ConservativeHome's Big Ideas blog

Key steps on Rick Perry's path to 2012

Between the Ames straw poll in Iowa and Rick Perry's anticipated announcement, August 13 is shaping up to be a pretty interesting day for GOP voters.

And as speculation only continues to swarm ahead of Saturday's events, Richard S. Dunham in the Houston Chronicle today offers an interesting look at the choices and challenges facing the Texas Governor in his possible path to the White House:

The tea party primary

For Perry to become the tea party favorite [and thus the Romney alternate], he must emerge from a pack of five possible candidates registering 12 to 16 percent among tea party Republicans in the Pew survey. His top rivals: Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and Georgia businessman Herman Cain.

The money primary

Perry backers say [he needs] to go from zero to $10 million in a month, with a goal of at least $75 million to carry them through Super Tuesday.

Rudy-palooza

Three years ago, Perry endorsed an unlikely presidential candidate, Rudy Giuliani, and campaigned hard for the former New York mayor in Iowa. This time, Perry is counting on the moderate Yankee to reciprocate.

The Iowa caucuses

A major asset for Perry: Iowa's Republican electorate is very conservative on social issues. Meanwhile, the big field and his late start give him an opportunity to lower expectations for his performance.

The New Hampshire primary

Perry supporters will downplay his prospects in the scheduled Jan. 24 primary to minimize the political momentum generated by the expected victory of Romney.

The South Carolina primary

This very conservative, Southern state is fertile ground for Perry. Many of the state's most talented operatives have signed on with other contenders.

The sprint to Super Tuesday

Perry is counting on a political coalition including Christian conservatives and the remnants of Giuliani's 2008 campaign organization. The Texas governor hopes to sweep the Super Tuesday South [and California] to overcome any edge others might have elsewhere.

Bridges to the establishment

If Perry is standing after Super Tuesday, he'll need to make inroads with establishment Republicans to win a first-ballot majority at the Republican National Convention.

Target: Tampa

Perry would have several goals at the GOP convention in Tampa: Unifying his party, defining the stakes of the 2012 election and taking aim at key swing states, starting with host Florida.

Next stop: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

With the nomination in hand, Perry would focus like a laser beam on the economy, comparing his Texas record of job creation and balanced budgets with President Barack Obama's record of rising unemployment and deficits.

Dunham's full insight on each of the 10 steps is available to view here.

A long term strategy for the future of NASA

Natalie Gonnella
Follow Natalie on Twitter

As NASA retires the US shuttle initiative after 30 years of space flight, Col. Walter Cunningham and Rep. Pete Olson this weekend on Politico weigh in on the growing discontent over the future of the US space program.

Critical of both the Obama administration's space policy and the rising uncertainty over the benefits of American space exploration, Cunningham and Olson offer an innovative strategy for the future of the program, calling for both the integration of private participation and commercial markets, as well as a wider commitment to more meaningful operations.  With Atlantis concluding the final shuttle mission on Friday, here's a quick look at their key ideas for the future of US space exploration:

By establishing a long-term strategy, with specific policies, led and endorsed by Congress, we can again make NASA and the human space program credible and beneficial. To this end, we must:

• Spell out a coherent HSF mission, goal and timeline for the next 20 years. Manned missions to the Moon, and then Mars, should be part of this timeline
• Return to the earlier NASA model of success: Adopt best practices to reform contracting, foster better communication between centers, eliminate activities not essential for space exploration and clear away bureaucracy.
• Assess the near-term potential and costs for commercial space companies to support both cargo and manned LEO missions to better understand the potential investment required by private investors, and the degree it may free NASA resources to focus on the deep-space mission
• Make a quick decision on a heavy launch system and the necessary related technologies;

In their new homes, Atlantis and her sister orbiters are likely to inspire little in the next generation of Americans if there is nothing for our children to aspire to. Let us hope that Atlantas’ return to Earth will be the harbinger of a new era of U.S. human space flight and American exceptionalism.

The full op-ed by Col. Cunningham and Rep. Olson is available to view here.

From tax reform to trade agreements, Sen. Rob Portman offers seven 'easy' steps for economic growth

Natalie Gonnella
Follow Natalie on Twitter

Amid Washington's ongoing debt drama and June's dismal unemployment numbers, in his latest op-ed freshman Senator Rob Portman is challenging his congressional colleagues to get serious about economic recovery, outlining seven 'easy' ideas to boost private sector investment and job growth in America.

