Posted on 11/10/2006 4:33:19 PM PST by ellery
REPUBLICAN CONTRACT WITH AMERICA As Republican Members of the House of Representatives and as citizens seeking to join that body we propose not just to change its policies, but even more important, to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives. That is why, in this era of official evasion and posturing, we offer instead a detailed agenda for national renewal, a written commitment with no fine print.
This year's election offers the chance, after four decades of one-party control, to bring to the House a new majority that will transform the way Congress works. That historic change would be the end of government that is too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public's money. It can be the beginning of a Congress that respects the values and shares the faith of the American family.
Like Lincoln, our first Republican president, we intend to act "with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right." To restore accountability to Congress. To end its cycle of scandal and disgrace. To make us all proud again of the way free people govern themselves.
On the first day of the 104th Congress, the new Republican majority will immediately pass the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith and trust of the American people in their government:
FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress; SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse; THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third; FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs; FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee; SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public; SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase; EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-line budgeting. Thereafter, within the first 100 days of the 104th Congress, we shall bring to the House Floor the following bills, each to be given full and open debate, each to be given a clear and fair vote and each to be immediately available this day for public inspection and scrutiny.
1. THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: A balanced budget/tax limitation amendment and a legislative line-item veto to restore fiscal responsibility to an out- of-control Congress, requiring them to live under the same budget constraints as families and businesses. (Bill Text) (Description)
2. THE TAKING BACK OUR STREETS ACT: An anti-crime package including stronger truth-in- sentencing, "good faith" exclusionary rule exemptions, effective death penalty provisions, and cuts in social spending from this summer's "crime" bill to fund prison construction and additional law enforcement to keep people secure in their neighborhoods and kids safe in their schools. (Bill Text) (Description)
3. THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: Discourage illegitimacy and teen pregnancy by prohibiting welfare to minor mothers and denying increased AFDC for additional children while on welfare, cut spending for welfare programs, and enact a tough two-years-and-out provision with work requirements to promote individual responsibility. (Bill Text) (Description)
4. THE FAMILY REINFORCEMENT ACT: Child support enforcement, tax incentives for adoption, strengthening rights of parents in their children's education, stronger child pornography laws, and an elderly dependent care tax credit to reinforce the central role of families in American society. (Bill Text) (Description)
5. THE AMERICAN DREAM RESTORATION ACT: A S500 per child tax credit, begin repeal of the marriage tax penalty, and creation of American Dream Savings Accounts to provide middle class tax relief. (Bill Text) (Description)
6. THE NATIONAL SECURITY RESTORATION ACT: No U.S. troops under U.N. command and restoration of the essential parts of our national security funding to strengthen our national defense and maintain our credibility around the world. (Bill Text) (Description)
7. THE SENIOR CITIZENS FAIRNESS ACT: Raise the Social Security earnings limit which currently forces seniors out of the work force, repeal the 1993 tax hikes on Social Security benefits and provide tax incentives for private long-term care insurance to let Older Americans keep more of what they have earned over the years. (Bill Text) (Description)
8. THE JOB CREATION AND WAGE ENHANCEMENT ACT: Small business incentives, capital gains cut and indexation, neutral cost recovery, risk assessment/cost-benefit analysis, strengthening the Regulatory Flexibility Act and unfunded mandate reform to create jobs and raise worker wages. (Bill Text) (Description)
9. THE COMMON SENSE LEGAL REFORM ACT: "Loser pays" laws, reasonable limits on punitive damages and reform of product liability laws to stem the endless tide of litigation. (Bill Text) (Description)
10. THE CITIZEN LEGISLATURE ACT: A first-ever vote on term limits to replace career politicians with citizen legislators. (Description)
Further, we will instruct the House Budget Committee to report to the floor and we will work to enact additional budget savings, beyond the budget cuts specifically included in the legislation described above, to ensure that the Federal budget deficit will be less than it would have been without the enactment of these bills.
Respecting the judgment of our fellow citizens as we seek their mandate for reform, we hereby pledge our names to this Contract with America.
During six years of control (Presidency and Congress), the GOP pretty much turned its back on the Contract.
Many who complain about spending want very much to hold on to every spending program for divorce and single "parents."
And 1992 was long before the War. Spending on the War will be lower until Iran builds up and expands. After that, spending will be interesting. So will the draft.
And paid the price on Tuesday. There is some hope though. John Shadegg and Mike Pence are running for party leadership positions and saying that the Republican party should return to the small government principles the Contract with America contained.
During the last few years the Republicans have been wedded to the politics of pelf.
We will know more after the leadership election.
Ping
And ran away at the speed of light.
I'm all for blending the original contract with Newts "American 11" point plan .. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1696544/posts , in addition I think we should consider reducing the broadness of the commerce clause as much as possible , eliminate/repeal the 17th ammendment (popular election of senators) in order to give the states back the representation they deserve at the federal level.. as to the anti-crime provisions of the contract I am all for reducing penalties on a federal level for drug offenses to open up beds for dangerous criminals. I REALLY like Newt , next to Reagan and JP2 he was (and can continue to be) a source of guidance and power..
That was the old Contract With America. Now it is time for the rank and file to come up with a New Contract With America.
We cannot expect the republican leadership to take the initiative with this NCWA, unless they get long-term, grassroots pressure to adopt it. But the time the republican national convention comes around, each and every delegate should have a copy on hand, and be enthusiatic about sharing it with the leadership.
Both elected officials and candidates for the 2008 campaign should have every opportunity to proudly sign on to that NCWA, and if not, then to have a very good excuse as to why not.
It will not be the old Contract With America, it will have to be brand new. It will truly have to reflect what America's republicans want their elected officials to do. No equivocation. No hedging. No back room deals. And no compromise on principals. You can wheel and deal on anything else, but to these things be true.
The NCWA has yet to be written. Some republican James Madison is needed to create a draft, and republicans across the nation will need to have their say.
It must be done soon, and it must be done right. And any republican who doesn't sign on had better be prepared to pay the price.
I still have the tear out version they placed in all the TV guides.
They really advertised the Contract.
One more reason to demand TERM LIMITS, NOW!
Term Limits ping!
All of the internal reforms of the House that were promised were accomplished. Notice that ethics and lobbying reform were not part of the Contract. The Democrats really had not been all that bad on that stuff. What the Republicans sought was an end to the un-democratic ways the House had been run. They did institute term limits for Committee chairs, ended proxy voting, ended closed Committee meetings, closed the House Bank, sold the Ford building, and reduced the size of House staff.
It is really quite a record of accomplishment. Too bad Tom DeLay pissed it all away with his machine politics and Republicans failed to hold the Administration accountable on Iraq or Katrina.
After gaining a majority, there were Republicans who pretty much came right out and said, "With Republicans in charge, people probably won't want term limits."
You are wrong.
It was brought to the House floor an received a majority vote. But, since it would require a Constitutional amendment a 2/3 vote was required.
They are all great except 10. Never had any use for Term Limits legislation which is a crock. There are term limits already in the form of an election.
You could even include an extra benefit: if you vote in 2/3's of these signers in both houses then you'll get a balanced budget admendment and/or term limits that will then be sent to the 50 states for a vote.
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