It’s time to rebuild the Republican party. The party of no? How about the party of “no more?” Saturday evening, during the Lincoln-Reagan Day dinner, U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., told those in attendance that the federal government can’t continue spending money into oblivion; the next and current generations will pay for it.

“We’re staring at the largest tax increase in the history of the country coming up on us at the end of this year because George Bush’s and our tax relief of 2001 and 2003 is expiring,” he said. “We’re spending money so fast that it’s almost a guarantee that we’re not going to be able to recommit ourselves to the same levels as we did in 2001 and 2003.”

As keynote speaker of the evening and incumbent running for re-election this fall, Rehberg said it’s time to rebuild the party, getting back its roots and regaining the majority; quite frankly, the Republican minority was earned, he said. In order to rebuild, Rehberg focused on U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., who became a “prime example” of what the party must do to rebuild. As Republicans, he said, they must work with those who share the same beliefs, even from different parties. That’s what Brown did, in addition to taking advantage of the today’s technology. Republicans must adapt to using the social media (i.e. Twitter, Facebook and e-mail) in order to stay in connection with each other without outside influences. The Republican Party, he said, is the party of “better solutions.” He proposed suspending payroll taxes on every working American and every employer for one year as well as reducing payroll taxes by 50 percent for two years which will help stimulate the economy because it’s “timely, targeted and transparent.”

As a party, Rehberg said, they must also consider the nation’s changing demographics. The party can no longer wait for single people to get married in order to speak with them about conservative beliefs, or wait for the young to get old before approaching them.

Rehberg asked the audience to remember one thing: The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen. Rehberg said he wants self-governance not big government. “I want the government to stay out of our way,” he said. “Give us the opportunity to succeed, grow, take care of our family, and the federal government should not be our senior partner.”

He told patrons the country is “trapped in a progressive experiment” as the president works to rebuild ties with other countries. “We need to tell the president of the United States, ‘Quit apologizing for America. It’s not your right. It’s not your responsibility,’ ” he said.

Rehberg addressed current issues including avoiding a tax raise during the recession and health care in which he denounced passing a bill that doesn’t include tort reform and defensive medicine. “We want doctors to be able to practice medicine to the best of their ability, the way they determine is the best interest of the patient,” he said.

Rehberg encouraged attendees to carefully consider the candidates running for state and federal offices, and encouraged the candidates to listen to the party and learn from them to ultimately lead on their behalf. He thanked those who voted for him and giving him “cover” and a “backbone” to stand up for the people of Montana.

“I want to thank you for giving me that opportunity to try to represent you the way you deserve to be represented,” he said. “I will fight on your behalf to try to move us from a progressive country that does not look like the America that we inherited.”

reporter@sidneyherald.com