It’s a foregone conclusion that the GOP will retake congress next month. The only question remaining is what will we do with the power once we have it. We cannot let the opportunity be squandered, there must be a plan.

Last month the GOP released their plan.

- Stop job-killing tax hikes

- Allow small businesses to take a tax deduction equal to 20 percent of their income

- Require congressional approval for any new federal regulation that would add to the deficit

- Repeal small business mandates in the new health care law.

Cutting Spending:

- Repeal and Replace health care

- 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

- Cancel all future TARP payments and reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

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

Defense:

- Provide resources to troops

- Fund missile defense

- Enforce sanctions in Iran

As I said before these are good. But we need more. We need to enact change that cannot be reversed with the winds of political climate. We need to Enact a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.

States that have enacted such amendments have done so to great success. The GOP has talked in recent months of making this a campaign issue and in fact such an amendment came one vote shy of passing in 1995. With the the GOP gains in November passing such an amendment is in reach. Sure Obama will veto it, but an override – given the lack of his popularity – shouldn’t be a problem.