The preface to the ten-point "Contract with America" was a serial publication of congressional reforms. Republicans vowed to make Congress "live under the legal philosophys that it passes for the rest of the country," cut one out of three Congressional deputation staffers, reduce the Congressional budget, and hire an outside auditor to check into Congressional abuses (Tumulty, 1995, p. 25). As of March 25, 1995, President Clinton signed into law a cock calling for Congressional accountability; the bill for Congressional committee and staff changes had cle bed the brook floor, hardly had not entered Senate Committee. (U. S. Congress, 1995, p. 853).
The first point of the "Contract with America" platform is "The Fiscal Responsibility Act." This Act includes the balanced budget amendment and the line item veto. The Constitutional amendment would have take the federal budget to be balanced by 2002. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority vote in both the plate and the Senate. The House passed the proposal, but it died on the Senate floor, only two votes short of the required two-thirds majority. The line-item veto would give the President the authority to strike vast spending items on proposed legislation. This bill passed both House and Senate.
A key element in the passage of "Contract with America" reforms is the public's perception of party leadership. governmental analysts contend that the 1994 election victory amounted to a backlash against Clinton: " maven fourth of voters said they were voting against the president. Fifty-one percent disapproved of his transaction in office and they split almost 5 to 1 for the Republicans" (Roberts, 1994, p. 42). However, post-election polls indicate that Newt Gingrich has not fared much bring out in the public's eyes. In answer to the question "Do you think back Newt Gingrich has serious ideas for the country?" the results were as follows: yes (29%), no (32%), and not sure (39%) (Tumulty, 1995, p. 25).
The response to "Is Gingrich a leader you can trust?" was: yes (19%), no (52%), and not sure (29%) (p. 25). Gingrich believes that he can boost the public's support by focusing on ideology: "The things that are wrong in America are not wrong because of money or lack of money; they're wrong because we've had a bad set of ideas that haven't worked and we need to replace them with a good set of ideas" (Gingrich, 1994, p. 193).
U. S. Congress. (1994). Republicans' initial promise: 100-day debate on 'contract.' Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc.
U. S. Congress. (1995). House GOP shows a united front in crossing 'contract' divide. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc.
Tax cuts are a central feature of "The American Dream Restoration Act," the fifth point of the "Contract with America." This bill would seek the repeal of the spousal tax, provide a $500 per child tax credit, and carry the tax-free usage of interest from individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The House recently passed this bill, and it now moves on to the Senate. Although tax cuts are touristed with the public, Senate Republicans are expected to scrutinize them closely in cost of their effect on the federal deficit: "A rate of Senate Republicans, including (Bob) Dole and Pet
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