From tax reform to pending free trade agreements, here's a look at Senator Portman's common sense solutions for economic stability:

1. Energy independence: Washington should adopt a pro-growth national energy policy. Let’s attack our addiction to foreign oil with conviction. The plan must include using less energy through smart conservation and finding more energy by aggressively and responsibly developing our own resources. Washington shouldn’t pick winners and losers, but should remove government barriers that raise costs and threaten jobs.
2. Tax reform: Let’s start the process immediately to reform the tax code, something economists across the spectrum agree will create economic growth and jobs. Eliminating preferences and lowering tax rates will enhance our competitiveness, lead to a more efficient allocation of resources and ensure a tax code that’s fair for everyone, not just those who can manipulate it.
3. Cut the red tape: Let’s go beyond the rhetoric and enact common-sense cost-benefit analysis that separates the necessary regulations from those that kill jobs without justification, and insist that agencies use the least burdensome alternative.
4. Pass pending free trade agreements: With 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside the United States, giving our workers, farmers and service providers fair access to those markets should be an urgent national priority.  
5. Reform and modernize our job training programs: Part of the answer is an improved education system that prepares our children for the careers of tomorrow, but Congress can also act immediately to help retrain today’s workers by revamping the $18 billion spent annually on federal training programs. Those already in the workforce deserve better than the bureaucratic complexities and red tape of 44 different federal employment and training programs administered by nine different agencies. 
6. Reduce costs, add choices and put consumers in charge: Many of us believe this requires repealing the new healthcare law, which will cost trillions of dollars and kill as many as 800,000 jobs. But in the meantime, let’s reduce the costs of healthcare and add jobs by expanding choices and putting consumers in charge, through expanding health savings accounts, allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines and reining in frivolous lawsuits and other medical malpractice costs.
7. Cut and cap: Let’s reduce federal spending now and cap the growth of government. Obama was right when he said last week that dealing with our record debt and deficits would give businesses more certainty and lead to job expansion. 

Keeping their "Pledge": GOP introduces new plan to promote job creation and economic growth

Natalie Gonnella
Follow Natalie on Twitter

House Republicans unveiled their growth focused agenda today, with a new plan that seeks to empower job creators by removing red tape, lowering taxes and and boosting trade to get the economy back on track, "so that Americans can do what they do best: create, innovate and lead."

Modeled on the the GOP's Pledge to America, in rolling out their vision House Republicans aim to address substantial economic challenges while fostering innovation, investment, and job growth without raising taxes.

With unemployment holding strong at over 400,000 for the seventh week in a row, here's a look at the key areas adressed in the GOP's agenda, and their ideas on growth focused solutions:

Empower small business owners and reduce regulatory burdens: In order to ease the regulatory burden on the economy and to promote job creation, [House Republicans} will approve legislation that requires a congressional review and approval of any proposed federal government regulation that will have a significant impact on the economy

Fix the tax code to help job creators: [House Republicans] will set the top tax rates at no more than 25% for job creating businesses.  This would level the playing field with our competitors and would help to generate investments and create American jobs allowing the U.S. to be more competitive in the global marketplace and attract business.

Increase competitiveness for American manufacturers: [House Republicans] will pass three pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. This will be a shot in the arm for businesses small and large and will create jobs.  [House Republicans] will build on those successes by looking for other ways to expand market access for U.S. made products while vigorously enforcing our rights to protect American jobs from unfair practices by other countries. 

Encourage entrepreneurship and growth: [House Republicans] will modernize and improve the patent system to discourage frivolous lawsuits, expedite reviews, and provide better protection for job creating entrepreneurs...The House Judiciary Committee is reviewing our visa system to determine the needs of American employers and the reforms necessary to ensure that American businesses maintain their leading edge in innovation and technology development...There are two major programs that must be reauthorized next year by Congress to improve the FDA approval process: the prescription drug user fee program and the medical device user fee program....These two reauthorizations present an opportunity to bring transparency and consistency to the FDA approval process, and with that, more efficiency, growth, and American jobs.

Maximize domestic energy production to ensure an energy policy for the twenty-first century: House Republicans are taking immediate action through our American Energy Initiative by passing bipartisan legislation to expand energy exploration and production.  This will help create American jobs, grow our economy, and enhance our security

Pay down America’s unsustainable debt burden and start living within our means: [House Republicans] will work to control the federal deficit to assure investors and entrepreneurs that our nation’s elected leaders are finally getting serious about paying off the debt over time and will bring back confidence by supporting long-term economic growth.

The Republican Plan for America's Job Creators is available to view here.