A leader of the Republican Party, both in Missouri and nationally, says the party must return to its roots if it is to return to power.
Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt has been in leadership in the United States House in Washington, both when Republicans controlled the chamber and when the fell from power. He just stepped down as US House Minority Whip. Blunt says Republicans need to better communicate their idea of a local, limited government. Republicans must also, according to Blunt, remind themselves and the public that results from government aren’t simply measured by the amount of money spent on a program.
Blunt says Republicans in Washington grew too accustomed to believing they had all the answers. He says when Republicans fell into the belief that the federal government could solve every problem, they moved too closely to the philosophy of Democrats. Blunt adds that if the two parties too closely resemble each other, voters will naturally turn to the party that actually believes in big government.
Republicans lost the presidency and slipped further into the minority in Congress during the 2008 elections. Blunt won’t go so far as to say Republicans lost their way in Washington, but does say they must find their voice again to make their way back to power.