Is The Republican Congress Becoming Irrelevant?

GOP-controlled state legislatures and governors are tackling some of the nation's most politically charged issues while their Washington brethren craw fish on their promises. This has caused many voters to wonder if Congressional Republicans have thrown in the towel less than one year after gaining impressive electoral victories.

On critical social and fiscal issues the states have run circles around timid Capitol Republicans. No one except the politically naive expected Democrats to do anything but sheepishly follow the president's lead. But Republicans were seen as the genuine Hope and Change that Americans were longing to embrace.

Judging from action rather than words, the GOP is in danger of crushing the momentum for reform that was the clarion call of the mid-term elections. It begs the question: Is the Republican-dominated House no longer relevant? You could made a case that the cesspool that is Washington politics has claimed another victim.

Here are just three examples of where states have gotten the message of the mid-term elections, while the Republican House has frittered away opportunities to do anything of substance:

ABORTION: Every election, Republicans vow to tackle abortion, promising to undo the government sanctioned unspeakable horror unleashed by the Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision. As soon as the Republicans are sworn in, the issue fades like the setting sun. However, more Republican lawmakers in the states are showing the courage of their convictions. Most recently, legislators in both Indiana and Florida passed sweeping abortion restrictions. In Indiana, lawmakers cut funding to Planned Parenthood. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Rick Perry is poised to sign new legislation putting conditions on abortions. For their part, Republicans in Washington are continuing their unbroken streak of broken promises.

OBAMA CARE: The President's health care boondoggle was front and center in the mid-term elections. Republicans and even a few Democrats rode into office on a wave of anti-Obama Care sentiment. Yet other than a mostly symbolic vote by the House to defund the monstrous government plan, new requirements of the law are being funded and implemented every day. States, tired of waiting on Washington, have launched a fusillade of legal challenges, legislation and political maneuvers designed to block the implementation of federal reform that will bankrupt the country while destroying a world-class health care system. Virginia and 26 other states have gone to court to stop implementation, while seven states are considering legislation to "nullify" the law.

BUDGET DEFICITS: The federal deficit continues to grow even as Republicans and the President talk about massive cuts. So far it has been mostly posturing, head fakes and finger-pointing, with no significant action. Meanwhile, many states are wielding budget axes, making unpopular slashes in spending to reduce deficits. In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie took on the teacher's union and won. Wisconsin governor Scott Walker faced down runaway Democrats and the powerful union bosses to salvage historic savings in public sector pension and health care costs. Many other states, mostly controlled by Republicans, are following suit.

If states can muster the political courage to do the right thing, why can't our elected officials in Washington, especially Republicans? The answers go to the heart of what's wrong in the nation's capitol.

In January, freshmen Republicans parachuted into Washington packing a mandate to address the issues. However, they quickly have succumbed to the seduction of inside the Beltway perks, prestige and power. They worship at the feet of Washington media, hoping to curry favorable coverage. Principles have been sacrificed on the altar of compromise, the holy grail of entrenched politicians.

Examples abound of Republican retreats. The recent battle over the 2011 budget ended with a compromise that left spending at historically high levels. This month GOP House leaders revealed they had pulled back an overhaul of Medicare, hinting it was too politically volatile. Next up is the vote on raising the debt ceiling, which will likely conclude with another lopsided agreement in the House that allows the government to borrow trillions of dollars, mortgaging the country's future.

It is time for Republicans in Washington to do some of the heavy lifting on issues. Democrats won't make it easy because they are determined to neuter the GOP by insisting on compromise as the best way to achieve the nation's goals. However, Republicans risk becoming irrelevant if they are unwilling to stand for principle over deal-making.