Posted on 09/27/2007 8:42:53 PM PDT by Plutarch
When Fred Thompson hits the campaign trail in Iowa next week, he'll be offering a new theme for his candidacy: a return to the revolution. The newest GOP hopeful will emphasize his roots in the so-called Republican Revolution in 1994, when the party swept to power and took control of both houses of Congress for the first time in decades.
Thompson was in the class of 1994 that handed the Clintons a major defeat with a message of small government. His aides will also emphasize that the same year Thompson was calling for taking power away from the federal government and shifting it to states, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was endorsing New York's Democratic Governor Mario Cuomo and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was moving left in his unsuccessful first foray into politics, when he ran against Ted Kennedy for the Senate. "It's only a fair question to ask every candidate in the race what were you fighting for in 1994," said Todd Harris, Thompson's communications director. "This nomination will be won by the candidate who best articulates those conservative principles..."
By casting his candidacy in terms of fixing and shrinking the federal government, Thompson will join Arizona Senator John McCain and Romney, who are making similar pleas. "We've got to start acting like Republicans, not earmarking Republicans, not big government Republicans, but like Reagan Republicans and Teddy Roosevelt Republicans. They led us along the right course," Romney told a crowd in Michigan over the weekend.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.washingtonpost.com ...
Which New England GOP Congresscritter was it who proudly said the Reagan Revolution is dead?
I read it here a few months ago...
Sorry Mitt. Teddy Roosevelt was one of the pillars of big government Republicans. Maybe a history book would help?
So far I think Hunter and RG have pledged to clean out the State Dept, but I haven’t heard anything about Education dept yet.
Probably not in Fred's best interests to go there.
I was hoping he was going to run on the revolution in 1776.
That was my thought as well.
Well he is a federalist so that’s a start.
mine too! It seems most Americans have been indoctrinated to be afraid of Liberty and individual responsibility. It would be nice to bring Liberty to the front in the next election. Instead I see these sick AARP commercials and other ones that imply "only government leaders" have answers.
Fred experienced the lucky coincidence of being elected in 1994. Does that qualify him to be the keeper of the flame? Why did Fred decide to walk away in 2000? Hard to portray oneself as a defender of the Revolution when one hangs ‘em up after only one undistinguished term in the Senate.
Left for two basic reasons, one because he did not want to make the Senate a career, something he had stated over several years, but moreover the death of his daughter seemed to prompt his final decision.
More lies! FDT had 1.33 undistinguished terms in the Senate.
Yes a very undistinguished career including the following votes on fiscal matters alone:
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT: Passage of the joint resolution to pass a constitutional amendment to balance the budget by the year 2002 or two years after ratification by the states. Rejected 65-35, March 2, 1995. Fred supported the amendment.
LINE-ITEM VETO: Passage of the bill to provide the president with the ability to veto individual line items in an appropriations bill, targeted tax breaks in a revenue bill, or new entitlement spending. Approved 69-29, March 23, 1995. Fred supported the bill.
TAX CUTS: Gramm amendment to the budget resolution to provide tax cuts similar to those provided by the House, including a $500-per child credit, a reduction in the capital gains tax rate, an expansion of IRAs, and the elimination of the marriage penalty in the tax code. Rejected 31-69, May 23, 1995. Fred supported the amendment.
BALANCED BUDGET ACT. Passage of the bill to balance the budget over seven years, by reducing projected spending by $894 billion and cutting taxes by $245 billion. Approved 52-47, November 17, 1995. Fred supported the bill.
TAX LIMITATION: SConRes 57 (CQ Senate Vote 128), FY 1997 Budget Resolution. Exon (D-NE) motion to table (kill) the Kyl (R-AZ) amendment to express the sense of the Senate that fundamental tax reform should be accompanied by a constitutional amendment to require a supermajority of Congress to approve a tax increase. Motion agreed to 59-41, May 22, 1996. Fred opposed the Exon motion.
SOCIAL SECURITY TAX DEDUCTION: SConRes 57 (CQ Senate Vote 140), FY 1997 Budget Resolution. Ashcroft (R-MO) amendment to allow a tax deduction for the Social Security payroll tax and to offset the costs by decreasing discretionary and mandatory spending. Rejected 43-57, May 22, 1996. Fred supported the Ashcroft amendment.
MAINTAINING BUDGETARY FIREWALLS: SConRes 57 (CQ Senate Vote 147), FY 1997 Budget Resolution. Domenici (R-NM) motion to table (kill) the Bumpers (D-AR) amendment to abolish the “firewall” between defense and domestic discretionary spending. The “firewall” provides an essential defense against liberals’ attempts to shift funds from defense accounts to non-defense domestic discretionary accounts. Motion agreed to 57-41, May 23, 1996. Fred supported the Domenici motion.
TAX CUTS: SConRes 57 (CQ Senate Vote 151), FY 1997 Budget Resolution. Domenici (R-NM) motion to table (kill) the Feingold (D-WI) amendment to eliminate the $122 billion provided for tax cuts over six years. Motion agreed to 57-43, May 23, 1996. Fred supported the Domenici motion.
