To the American People(Contract with America II)

Human Events ^ | 3-8-06 | Mike Pence,Jeb Hensarling

[theworkersarefew]

To the American People:

This year’s Republican Study Committee’s budget alternative is about freedom and opportunity. It is about allowing American families to keep more of their own money and spend it on their own priorities rather than Washington’s, a reality that can only be accomplished through less government, lower taxes, less federal spending, and economic prosperity. This budget therefore is about renewal and change.

In 1994, Republicans across the country embraced a legislative platform of freedom and opportunity, of getting spending under control, reducing the tax burden, and shrinking the size of the federal government. The principles of this “revolutionary” path were laid down in the Contract With America, a “detailed agenda for national renewal” designed to “restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives.” The nation responded to the Contract’s vision by transforming the political landscape in the House of Representatives and Washington.

In 1995, the new Majority in the House acted boldly and with initial success to enact the reform agenda it promised in the Contract. In particular, the first House Republican budget resolution that year (H.Con.Res. 67) sought to rein in the size and growth of government as the Contract called for, with all but one member of the new majority voting in favor. The Contract budget sought to balance the budget, strengthen national security, and cut taxes while providing over $1 trillion in deficit reduction. The budget poignantly stated:

America stands at a crossroads. Down one path lies more and more debt and the continued degradation of the Federal Government and the people it is intended to serve. Down the other lies the restoration of the American dream…we choose the second of these roads. We do it because it’s right. We do it because it’s sensible. We do it because America’s future does not belong to the Congress, or the administration, or any political party. It belongs to the American people themselves.

Unfortunately, we are once again at a historic crossroads in the nation’s future. Despite initial successes, Republicans today are confronted with familiar challenges: expanding government, a worsening fiscal position, and an explosive growth in spending and earmarks. In fiscal year 2005, the federal government spent $2.47 trillion—49% more than it spent in fiscal year 1995 after adjusting for inflation. The deficit for the current fiscal year is projected to be upwards of $400 billion, the largest nominally in history. In 1995, the public debt limit stood at $4.9 trillion; it now stands at $8.2 trillion, up 67% and yet again in need of an increase. This is not the result of war and economic challenges, as is often claimed, but rather an unwillingness to make choices and trade offs.

In particular, nonpartisans such as the Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office have been warning Congress that the growth in direct spending (i.e., spending that is on auto-pilot and outside the annual spending process) is occurring at an unsustainable rate due to well-known demographic trends and other factors. By 2040, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid alone will consume the entirety of today’s budget, as these programs fund the retirement and increased healthcare costs of the baby boom generation. If we do nothing to address the structural flaws, many intentionally embedded by big spenders of the past, future lawmakers will have to either raise taxes to obscene levels, destroying any chance our children and grandchildren will have of a life of prosperity and opportunity, or deny funding to literally every other federal program regardless of its priority—defense, border security, veterans, and so forth. All will go without, if our fiscal situation is not addressed now.

This is not the legacy the Members of the Republican Study Committee wish to leave, a massive government and a crushing burden on future generations. In crafting this year’s budget, we have sought to update the budget passed by the first House Republican majority in a generation. Obviously, the replica is not exact; many things have changed in the past decade and much good has been done. However, with regard to the work that remains, we have tried to adhere closely to the policy assumptions of that first budget and renew our commitment to balancing the budget without raising taxes. We too believe that America is at a crossroads, and we too choose the path that leads to the restoration of the American dream. We propose for your consideration the “RSC Budget: The Contract with America Renewed.”

MIKE PENCE Member of Congress Chairman, Republican Study Committee

JEB HENSARLING Member of Congress Chairman, RSC Budget & Spending Taskforce

[theworkersarefew]

"Tomorrow, conservatives in the House of Representatives, led by Mike Pence and Jeb Hensarling, will introduce a bold budget that is modeled after the fabled mid-90's Contract with America. The conservative alternative will be a challenge to Congressional leadership in that it goes well above and beyong savings sought by the President's budget.

