The Republicans' Contract With America

grundle · 09-30-05, 04:21 PM

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/charen093005.asp

Sept. 30, 2005

Mona Charen

Inflation-adjusted spending on the combined budgets of the 101 largest programs Republicans vowed to eliminate in 1995 has grown by 27 percent.

X · 09-30-05, 04:23 PM

I thought it was somewhere over 30% overall since 2000.

classicman2 · 09-30-05, 04:28 PM

In defense of the Repubs - they will make at least 2 arguments:

1. They weren't in control of the entire appropriations process for 7 of those years.

2. Things are possible in the House that are not possible in the Senate, because the Senate has rules that the House doesn't have. On a number of things, there has to be unanimous consent in the Senate.

God, I hate to defend the Repubs.

Groucho · 09-30-05, 04:31 PM

Who thought up this whole "Contract with America" thing? We should get a witch and turn that guy into a newt!

classicman2 · 09-30-05, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groucho

Who thought up this whole "Contract with America" thing? We should get a witch and turn that guy into a newt!

It played a large role in the Republicans gaining control of the House of Representatives in 11/94 - first time in 40 years.

Jason · 09-30-05, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicman2

1. They weren't in control of the entire appropriations process for 7 of those years.

As long as there's a single democrat in either the house or the senate, they'll have all the excuse they'll ever need.

classicman2 · 09-30-05, 04:35 PM

That's partially true - at least in the senate.

It's not true in the House where the majority does call the shots.

classicman2 · 09-30-05, 04:41 PM

As it's like I've always said - appropriators spend money & lots of it, regardless of whether they're are Democrat or Republican. Now they they may differ in what they spend the money on.

And, God forbid, if the libertarians ever got into power - they'd spend money (alnd lots of it) also.

It goes with the turf.

al_bundy · 09-30-05, 04:43 PM

did they try to cut those programs? I remember clinton shutting the government a few times

grundle · 09-30-05, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X

I thought it was somewhere over 30% overall since 2000.

The total federal budget has increased by 33% since Bush took office.

The thing that I quoted only refers to federal spending that the Republicans promised to eliminate.

grundle · 09-30-05, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicman2

In defense of the Repubs - they will make at least 2 arguments:

1. They weren't in control of the entire appropriations process for 7 of those years.

2. Things are possible in the House that are not possible in the Senate, because the Senate has rules that the House doesn't have. On a number of things, there has to be unanimous consent in the Senate.

God, I hate to defend the Repubs.

In the past 4 federal budgets, the Republicans have controlled the House, the Senate, and the Presidency.

classicman2 · 09-30-05, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al_bundy

did they try to cut those programs? I remember clinton shutting the government a few times

I don't recall but one government shut-down.

Now there's been Continuing Resolutions every year for many, many years - including this one - 7 weeks CR, as a matter of fact.

classicman2 · 09-30-05, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grundle

In the past 4 federal budgets, the Republicans have controlled the House, the Senate, and the Presidency.

Due to the rules of the Senate - having the majority doesn't mean you always get your way.

classicman2 · 09-30-05, 04:49 PM

BTW: One could argue that a bunch of things (many unexpected) have occurred during those 4 years.

Mordred · 09-30-05, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grundle

The total federal budget has increased by 33% since Bush took office.

The thing that I quoted only refers to federal spending that the Republicans promised to eliminate.

Then those programs have actually increased 6% less than every other program. Sounds like a cut to me!

bhk · 09-30-05, 06:22 PM

The contract stated that they would vote on those items within a certain number of days or months in the House of Rep. and they voted on a number of them.

It saddens me to see that Americans have become like that pony tailed guy in the Bush I/Clinton debates who basically asked what the US government could do for him.

al_bundy · 09-30-05, 07:52 PM

as long as the government gives me more money than i pay in taxes i'm OK

Red Dog · 09-30-05, 07:54 PM

Can I sue the GOP sue for breach of contract?

