We Need A 'Born Again' GOP
By Thomas D. Segel
March 25, 2009
Page 2 of 2
For senior citizens, the Contract called for raising Social Security earnings limits, which had kept seniors out of the work force. It also called for the repeal of 1993 Social Security tax hikes. For small business there were capital gains cuts, incentive programs and a call for unfunded mandate reform.
Also included in the contract with America was a common sense legal reform act calling for loser pays legislation and reasonable limits on punitive damage awards. The final bill proposed a first-ever vote on term limits to replace career politicians.
These were all things the American public was hungry to hear and they acted on the contract by voting an election sweep of 54 seats in the House, with the GOP winning the majority for the first time in 40 years. The House went on to honor the Tenets of its Contract and it passed nine of the ten proposed bills. The vote involving term limits won a plurality, but required a two-thirds majority as a Constitutional Amendment, so it failed.
Granted, some of what was proposed in the Contract with America did not become law because the measures could not garner enough support in the Senate, but some important changes did become a reality.
What would those 54 seats won in 1994 do for the House today. If the Democrats lost 54 of the 254 seats they now hold, the Republicans would again have a 32 seat majority, Nancy Pelosi would step down from her position as Speaker of the House and some form of balance would be restored to a spend ourselves into oblivion government.
BUT...that is only if Republicans can face up to the shame they have brought upon themselves and their party by developing a new Contract that addresses the important issues of today. THEN...honoring their contract when elected. Those in office and those wishing to run for office need to remember that when conservative values and morality are the foundation of a person's campaign they usually win, because in its heart of hearts America is basically conservative and moral. If those same conservative values and morality continue to be at the core of how those elected to office govern, they will keep their Party strong and the public proud of their elected leaders.
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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA. >> Back -- Page 1 2
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