[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 2, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       FAITH IN CONGRESS RESTORED

  (Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, for the past 3 weeks, I have been traveling 
around my district and the one message my constituents relayed was by 
keeping our promises through the Contract With America, the Republican 
majority is working to restore the long, lost faith the American people 
have in Congress.
  This message is clearly reflected in the recent Wall Street Journal 
poll. For the first time in this poll's history, a majority of 
Americans approve of the job Congress is doing. In fact, just last 
September, this same poll showed two-thirds of the American people 
disapproving of the liberal Democrat Congress that preceded us.
  Mr. Speaker, the message is ringing loud and clear: The Republican 
majority has led to a different Congress. Through hard work we have 
proved that politicians can keep their promises. My constituents tell 
me they like what they see, and I will continue to make sure that we 
stay on the same track and keep our promises.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the Wall Street Journal poll for the Record.

             [From the Wall Street Journal, April 28, 1995]

Washington Wire--A Special Weekly Report From The Wall Street Journal's 
                             Capital Bureau

                         (By Ronald G. Shafer)

       Clinton shows renewed political muscle in the Oklahoma City 
     aftermath.
       Buoyed at least temporarily by his handling of the bombing, 
     he edges Dole in a 1996 matchup in a new Wall Street Journal/
     NBC News poll, a reversal from recent surveys. He is 
     preferred handily over Gramm or Wilson. The gap over Dole 
     widens slightly when Perot or Powell are added as 
     independents; they cut into GOP support more than Democratic.
       Clinton scraps plans to discuss Russia in a Sunday speech. 
     Instead he will highlight two perceived policy strengths by 
     linking his new crusade against terrorism and longstanding 
     efforts toward Mideast peace. On Monday, he will help kick 
     off a $10 million drive by Emily's List, a women's political 
     group, to get Democratic women to the polls in 1996.
       Gender gap: In their matchup, Clinton gets a 14-percentage 
     point edge among women, while Dole has an 11-point edge among 
     men.
       Dole holds firm as the GOP front-runner as Gramm fails to 
     catch fire.
       Dole is favored by 58% of Republicans and strict 
     independents as the GOP presidential hopeful, far ahead of 
     No. 2 Gramm at 14%. If Powell is added as a GOP choice, he 
     surpasses Gramm as second behind Dole. The public shows a 
     strong interest in independent candidates, with over a 
     quarter of those polled picking such alternatives when 
     offered the choice in matchups.
       Some GOP social conservatives, disillusioned that Gramm 
     doesn't give more attention to their issues and distrustful 
     of Dole, consider endorsing Buchanan. The Alexander campaign, 
     trying to rub in Gramm's difficulties, sends the Texan's 
     campaign an express package consisting of a life preserver 
     labeled: USS Gramm.
       The GOP Congress wins high marks, but backing on issues is 
     shaky.
       For the first time ever in the poll, a majority of 
     Americans--47% to 40%--approves of the job Congress is doing; 
     by contrast, two-thirds disapproved last September. House 
     Speaker Gingrich wins 45%-36% approval, reversing previous 
     negative views. The public cites Gingrich's positions on 
     issues as his best attribute--but about as many disagree with 
     his views as agree.
       The favorable ratings may temporarily reflect the GOP 
     House's first 100 days, says Democrat Peter Hart, who 
     conducted the poll with Republican Robert Teeter. Americans 
     by 48% to 37% think Republicans will go too far on welfare 
     overhaul. By 47% to 43% they favor government education and 
     training programs to aid inner cities over private 
     initiatives as pushed by the GOP.
       Combating street crime and violence is the issue that needs 
     the greatest attention from the federal government, the 
     public says.
       Dole's age: While 65% of the public don't think the 71-
     year-old senator's age would affect his ability to be 
     president, just 18% prefer a candidate from the World War II 
     generation and only 1% think the 70s is the best age for a 
     president. Two in five older Americans feel Dole would be 
     less able to handle the presidency.
       Moscow mission: Aides seek ways to promote Clinton's May 
     trip to Russia at a time when relations are cooling. One 
     idea: Clinton writes a letter to leading columnists 
     explaining the bigger issues at stake, like nuclear 
     disarmament. Some 46% of the public approves of his handling 
     of foreign policy, up from 37% last month.
       Vietnam revisited: Americans by 70% to 22% think the U.S. 
     made a mistake in sending troops to fight in Vietnam. Those 
     who think so are evenly divided over whether it was a well-
     intentioned mistake or fundamentally wrong and immoral.
       Shaky confidence? Despite a surge of optimism picked up by 
     some other polls, only 24% of those in this survey expect the 
     economy to get better over the next year. That is down 
     sharply from 31% at the end of last year and the lowest 
     reading since October 1993.
       Tax overhaul? Yes. Flat tax? Not so fast.
       Two-thirds of poll respondents say the current income-tax 
     system is unfair. And 51% back a ``complete overhaul,'' up 
     from 37% last July, a sign that the tax-reform debate 
     resonates with the public. But by a three-to-two margin, the 
     public favors graduated rates to a single flat rate; even 
     self-identified Republicans do so.
       Some Clinton aides predict the GOP tax-overhaul push could 
     go the way of the president's health-care plan: Applause for 
     the motives and unceasing complaints from likely losers. The 
     administration tries to attack GOP proposals without 
     appearing to defend the status quo. One possibility: A push 
     for simplification.
       The public strongly prefers taxing wage and investment 
     income equally; the GOP favors lower taxes on investment 
     income to encourage saving.
       Minor memos: Foul mood: Only 40% of Americans call 
     themselves Major League baseball fans, down sharply from 56% 
     in July before the baseball strike with a big drop among 
     young adults. * * * Was Sen. D'Amato polled? The public by 
     31% to 25% has a positive view of Simpson trial Judge Lance 
     Ito, while 26% are judiciously neutral.
     

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