Republicans pledge 'power to the people'

Republicans unveiled their much-anticipated "Pledge to America" yesterday, proposing to shrink the size of government and reform Congress if they win a majority in November's mid-term elections.

The 21-page document, which spells out the House Republicans' conservative vision for the future, is meant to silence critics on the left who labelled Republicans "the Party of no".

Republicans hope it will help propel them back into the majority in the House.

"Across America, the people see a government in Washington that isn't listening, doesn't get it, and doesn't care," said House Minority Leader John Boehner at a news conference.

"This new governing agenda, built by listening to the people, offers plans to create jobs, cut spending, and put power where it belongs: in the hands of the people," he said.

"It offers a new way forward that hasn't been tried .… an approach focused on cutting spending instead of accelerating spending, and eliminating uncertainty for the private-sector innovators and entrepreneurs who create jobs."

The venue for the launch, a hardware store and lumberyard in Sterling, Virginia, was deliberately low-key.

On both sides of the political spectrum, the "Pledge to America" was described as a gamble. Many openly called it a mistake.

The document is far from controversial, posing an oft-repeated list of Republican talking points, such as repealing health-care legislation, slashing domestic spending and extending the Bush tax cuts.

But, with just five weeks to go until the mid-terms, it reframes the elections as a choice between the policies of America's two parties instead of merely cashing in on widespread dissatisfaction with president Barack Obama's government.

"If we'd said nothing we could have sat back and waited for victory. This just gives Democrats a stick to beat us with," said one Republican insider.

The plan is divided into five key areas: the economy, government spending, health care, government reform and national security. Republicans say they would slash $100 billion from the government's non-military spending and scale back Mr Obama's health-care legislation.

There would be increased defence funding and reduced taxes for small businesses. Spending on welfare would also be cut.

The document discusses the dangers of debt at length. But critics blasted it for failing to make clear what Republicans would do to tackle the debt.

Conservative blogger Erick Erickson criticised it for lacking substantial long-term goals. He wrote on RedState.com: "There is a promise to 'immediately reduce spending' by cutting off stimulus funds. Wow. Exciting."

David Frum, a former speechwriter for president George W Bush, said the pledge was deliberately modest.