The Republican Study Committee in the House (home to conservative heroes such as Mike Pence and the recent Majority Leader candidate, John Shadegg) has been hard at work working on a budget that embodies core Republican values as espoused in the Contract With America in 1994. Rather than just submit to the will of President Bush, whose prior fiscal promises have been poor by any Conservative measurement if even enacted, the Conservative Republicans are finally taking a huge and very significant stand.

So how big of a stand is being taken? The proposed budget, to be released tomorrow, will trim more than $650 billion (look at that number again) from the federal budget in 5 years, eliminate the deficit, and (drum roll) drastically reorganize (read: downsize) the Education (finally!), Commerce, and Energy departments. The “reorganization” will save $300 billion, and the other $350 billion in savings would come from shrinking government nanny-state entitlement programs (Medicare, Medicaid, and others). A full story can be found via the New York Times [sic] here.

The prospects of this budget making it to Bush’s desk and being signed as it is, or even the chances of this version of the budget receiving Executive consideration after escaping from Congress, are unfortunately slim considering the drunken sailor attitude Washington has towards spending these days. Movement conservatives, through John Shadegg’s race-altering candidacy for Majority Leader, helped elect John Boehner over Roy Blunt for that position - and now the RSC will certainly go to Boehner to collect on its help in the race.

In his handling of this proposed budget, Boehner will show his true colors - will he follow through on his promise to change the “business as usual” trend of the House, and embrace truly Republican reform that would not only benefit the federal government fiscally, but also in reducing its size and power, or will he bolt from the RSC’s position and get cozy with Bush and the Dems?

This will be the most important legislative fight in the lead-up to the midterm elections. While the fight for Majority Leader was crucial in the direction of the Republican Caucus, this fight actually deals with tangible effects of that race. Now is the time to turn back on 12 years of misguided direction and return to fiscally sane principles as demonstrated in the Contract.

While I am hopeful and inspired by the RSC putting out this alternative budget, I am also wary of the cautious, fiscally liberal bent of many Republicans in Congress. Forget the Democrats, their opposition to this is to be acknowledged and set aside. The real fight will be within our own party to determine who will decide our nation’s fiscal policy: those who truly care about Constitutionally limited government and responsible monetary policies, or those whose only concerns are vote-buying and sending pork back to the constituents at home.

If you recall, the fight to get even $40 billion cut from the budget just a few months ago was like force feeding a child who refuses to swallow his food. The (measly) cuts were finally passed, but it certainly wasn’t a sunshine-filled victory. It was a disgusting reminder of how stubborn Washington is in refusing to spend our money responsibly and how willing Congress can be to shirk the dictates of our Founding Fathers.

Hat Tip to Captain’s Quarters.

Update: I just realized that force-feeding a child who refuses to swallow his food, according to some Gitmo protestors, constitutes torture. I apologize if I caused pain and anguish to any toddlers so brutally tortured by their parents. Who needs food anyways?