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT. SJRes1 (roll call vote 24). Balanced-Budget Constitutional Amendment. Passage of the joint resolution to propose a constitutional amendment to balance the budget by the year 2002 or two years after ratification by three-fourths of the states, whichever is later. Three-fifths of the entire House and Senate would be required to approve deficit spending or an increase in the public debt limit. A simple majority could waive the requirement in times of war or when the United States is engaged in a military conflict that causes an imminent national security threat. Rejected 66-34, March 4, 1997. (A two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting is required to pass a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution.) Fred supported the amendment.
FUTURE DEFICIT SPENDING PROHIBITION. SConRes27, FY 1998 Budget Resolution (roll call vote 83). Ashcroft (R-MO) motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Lautenberg (D-NJ) point of order against his amendment to require a three-fifths vote of both Houses of Congress for passage of any legislation that increases the deficit after FY 2002. Motion rejected 41-58, May 22, 1997. A three-fifths majority vote (60) of the total Senate is required to waive the Budget Act. (Subsequently, the chair upheld the Lautenberg point of order and the amendment was defeated.) Fred supported the motion.
TAX CUT/SPENDING FREEZE. SConRes27, FY 1998 Budget Resolution (roll call vote 90). Domenici (R-NM) motion to table (kill) the Grams (R-MN) amendment to require the $220 billion Congressional Budget Office revenue windfall be applied to deficit reduction and tax relief, and to freeze non-defense discretionary spending. Motion agreed to 73-27, May 23, 1997. Fred opposed the motion to table.
NANNY STATE TAX CUTS. S949, FY 1998 Budget Reconciliation (roll call vote 139). Gramm (R-TX) amendment to eliminate the requirement that the $500-per-child tax credit be invested in a tuition program or education individual retirement account, and let parents make their own decisions on how to use the tax credit. Rejected 46-54, June 27, 1997. Fred supported the amendment.
INFLATION INDEXING. S949, FY 1998 Budget Reconciliation (roll call vote 159). Allard (R-CO) amendment to require that capital gains be indexed for inflation. Rejected 41-57, June 27, 1997. Fred supported the amendment.
TAX CUTS. SconRes86 (roll call vote 55). McCain (R-AZ) motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Lautenberg (D-NJ) point of order against the Coverdell (R-GA) amendment. Coverdell’s amendment would reduce cut taxes by $195.5 billion over five years by raising the income thresholds for the 15 percent and 28 percent tax brackets. Motion rejected 38-62: R 38-17, April 01, 1998. A three-fifths majority vote (60) of the total Senate is required to waive the Budget Act. (Subsequently, the chair upheld the point of order, and the amendment fell.) Fred supported the motion to waive the point of order.
SOCIAL SECURITY PERSONAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS. SconRes 86 (roll call vote 56). Roth (R-DE) amendment to express the sense of the Senate that the Senate Finance Committee should in 1998 report legislation that would dedicate the federal budget surplus to the establishment of Social Security “personal retirement accounts.” Adopted 51-49, April 01, 1998. Fred supported the amendment.
TAX LIMITATION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT - Passage, H.J.Res. 37 (Roll Call Vote No. 90). April 15, 1999 - Passage of the joint resolution to propose a constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds majority vote of the House and Senate to pass any legislation that increases federal revenues by more than a “de minimis,” or insignificant, amount. The exact definition of “de minimis” would be left to Congress. The resolution was rejected 229-199, 15 Apr. 1999. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting (286 in this case) is required to pass a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution. Fred supported the resolution.
TAX CUT PACKAGE - Passage, HR 2488 (Roll Call Vote No. 333). Passage of the bill to reduce federal taxes by $792 billion over 10 years. The measure would reduce individual income tax rates by 10 percent over a 10-year period, contingent upon annual progress in reducing interest on the nation’s debt. It would reduce the “marriage penalty” by increasing the standard deduction for married couples to double that for singles; cut the capital gains tax rate for individuals from 20 percent to 15 percent for property held for more than one year; gradually lower the corporate capital gains tax rate from 35 percent to 30 percent by 2005; reduce the estate and gift tax rates until they are completely eliminated in 2009; accelerate the phase-in of a 100 percent deduction for health insurance premiums for the self-employed, and allow all taxpayers to deduct health care and long-term care insurance if employers pay 50 percent or less of the premium; increase the annual contribution limit for Education Savings Accounts from $500 to $2,000 and permit tax-free withdrawals to pay for public and private elementary and secondary tuition and expenses. Bill passed 223-208, 22 July 1999. Fred supported the bill.
TAX CUTS, S.Con.Res. 101 (Roll Call Vote No. 68) The Senate defeated an amendment deleting all tax cuts in the Congressional Budget Resolution. The vote was 44-56, 7 Apr. 2000. Fred opposed the amendment.
FISCAL 2001 BUDGET RESOLUTION – Adoption, H.Con.Res. 290 (Roll Call Vote No. 79) The Senate adopted a five-year budget plan that includes $147.1 billion in tax cuts. The vote was 51-45, 7 Apr. 2000. Fred supported this budget.
