’s simply too hard to lose weight without the government holding your hand every step of the way. Never fear. The new Interagency Obesity Council will help, if the Senate gets its way. And the Legislative Budget Board assures us that this initiative won’t cost taxpayers a dime—well, at least not this year. The government-sponsored solutions proposed by the Council are sure to cost a pretty penny someday.

But preventing obesity is small potatoes, compared to preventing disease. On April 27, Senators approved SB 308, a bill that would protect injection drug users from some ramifications of their bad habit. Under the bill, drug users may anonymously trade in their dirty needles and syringes for clean ones. What a convenient way to avoid infection. So much easier than stopping a drug habit. And non-drug users don’t need to worry. The Legislative Budget Board claims that this initiative will not have a substantial fiscal impact on the State of Texas. Better yet, the Senate Research Center assures us that the bill will not facilitate drug use.

Sure. And they have a bridge to sell you, too.

Not to be outdone, House Republicans have decided to cure cancer. HB 14 will create the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Well-intentioned, naturally, but what makes Republican legislators believe that creating a massive government bureaucracy is the most efficient and effective contribution that Texans can make to curing cancer? How much better to focus on direct, private donations to hospitals and research centers. Oh, and the fiscal impact of this enormous government enterprise during the next five years? Only $132,052,783. A bargain, really. Voters should quit complaining about their high tax rates.

Of course, this doesn’t even begin to touch many, bigger issues pending before the legislature. Republicans have failed to act swiftly on many taxpayer protection bills, and they have also (so far) failed to repeal the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fee. Needless to say, they apparently have no interest in reversing last year’s tax increase. But each of these items should be a no-brainer for legislators who allegedly believe in Republican small government principles.

A few Republican legislators still believe in the small government principles of the Republican platform. These elected officials should be applauded. They often find themselves standing firm on principle, even in the face of opposition from their own colleagues. Many other Republicans, however, have lost their way. If they will not engage in the soul-searching that is needed to help the Republican Party reverse course, then these legislators should be replaced with men and women who still remember the small government principles espoused by Reagan.

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