I don't know if people still need this, but here it is:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
10. THE CITIZEN LEGISLATURE ACT
A first-ever vote on term limits to replace career politicians with
citizen legislators.
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.
sincerely,
Jim Devine
[EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles, CA 90045-2699 USA
310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950
