In a recent interview, Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, provided insightful commentary on the evolving landscape of partisan politics, particularly regarding taxation and government spending. He described the Republican Party as a coalition of single-issue voters primarily focused on preserving their individual freedoms and minimizing government intervention. These voters prioritize issues such as financial independence, property rights, small business ownership, gun ownership, homeschooling, and parental rights. Their common ground lies in the desire to be left alone by the government, rather than actively seeking government benefits or approval.

Norquist highlighted the success of Americans for Tax Reform in uniting these diverse interests through weekly meetings in Washington, D.C. He contrasted this with what he sees as the opposing “takings coalition” of the American Left, which he characterizes as groups seeking to control and redistribute government resources. He listed trial lawyers, government labor unions, government employees, big-city political machines, and environmental activists as examples of this coalition. Norquist argued that this coalition is inherently unstable, predicting that these groups will eventually clash as they compete for taxpayer funds.

Norquist also discussed the challenges faced by Republican leaders in controlling government spending, citing former President Trump as an example. He attributed Trump’s limited success in this area to a lack of focus on spending cuts and insufficient experience with the federal government. He contrasted this with Ronald Reagan's staunch defense of limited government. Norquist suggested that current Republican leadership in Congress is hampered by the need to manage a diverse coalition, hindering their ability to effectively lead. He pointed to state-level initiatives as a model for the national party, highlighting states that have successfully controlled spending growth.