Demonstrate Real Leadership by Jeffrey Lewis (NAPSA)—Asthe 2014 election made clear to many pundits, Americans are as discontented with the president’s leadership as they are with the dysfunction provided by a divided Congress. American voters have put Republicans at the helm of the Capitol—it’s time for the party to right this ship. Democratic presidents have done great things with Republican congressional leaders—from Woodrow Wilson working with Republican Speaker Gillett to pass a constitutional amendment allowing women to vote, to Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich balancing our budget and enacting real welfare reform. Divided leadership is possible, and the nation is depending on Republicans to show a path forward. Where should they start? ObamaCare. In the early stages of ObamaCare’s implementation, it became the poster child of inept government. The bottom line: The government knowshowto sell the American people on its plans for overhauling and co-optingcritical components of our lives but it can’t deliver because bureaucrats simply don’t understand how real markets work. When Republicans control Capitol Hill, it’s the party’s opportunity to provide a real agenda instead of the cynical monotony of saying “no.” The way forward? Republicans must forge honest partnerships with the business sector in search of pragmatic solutions that work for everyone—not just government regulators. The private sector knows what it’s doing, with decades of experience not only providing health care services that lead the globe, but man- aging insurance options for nearly 60 percent of the nation. Instead of costly mandates that skyrocket premiums, develop simplified basic coverage plans that provide the critical care that patients need without depleting their bank accounts. This is the Republican moment. President Obama will not be taking the lead on dissecting his hallmark legislative accomplishment in six years as president. Republicans must work—hard. Republican leaders have been given the go-ahead by voters to reconstruct American policy and offer leadership in thought and action. Republicans have an invaluable opportunity to put their principles on the line and provefreemarket decision making and private reform will truly pave a more optimistic future for everyone—aninvaluable opportunity to prove their rhetoric. To do so requires that Republicans take a page from the playbooks of the late Senators John Heinz, R-Pa., and Pat Moynihan, D-N.Y., who put politics aside to tackle and solve some of the most difficult domestic problems facing the nation. Strong leadership requires patience, sacrifice and the willingness to take risks and face their results. But it also requires a willingness to cross the aisle and build bipartisan coalitions. Rhetoric is easy—real leadership requires more. Today, strong leadership is our only chance of getting this American experimentright. Jeffrey Lewis is the president of the Institute for Health Care Innovation and former Republican Staff Director for U.S. Senator John Heinz (jeffrey@institute.bz).