The budget will move beyond the current $75 billion in savings to nearly $700 billion. It significantly reduces the size and scope of three federal agencies: Departments of Education, Energy and Commerce. "-Tim Chapman at Townhall

[tx_eggman]

In fiscal year 2005, the federal government spent $2.47 trillion—49% more than it spent in fiscal year 1995 after adjusting for inflation.

So since '95 as far as fiscal restraint is concerned, it really hasn't mattered who's driving the bus.

[Tarpon]

The famed contract with America wasn't what you think it was. It was written up by Armey and entered the campaign lexicon really late, probably too late to do anything useful -- around Spetemeber-October.

Simply put, it was the Clinton Gun ban that did the deed.

Whatever the result, a few years later, even Clinton admitted the gun ban cost him the house. In this case, history does not repeat, except to note, if you don't want Hillary setting gun control policy, vote Republican.

Remember De-Foley-iate?

[jackbenimble]

I like Pence and the rest of this small group of conservative Republicans, but in total the Republican Party has proved itself anything but fiscally conservative over the last decade. They promised us small government a decade ago. Even if the entire Republican Party signs onto this platform why should we start believing this group of lying scoundrels now?

My sense of party loyalty is gone. When I get a chance to vote for good conservative Republicans I'm going to. I'll extend the benefit of the doubt to new Republican challengers unless I have reason to believe they are RINOs from the gitgo. But when my choice is a bad RINO Republican incumbent or any other candidate I plan to punish the RINO. I'm going to start with both of Wyoming's Senators. One of them is up in 2006.

[jmc813]

ping

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[George W. Bush]

Great article. Hopefully, we can return to fulfilling Contract With America. Too bad we'll get no help from Bush Co on cutting spending and waste.

The Union really should consider a constitutional amendment banning persons from Texas from the presidency. First, LBJ and now the current overspender.

We really should stop messing with Texas. It costs too much.

[Supernatural]

We now have a choice of voting for bad...Republicans...or for worse...Democrats.

When do we get the choice to vote for good or better?

[Gipper08]

"When do we get the choice to vote for good or better?"

GOP primaries!

[Gipper08]

Thanks

[Supernatural]

Wishful thinking on your part. They all "talk the talk" we want to hear, but after getting elected, none of them "walk the walk".

Even if we get a few good ones in there, the bad ones overrule them anyway.

But I still vote, hoping for the best and expecting the worst.

[IamConservative]

Republicans act like proposing fiscal responsibility will get them the power they seek. But, actually implementing fiscal responsibility will cause them to lose power.

[Gipper08]

I am saying many conservatives lose to establishment Republicans in the GOP primaries.We need to support the true conservatives in the primaries.

[mbraynard]

Would be great if the 3rd party conservative types had the brains to realize this. Add the Libertarian/Constitution/etc vote from a general to an R primary and you could really tip a lot of scales.

[Milhous]

bttt

[Small-L]

Nice thought, but many of us vote in the Republican primaries only to have the establishment, big government RINOs selected by the party myrmadons anyway. I'll keep voting in the RP primary, but don't count on my vote for a RINO incumbent.

[Capitalism2003]

This is a Libertarian budget. That makes it dead on arrival with today's Republican party.

[mbraynard]

You should organize a caucus of your libertarian/whatever friends and do an endorsement in the primary and publicize it.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

SS/Medicare/Medicaid must be addressed. I say all three programs should be consolidated into one single program with stricter eligibility requirements and which fulfills the promises made to our seniors and helps the extreme poor and those on disability. This new proposal would eliminate all the bureaucracy and redundacy, and it would save states money because the feds would take over the Medicaid portion of it (in exchange, the states should be responsible for education, housing, labor laws, etc). Younger and middle-age workers should have the option to opt out of it entirely, which means that the new program would phase itself out within a generation.