X · 09-30-05, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al_bundy

as long as the government gives me more money than i pay in taxes i'm OK

That's when I'm not OK. I know something's broken and I'm not the only one that's happening to. As if it ever happened though.

al_bundy · 10-01-05, 09:43 AM

the secret is to be fairly well off and still collect the money from the government

X · 10-01-05, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al_bundy

the secret is to be fairly well off and still collect the money from the government

That's exactly what I'm not OK with.

09-30-05, 04:21 PM	#1
grundle DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 8,943	The Republicans' Contract With America http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/charen093005.asp Sept. 30, 2005 Mona Charen Inflation-adjusted spending on the combined budgets of the 101 largest programs Republicans vowed to eliminate in 1995 has grown by 27 percent.

09-30-05, 04:31 PM	#4
Groucho DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 62,073	Who thought up this whole "Contract with America" thing? We should get a witch and turn that guy into a newt! __________________ Xbox Live: Runner Groucho PSN: RunnerGroucho "The Borg is a species" -- Tracer Bullet (Citation)

09-30-05, 04:41 PM	#8
classicman2 DVD Talk God Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 66,868	As it's like I've always said - appropriators spend money & lots of it, regardless of whether they're are Democrat or Republican. Now they they may differ in what they spend the money on. And, God forbid, if the libertarians ever got into power - they'd spend money (alnd lots of it) also. It goes with the turf. Last edited by classicman2; 09-30-05 at 04:45 PM.

09-30-05, 06:22 PM	#16
bhk DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 1999 Location: Right of Atilla The Hun Posts: 19,749	The contract stated that they would vote on those items within a certain number of days or months in the House of Rep. and they voted on a number of them. It saddens me to see that Americans have become like that pony tailed guy in the Bush I/Clinton debates who basically asked what the US government could do for him. __________________ "We are not fighting so that you will offer us something. We are fighting to eliminate you." Hussein Massawi, the former leader of Hezbollah

09-30-05, 07:54 PM	#18
Red Dog DVD Talk God Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Directionally Challenged (for DirecTV) Posts: 104,458	Can I sue the GOP sue for breach of contract? __________________ "A question for you. Would you rather Bucknell make the NCAA's once every 20 years or so and get ass raped by teams like Kansas in the first round or have them drop down a rung to a confernce where they can compete for a title?" - Josh Hinkle 1st Round Final Scores: Bucknell 64 Kansas 63 \| Bucknell 59 Arkansas 55

09-30-05, 04:23 PM	#2
X Administrator Join Date: Oct 1987 Location: AA- Posts: 10,122	I thought it was somewhere over 30% overall since 2000.

09-30-05, 04:28 PM	#3
classicman2 DVD Talk God Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 66,868	In defense of the Repubs - they will make at least 2 arguments: 1. They weren't in control of the entire appropriations process for 7 of those years. 2. Things are possible in the House that are not possible in the Senate, because the Senate has rules that the House doesn't have. On a number of things, there has to be unanimous consent in the Senate. God, I hate to defend the Repubs.

09-30-05, 04:35 PM	#7
classicman2 DVD Talk God Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 66,868	That's partially true - at least in the senate. It's not true in the House where the majority does call the shots.

09-30-05, 04:43 PM	#9
al_bundy DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: in da cloud Posts: 26,196	did they try to cut those programs? I remember clinton shutting the government a few times

09-30-05, 04:49 PM	#14
classicman2 DVD Talk God Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 66,868	BTW: One could argue that a bunch of things (many unexpected) have occurred during those 4 years.

09-30-05, 07:52 PM	#17
al_bundy DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: in da cloud Posts: 26,196	as long as the government gives me more money than i pay in taxes i'm OK

10-01-05, 09:43 AM	#20
al_bundy DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: in da cloud Posts: 26,196	the secret is to be fairly well off and still collect the money from the government