The surprise primary defeat of Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, by Tea Party challenger Brad Wenstrup, is sending a strong signal to the GOP that the fiscally conservative group is still in charge.
Not only did her Super Tuesday defeat send a warning to squishy Republican incumbents, but conservatives said it will impact House GOP budget talks, likely steering them in the direction of more cuts.
Wenstrup’s victory, said Michael Franc, Heritage Foundation vice president of government studies, “has lent a sense of urgency to these discussions.” Each week, Franc provides Washington Secrets with the hot tip to watch.
“One litmus test has emerged: How many years until the budget balances? Dozens of House conservatives have conveyed to House leaders they want to see balance within a decade, or less. Or else,” added Franc. He said buzz is building around a budget plan that includes bold Medicare reforms suggested by Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind., and welfare program overhauls pushed by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chair of the Republican Study Committee.
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., plans to release his GOP alternative budget this week.
Eliminating today’s trillion-dollar plus budget deficit within a decade, of course, will require lawmakers to entertain major structural reforms to entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and to begin those reforms almost immediately, said Franc.
“Some believe the needle can be threaded if these reforms are included in the budget blueprint,” he added.
