James Capretta explains for National Review Online readers why he believes congressional Republicans need to develop a more coherent plan.
… [T]here’s much less agreement on what legislative steps will work best to move in the right direction. That was evident in the Homeland Security/immigration fight. A disagreement over tactics eventually led to an embarrassing GOP retreat.
To avoid repeating that mistake, it is important for GOP leaders in both the House and Senate to think clearly about their tactical options and to come to a rough agreement with one another about how they will proceed, well before they actually have to execute a plan.
The most important decision they must make regarding tactics in the coming months is what to do in the budget-reconciliation process. That is the legislative tool that allows budget-related legislation to be considered in the Senate with a time limit on debate — meaning it can’t be filibustered and thus can be passed, at least in theory, without any Democratic support. Reconciliation gives the GOP substantial additional leverage that does not exist on bills considered under regular order. …