GAS TAX SUSPENSION – Cloture, S. 2285 (Roll Call Vote No. 80) The Senate failed to limit debate on a bill that would suspend the 4.3 ¢/gallon federal gas tax surcharge from April 15 through Jan. 1, 2001. If the national average gas price reached $2/gallon, the remaining 14.1 ¢/gallon federal tax would also be suspended. The vote was 43-56, with 60 votes needed, 11 Apr. 2000. Fred supports efforts to lower the gas tax.
MARRIAGE PENALTY TAX – Cloture, HR 6 (Roll Call Vote No. 82) The Senate failed to limit debate on an amendment that would essentially eliminate the federal tax penalty on married couples. The vote was 53-45, with 60 votes needed, 13 Apr. 2000. Fred supported this effort to lessen the marriage penalty.
ESTATE TAX REPEAL. HR 8 (Roll Call Vote No. 180) The Senate voted down an amendment that would have maintained the “death” tax while easing its effect in some cases. The vote was 46-53, 13 July 2000. Fred supported the amendment.
GAS TAX SUSPENSION, HR 8 (Roll Call Vote No. 183) The Senate voted no to suspend the entire federal gas tax of 18.4 ¢/gallon for 150 days. The vote was 40-59, 13 July 2000. Fred supported the suspension.
TAXATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, HR 8 (Roll Call Vote No. 188) The Senate voted to reduce the percentage of Social Security benefits that are taxable from 85 percent to 50 percent, which was the level up until 1993. The vote was 58-41, 13 July 2000. Fred supported the reduction.
ESTATE TAX REPEAL – Passage, HR 8 (Roll Call Vote No. 197) The Senate vote to phase out the “death” tax by 2010. The vote was 59-39, 14 July 2000. Fred supported the bill.
2001 INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS. S. 420 (Roll Call Vote No. 21 ) Sessions (R-AL) motion to protect individual retirement accounts from limitations imposed during bankruptcy proceedings. The bill was defeated (61-37) Fred supported this bill.
2001 BUDGET RESOLUTION CAPPING SPENDING. H. Con. Res. 83 (Roll Call Vote No. 98 ) Adoption of the final version of the Budget Resolution, calling for approximately $1.35 trillion in tax cuts through fiscal 2011, including a $100 billion stimulus package. “Discretionary” spending was capped at $661.3 billion. The bill was passed (53-47) Fred supported this bill.
2001 CAPITAL GAINS TAX RATE REDUCTION. HR 1836 (Roll Call Vote No. 115 ) Gregg (R-NH) motion to allow consideration of his amendment to the tax cut bill. His amendment would provide for a temporary reduction in the maximum capital gains rate from 20 percent to 15 percent, to stimulate the economy. The bill was defeated (47-51) Fred supported this bill.
2001 TAX CUT BILL HR 1836 (Roll Call Vote No. 170 ) Adoption of the final version of the tax cut bill, reducing taxes by $1.35 trillion through 2010 through income tax rate cuts, relief of the “marriage penalty,” a phase-out of the federal estate tax, doubling the child tax credit, and providing incentives. The bill was defeated (58-33) Fred supported this bill.
Caps on Government Spending. HR 4775 (Roll Call 133) The motion would extend for five years caps on federal spending and establish other procedural controls on federal spending. ACU supported this budget discipline measure, which failed on a 49-49 vote (60 votes were required) on 5 June 2002. The bill was defeated (49-49) Fred supported this bill.
Death Tax Repeal Permanent. HR 8 (Roll Call 151) The motion would make the repeal of the estate or death tax passed in 2001 permanent. ACU supported this effort, which received a 54-44 vote majority on 12 June 2002, but Senate rules require 60 votes under the Budget Act. The bill was defeated (54-44) Fred supported this bill.
All of the Republican front runners were returned to their office in strong reelection by their constituents weren’t they?
If not, they shouldn’t even be running for the Presidency.
That’s what I was thinking, but to each his own.
It was 2002, and you can easily get your answer by clicking on one of the thousands of Fred-related threads.
Hard to portray oneself as a defender of the Revolution when one hangs ‘em up after only one undistinguished term in the Senate.
He was elected to two terms, both landslides. He declined to run again because he felt that 8 years was enough & didn't want to become a career politician. He has had some bad votes, but overall his record is more conservative than the others in the top tier. His views on federalism and limited gov't is consistent with mine.
hangs ‘em up after only one undistinguished term in the Senate.
Your bias is showing.
He was elected to the senate in 1994, taking the spot left by Gore, and then reelected in 1996. (That's 2 terms) He 'walked away' because he believes in term limits - wasn't a 'career' politician. Isn't now.
Losing a daughter was also a deciding factor..
nice try at denigrating him...
Nope. Romney chose not to run for a second term in MA.
Funny talk from a Mittwit. Wasn't 1994 the year Romney was telling the voters of Massachusetts that he was the "true" pro-choice candidate, as opposed to Ted Kennedy?
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