Go back over the last 30-40 years and see how long it took some of the biggest legislative items -- for better or worse -- to get passed. Reagan was in office for a couple of years before his economic agenda was in full gear, and it wasn't until 1986 that a landmark tax reform bill was passed.
Even if you go back to the 1994 Republican "Contract with America," you'll find that it was very easy to pass it because every provision in that legislative agenda was practically a no-brainer that had very little opposition among voters.
Reagan didn't have the House and the Senate.
” Go back over the last 30-40 years and see how long it took some of the biggest legislative items — for better or worse — to get passed.”
Patriot Act 2001 - one month
TARP 2008 - 2 weeks
Affordable Care Act 2010 - one year
Voting Rights Act of 1965 - 5 months
Declaration of War December 8, 1941 - one day
Each of the above were major pieces of legislation.