[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 137 (Tuesday, September 27, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  REPUBLICAN CONTRACT HAS IT BACKWARD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
February 11, 1994, and June 10, 1994, the gentlewoman from Connecticut 
[Ms. DeLauro] is recognized during morning business for 2 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, as we speak, Newt Gingrich and the 
Republican leaders in Congress are outside on the steps of the Capitol, 
releasing their so-called contract with America, a blood oath for GOP 
candidates to support an array of feel-good proposals. It may be clever 
election-year gimmickry, but the problem with the Republican contract 
is that it is a contract for failure.
  It is the same old thing from Republicans: More tax breaks for the 
wealthy and budget smoke and mirrors. The contract promises a balanced 
budget and $200 billion in tax cuts. But they do not tell you how they 
will pay for it. In fact, even the Republican's best attempt at 
creative budgeting comes up $700 billion short.
  The reviews of the Republican contract are in: ``Pandering'' says 
U.S. News & World Report; ``Voodoo Economics'' says the Washington 
Post; a ``GOP Shakedown'' according to columnists Jack Anderson and 
Michael Binstein; a fraud says the Wall Street Journal; ``cynical empty 
promises'' says Morton Kondracke.
  The truth of the matter is that the candidates on the steps today are 
not signing a contract with America, they are signing a contract with 
the Republican leadership. It is a contract to cut Social Security, and 
raise taxes, because that is the only way to pay for this budget 
buster.
  But, the main event is not happening until tonight. That is when the 
same candidates who are pledging their support for tax breaks for the 
wealthy, will attend a GOP-sponsored fundraiser where the beneficiaries 
of those cuts will contribute to their campaigns.
  The Republicans will claim that this contract represents the 
interests of all Americans. Well, why did they not consult the American 
people when drafting it? Instead, the Republican Whip sent out a 
fundraising letter from his Political Action Committee asking for 
donations. In return, those people were allowed a hand in drafting the 
contract. The Republican contract does not represent the public 
interest, it represents the special interests.
  It seems that Republicans have forgotten the basic principle of 
representative democracy. They have got it backward. They should not be 
coming to Washington to bring an agenda back to their districts, they 
should be bringing the interests of their districts to Washington.

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