Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a rising congressional star in a time when Texas Republican influence is dimming in Washington, deserves re-election. The two-term Republican is a thoughtful conservative who, though we sometimes disagree with him, is a careful and fair deliberator. The Fifth District representative is also a man of conviction in a party and a Congress where that's increasingly hard to find.

Take the Wright amendment. The Dallas lawmaker (with GOP Rep. Sam Johnson) took the lead in demolishing the legislative wall long protecting Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport from competition. Though Mr. Hensarling didn't vote for phase-out legislation, his reason for doing so – that the bill was still too protectionist – was admirably idealistic. Mr. Hensarling was wrong, but we respect his independence – and appreciate that he had the grace not to obstruct the compromise.

Mr. Hensarling, 49, has been a leading congressional advocate for fiscal responsibility, even bucking the spendthrift GOP leadership. Though opposing new taxes, the budget hawk and Phil Gramm protégé believes the spending and entitlements crisis threatens America's future so gravely that even a tax increase has to be considered. (Candor – what a concept!) And at a time when many Republicans are running hard to the right on immigration, Mr. Hensarling understands that a guest worker program has to be part of realistic reform.

Democratic challenger Charlie Thompson, 62, an Athens economic developer, duns Mr. Hensarling as a professional politician. That tack could be effective this anti-incumbent year, but truth to tell, if more politicians were like Jeb Hensarling, Congress would have a far better reputation.