Looks as if the CATO Institute didn’t take kindly to former Speaker Newt Gingrich’s 11- Point Big Government Manifesto:
Gingrich does call for Congress to cut spending. Well, not exactly. He does not actually call for any specific spending cuts. What he proposes is budget legislation that would lead to a balanced budget in seven years. Perhaps balancing the budget takes so long because he wants to spend so much more on a national energy policy. Gingrich proposes an array of subsidies to every conceivable energy interest group and project from ethanol to hydrogen-powered cars. Of course, there’s nothing in Gingrich’s manifesto about reforming entitlement programs. That’s hardly surprising — Gingrich supported the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Gingrich does embrace a couple of good ideas, such as making permanent the repeal of the death tax and overturning the Kelo Supreme Court decision. But, in general, Gingrich seems to be calling for the Republican Party to continue its march toward big government conservatism. Goldwater and Reagan must be spinning in their graves.
Fuel for the upcoming war between the evangelical right and the libertarian right, I’m sure…