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House Republicans think education and road spending are too low after the cuts necessitated by the economic downturn. Pence and his supporters believe the tax cut is the best way to fire up the state’s economy.
As we’ve said before, this is a good debate for Republicans to have and an important one for all Hoosiers to contribute to. We are in a position to say how much government we want and what we’re willing to spend on it. And how wonderful that we can even have a debate over whether or not to have a tax cut instead of worrying about how much of an increase we can stand.
Pence’s use of his base and the participation of the cut-pushing interest group are not unusual. They’re standard political practices used by Republicans and Democrats against each other all the time. They seem oddly out of place here only because this is an intra-party fight.
Both sides might want to tone it down just a little, though, and no rational debate has ever been advanced by name-calling. Having the governor’s office and supermajorities in both the House and Senate gives Republicans an opportunity to get some spectacular things done. Chances like this don’t come along all that often.
The opportunity will be lost if Republicans forget how to play well with others. Whichever side prevails, the losing side should accept it gracefully and without bitterness.
