Missouri’s top Republican in the United States House says his party has lost power because it has lost its direction. Congressman Roy Blunt of Springfield says three things have combined to give Democrats the majority in Congress: Republicans have become defenders of business as usual instead of challengers, Republicans have abandoned the smaller-is-better concept of government in favor of becoming spenders, and Republicans have allowed the other side to portray their defense of “traditional values” as just efforts to appease their conservative base. Blunt says some ethics problems with some members also hurt. Blunt is now the third-highest ranking official in the House, as Majority Whip. He will lose that position with Democrats now in charge of the chamber and he faces challengers to his leadership position within his party when minority Republicans pick their leadership for the next session.
