GOP Free Lunch

So much for the party of "personal responsibility."

Over the past few days, Republicans in the Iowa Senate have weighed in on three big issues with three big free passes.

Immigration -- Republicans say Democrats are being way too mean when they push for legislation to punish contractors and executives whose firms knowingly exploit illegal immigrants. Instead, the GOP wants to help befuddled corporate captains by creating a big, expensive state employment database, compiled by whom I'm not sure. No one knows how we'd pay for it, or the 14 troopers Republicans want to hire to chase illegals.

Taxes -- Republicans want a $200 million income tax cut to spur the supposedly receding Iowa economy. We've got to act fast. Iowa's unemployment rate has skyrocketed to 4 percent, after all, and farmland value is up a mere 23 percent. And again, we have no idea what Republicans would cut from spending to bravely stimulate us.

Roads -- Senate Republicans want to take $90 million from gambling taxes to pay for road projects, relieving them from the politically messy business of actually asking people who use roads to pony up a dime. It truly is high time we protect the poor owners of giant $40,000 pickups who pay $65 bucks for a license plate. I mean, how else are they going to haul a hot tub back to the cul-de-sac?

So to review, businesses who hire illegal immigrants should be helped, not fined. We should toss everyone a $200 check, whether they need it or not. And gamblers, not drivers, should pay for road repairs. Sounds pretty sweet.

What's next? A thick, juicy steak cooked just the way I like it would be nice. Don't forget the hashbrowns. 

I know it's the minority party's job to float proposals that make political points, and because they don't run things, they don't have to fill in the details.

But I'm not sure these are the right points for a party that's supposed to represent smaller government, fiscal restraint, economic skill and, yes, personal responsibility. You'll also notice that the House GOP isn't joining in on this stuff.

What's also puzzling is that when Senate Republicans could have struck a real blow, they missed the chance. A paltry $1.2 million property tax "relief" bill passed the Senate with no debate. This is a big issue, and a potentially big Democratic weakness, yet they gave their woefully weak gesture a pass.

Maybe GOP now stands for give out passes.