The Republican "Contract with America"

House of Representatives Republicans, under the leadership of Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, outlined a bold, ten-point "Contract with America." Most newly elected GOP members signed the contract during their campaigns. House Republicans vowed to pass the ten points of their contract during their first 100 days of the 1995 legislative session. The House convened on January 4. The end of the 100-day period was set to end shortly before Easter; however, House Republicans accomplished their mission a week early. On April 4, 1995, Republicans pushed their $189 billion tax cut package through the House, thus passing 9 of 10 bills in their "Contract."

Republicans feel that the ten points in their "Contract with America" address long-standing citizen complaints about the quality of life and government in America: "Jobs too insecure, wages too sluggish, families too fragmented, streets too dangerous, government too big, taxes too high, lobbyists too powerful, welfare too cushy, illegal aliens too costly, campaigns too nasty, politician

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his package would provide tax credits for child adoption ($5,000) and elderly dependent care ($500), strengthen child pornography laws, and provide a tracking system for "deadbeat dads" who fail to pay child support payments. As of March 25, 1995, this bill is still in House committee (U. S. Congress, 1995, p. 853). Although the prospects for passage in the Senate are good, one of the drawbacks of this legislation is securing the money to pay for the tax credits. 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 marriage tax, provide a $500 per child tax credit, and expand 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 popular with the public, Senate Republicans are expected to scrutinize them closely in terms of their effect on the federal deficit: "A number of Senate Republicans, including (Bob) Dole and Pete Domenici, R-N.M., are confirmed deficit hawks and want to channel all savings toward reducing the deficit" (U. S. Congress, 1994, p. 3218). The sixth point of the Republican contract i
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