[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 140 (Friday, September 30, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             WHY THE UPROAR OVER THE CONTRACT WITH AMERICA?

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, this week the Republican contract with 
America was unveiled on the Capitol steps, and signed by more than 350 
Republican incumbents and candidates from around the country. 
Apparently, from the speech we just heard and from what we have been 
hearing over the last few days, this has struck a raw nerve with the 
Democratic leadership and the liberal media.
  The contract spells out exactly what a Republican majority will do on 
the first day of the 104th Congress, and what legislation it will bring 
to the floor in the first 100 days: a plan and a pledge. Why the uproar 
from our Democratic friends?
  The uproar is because we have promised the American taxpayers that 
the public's House, the people's House, will actually vote on a number 
of issues that are very important to them: a balanced budget amendment, 
a line-item veto, welfare reform, tax reform, and a real crime bill.
  The Democrats do not want to vote on these issues. These are issues 
important to the American people. They should be debated, they should 
be amended, they should be voted on. Some will pass and some will not, 
but at least they should be discussed in the people's House.

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