In 1994, Republicans won our first House majority in 40 years with the Contract with America. Two years later, we became the first re-elected GOP House majority in 68 years. We learned many lessons in this process – lessons that today’s Republican House majority could put to use.
First of all, it is not enough to do the right things. You must do the right things in the right way to keep the trust and support of the American people.
If you do the right things in the wrong way – without buy-in from the American people – you’ll be deserted. Then, your opponents will become a majority and immediately repeal all the good things you did.
I have been thinking about this specifically about the budget reconciliation bill which House Republicans are trying to pass. I realized there were five principles Republicans should follow for communicating the right policies in the right way.
