[rwfromkansas]

This is the House.

Our House folks are pretty good. Delay is gung-ho about gutting the income tax and replacing it with the FairTax and is a co-sponsor of the Linder bill.

Unfortunately, we need a stronger group of tough conservatives in the Senate.....and a filibuster-proof majority. Unless some miracle happens and the economy next year makes the 90's look like the Great Depression, this is almost impossible. If the economy isn't tanking...basically if it stays pretty stable with some areas of growth and some areas of suckiness like we see now...I think we will be in good shape to keep the Presidency and perhaps increase our Senate numbers by a couple seats and gain a good number in the House. But, not enough to get this type of stuff through.

If I had my way there would not be one committee in Congress; everything would get debated and voted on the floor......with no filibusters allowed and that goes for when we are in the minority also. EVERY BILL DESERVES A VOTE. But, the committees largely do not serve a noble purpose; they serve to block bills. Many many bills do not get get out of there. Thus, we need a massive majority to enact any major changes.....committees will kill it otherwise.

[kevkrom]

But, the committees largely do not serve a noble purpose; they serve to block bills.

True, but rather than do away with committees, just limit their powers. It's a good thing to have smaller groups go over the detail, hold hearings, etc., and to summarize and present recommendations to the full House. But they should be given a strict timetable, with a requirement that committe reports are due on a specified date -- no killing the bill stalling it in committee. Fail to deliver the report, and the House will vote on it without the committee's recommendations.