[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4060-S4061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ``LEGISLATING THE REVOLUTION''--HISTORY OF THE 104TH CONGRESS' FIRST 
                                100 DAYS

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, having written two books myself, I 
appreciate the great time and energy involved in preparing, 
researching, and writing a book, especially one recounting a complex 
series of historical events. As an enthusiast and lifelong student of 
history, I am pleased to bring to my colleagues' attention 
``Legislating the Revolution,'' by James G. Gimpel. Jim is a native of 
western South Dakota. His thorough recounting of the Contract With 
America during the first 100 days of this Congress so impressed me that 
I hope my colleagues will take the opportunity to read it.
  The book is fair, factual, and comprehensive. Appealing to a spectrum 
of readers ranging from the social scientist to the concerned citizen, 
Jim's book already is being used in college classrooms across the 
country as a resource and reference book. After countless interviews 
with Members of Congress, congressional staff, interest group 
representatives, pollsters and party leadership, the product is a 
detailed, thoughtful chronological record of the events which shaped 
the so-called Contract With America. The book examines the many 
individuals who, behind the scenes, created the Contract itself and the 
campaign that played such a significant part in the Republican takeover 
of Congress in November 1994. The first 100 days of the 104th Congress 
may have been history in the making, but the period prior to the 
Contract With America was a new and equally historic era. Republicans 
had not controlled both Houses of Congress simultaneously for more than 
40 years. The late House Speaker Tip O'Neil coined the famous phrase, 
``All politics is local.'' The Contract With America challenged that 
notion by nationalizing the congressional elections and unifying the 
Republican Party around common goals.
  Jim Gimpel's examination of Republican and Democratic National 
Committee fundraising and campaigning, party and committee leadership, 
Southern Democratic influence and the mass electoral revolution, 
presents readers with a cornucopia of information and an understanding 
of the historic scope of the 1994 Congressional Revolution. He offers 
an overview of the efforts to pass the Contract in Congress, examining 
voting records and providing political analysis. The detailed accounts 
of the voting and the behind-the-scenes efforts made on both sides of 
the aisle paint a dramatic picture of the grueling give-and-take that 
produced unprecedented legislation. Through a series of theory testing, 
graphical representation, voting distributions, and the Perot factor, 
Gimpel thoroughly explains the background and the planks of the 
Contract With America, and forecasts the implications of these efforts 
on future elections and legislation.
  Although Jim Gimpel covers each plank in the Contract with America, I 
would like to highlight several areas of personal interest, first, the 
Fiscal Responsibility Act and second, the Personal Responsibility Act. 
Jim's analysis of the balanced budget amendment and term limits--the 
Fiscal Responsibility Act--was outstanding. Jim offers a truly 
compelling and easy to grasp explanation of the importance of a 
balanced budget for the United States. As more and more Americans are 
beginning to realize, if the Federal Government continues to spend 
beyond our means, more and more of our taxes must finance debt 
repayment, instead of important programs such as agriculture, 
education, Social Security, and veterans programs. Jim brings this 
vital point home clearly and effectively.
  He is equally clear and effective in his coverage of the welfare 
reform debate. As we all know, the original intent of the welfare 
system was to provide a simple safety net for the needy. The reality is 
the opposite: The current system acts as a harness holding down the 
recipients from taking personal responsibility for their own lives. 
Jim's tracking of the history, legislation, debates, and votes that 
produced the

[[Page S4061]]

House welfare reform bill--Personal Responsibility Act--is precise and 
accurate. I know my constituents would find this chapter of particular 
interest, if not shocking. South Dakotans work hard every day to 
provide for their families without Government assistance. They pride 
themselves on hard work, but as the book points out, the failed welfare 
system promotes costly dependency. Jim offers more than just a 
legislative history of this sensitive issue. He demonstrates the basic 
social need that requires Congress to act on this problem.
  The importance of history cannot adequately be underscored. History--
the understanding of history--is our map of not only our past, but also 
our future. ``Legislating the Revolution'' is a compelling map of an 
exciting past and an extraordinary future for policy-makers and voters. 
It is a must read for every American.

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