GOP NEWCOMERS TARGET DINOSAURS...AND REGULATIONS

The new Republican faces in Congress have no intention of acting like new kids on the block. And they certainly aren't interested in working in the shadows of representatives who have been in Washington a long time and have achieved a certain level of political comfort. (See Jon Rust's column elsewhere on this page about the GOP freshmen and their goals for term limits.)

A group of the GOP newcomers has announced an ambitious plan to eliminate four cabinet-level departments: Commerce, Education, Energy and Housing and Urban Development. The aim, the hard-hitting freshmen say, is to eliminate unnecessary government bureaucracy, particularly when there is so little evidence that these departments make a significant contribution to the welfare of Americans. Conservatives rightly contend there is no positive relationship, for example, between the size of the Department of Education and the effectiveness of American education.

There may be some essential functions performed by the four targeted departments. If so, those functions could be transferred to other government agencies.

It is an ambitious goal, one that gets to the heart of big government. Eliminating four large departments of the federal government is no quick or easy task, however. Each department enjoys strong support from lobbyists, grant recipients and congressional allies.

If fact, it may be too ambitious a goal. But the very idea that a sizable bloc of House Republicans has the gumption to suggest such a bold move is a huge step in the right direction.

While the new Republicans on Capitol Hill are at it, they are taking a look at the morass of government regulations. Some of the young turks would like to abolish most, if not all, of the burdensome rules that tend to cater to special-interest groups.

Federal regulations often seem to be the product of a dream world. As a result, many government rules conflict with each other, and hundreds of regulations impose controls that stifle the marketplace.

A word of caution: Government exists to protect the governed. No one believes the nation would be better off with no rules at all. Indeed, there are some examples of how thoughtful rules actually encourage competition and enhance business. Take the rule that prohibits airlines from bumping passengers who hold valid tickets. Yet the regulations also creatively allow airlines to overbook their flights, so long as the excess passengers are offered inducements to take a later flight. Often the airlines will give free tickets or cash to passengers willing to wait.

As Republicans continue their quest for less government, their efforts will best be guided by seeking government that enhances competition and benefits American consumers.

But never doubt for a moment that the forces of change are strong and capable of remaking government as we know it.