DON’T FORGET THE LEGISLATURES: “One often-overlooked aspect of the Republican sweep of 2010 was the progress made in state legislatures. The GOP captured something like 26 state legislative bodies last November in a grass roots rebellion that is still reverberating. Minnesota was an important part of that trend, as Republicans took both the House and the Senate away from Democratic majorities–the latter for the first time since partisan elections began in the 1970s.”

And even in places where Republicans didn’t come close to taking over — like Hawaii — there’s a new assertiveness on fiscal matters. “New laws cost taxpayers’ money, and Hawaii Republican legislators want a clearer accounting of how much. A measure introduced by the Republican minority would put a price tag on every bill with a financial impact, which they said would increase government transparency and accountability. Hawaii is the only state that doesn’t require some form of fiscal notes attached to bills, according to the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, which promotes free markets and small government.”