[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]

 
                 OUR CONTRACT WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
February 11, 1994, and June 10, 1994, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. 
Boehner] is recognized during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, you can see that our Democrat colleagues on 
the other side of the aisle do not like our contract with America. 
Today, Republicans are signing a contract with the American people. 
What makes this effort different than promises made in the past is we 
are in the majority, we will bring up 10 bills for complete and open 
consideration on the floor within the first 100 days. If we do not live 
up to our end of the contract, we would urge the American people to 
throw us out of office.
  The liberal Democrat establishment in Washington is worried. Judging 
from their violent reaction to the idea of a contract with America, it 
is clear they are afraid--if the American people are given a pledge 
that is kept, it will ruin their chances of ever making empty promises 
again.
  The liberal Democrat establishment in Washington does not understand 
the concept of a contract because they do not understand the meaning or 
the power of a kept promise. That is why my colleagues on the other 
side are so unhappy today.
  Everyone should be aware that the people who are upset with the 
contract with America are the same people who promised to deliver 
health care within 100 days--2 years ago; the same people who promised 
a middle-class tax cut and raised everyone's taxes instead; the same 
people who promised to end politics as usual and instead have given us 
a scandal a week.
  They never intended to delivery on their promises, so they assume 
everyone else does the same--but they are wrong, dead wrong.
  And if we have a Republican House next year we prove them wrong. Our 
word is our bond and it is our hope that this contract will help us 
restore the confidence of the American people in their elected 
leaders--and change politics as usual once and for all.
  What is the contract?
  The contract with America consists of commonsense ideas that have 
been consistently blocked by the liberal Democrat leadership of this 
House for the 40 years they have controlled Congress.
  The contract is based on three basic principles that have been scarce 
in these parts for a long time: Accountability, opportunity, and 
responsibility. The populist proposals outlined in the contract are 
aimed at creating a Congress: More accountable to the people they 
represent and for tax dollars they spend; a Congress more willing to 
expand opportunity for our families, senior citizens, and for our free 
enterprise system; and a Congress more responsible for American 
security both here and abroad while encouraging greater personal 
responsibility rather than Government dependence.
  Specifically, the contract is composed of 10 major legislative 
initiatives we shall bring to the House floor within the first 100 days 
of the next legislative session. Each part of the contract will be 
given full and open debate with a clear vote on each. In addition, the 
legislation will be available for public scrutiny before it is 
considered on the floor. In this way the American people will have the 
opportunity to have their concerns debated and voted on by the House of 
Representatives.
  Specifically, the proposals included in the contract include:
  Term limits.--Republicans promise a vote on a constitutional 
amendment to limit the number of terms Members of Congress can serve;
  Welfare reform.--Replace the welfare state with programs which 
encourage people to work, not to have children out-of-wedlock.
  Balanced budget amendment and line-item veto.--Force the Congress to 
live within their means with a constitutional amendment while giving 
the President the power to eliminate specific pork projects from 
spending bills.
  Commonsense legal reform.--Limit the excessive legal claims by trial 
lawyers and frivolous lawsuits.
  The point of this contract is accountability, something we have not 
seen in Washington in a long time. Too many politicians say one thing 
at home, then hide behind the Democrat leadership's manipulation of the 
rules to avoid having to actually vote. Proposals are buried in 
committees, rules are rigged to avoid open debate and the process is 
stacked against accountability. Bringing these proposals to a vote 
ensures accountability.
  My support for the contract consists of more than just words--my 
signature is on the dotted line. This agenda is only radical inside the 
beltway, where for years the powers-that-be prevented these straight 
forward ideas from even being considered by the people's House.
  Mr. Speaker, the contract is designed to restore the bonds of trust 
between the American people and their elected representatives.
  Those that laugh at the contract are part of the same group that has 
controlled the House for 40 years. They forgot long ago what it means 
to be accountable.
  Remember, this is not a promise, this is a contract. And if we do not 
live up to our part of the bargain, throw us out.

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