sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bob Packwood, Dan Quayle, Dave McCurdy, Dave Weldon, Ed Bryant, Frank Riggs

How Drove the Democrats Out of RIPON SALUTES THE REPUBLICAN FRESHMEN OF THE 104TH CONGRESS

In the Senate: , R-AZ , R-MN (1) Olympia J. Snowe, R-ME , R-MS (1) , R-Ml Jon Christensen, R-NE (2) , R-MN , R-NV (I) . R-MO , R-NH (2) Mike DeWine, R-OH Frank A. LoBiondo, R-NJ (2) James M. Inhofe, R-OK Bill Martini, R-NJ (8) , R-PA Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-NJ (11) , R-TN Michael P. Forbes, R-NY (1) Fred Thompson, R-TN Daniel Frisa, R-NY (4) Craig Thomas, R-WY Sue W. Kelly, R-NY (19) David Funderbunk, R-NC (2) Walter B. Jones Jr., R-NC (3) In the House: Frederick Kenneth Heineman, R-NC (4) , R-AZ (1) , R-NC (5) John Shad egg, R-AZ (4) , R-NC (9) J.D. Hayworth, R-AZ (6) , R-OH (1) , R-CA (1) Frank A. Cremeans, R-OH (6) George P. Radanovich, R-CA (19) , R-OH (1S) , R-CA (22) Steven C. LaTourette, R-OH (19) , R-CA (44) , R-OK (1) Brian P. Bilbray, R-CA (49) , R-OK (2) , R-FL (1) J.e. Watts, R-OK (4) , R-FL (15) ,R-OR (2) , R-FL (16) Jon D. Fox, R-PA (13) , R-GA (7) , R-PA (21) , R-GA (S) Marshall "Mark" Sanford, R-SC (1) , R-GA (10) , R-SC (3) Helen Chenoweth, R-ID (1) , R-TN (3) , R-IL (5) , R-TN (4) , R-IL (11) , R-TN (7) Ray laHood, R- IL (IS) , R-TX (9) David M. McIntosh, R-lN (2) William M. "Mac" Thornberry, R-TX (13) Mark Edward Souder, R-LN (4) Enid Greene Wa ldholtz, R-UT (2) , R-IN (8) Thomas M. Davis III, R-VA (11) , R-lA (4) Rick White, R-WA (1) , R-[A (5) , R-WA (2) , R-KA (2) Linda Smith, R-WA (3) , R-KA (4) Richard "Doc" Hastings, R-WA (4) Edward Whitfield, R-KY (1) , R-WA (5) James B. Longley Jr., R-ME (1) Randy Tate, R-WA (9) Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., R-MD (2) Mark W. Neumann, R-WI 0) , R-MI (S) Barbara Cubin, R-WY (At Large)

2 The RIPON FORUM T[ IE RIlPON F ORUM January/February 1995 Volume XXX, No.1

FEATURE

6 The Senator From Central Casting Fred TlJOmpsolI (/Ild Te/lllCssee's GOP Reviva l by David R. Beiler

POLICY ON PARADE

20 Making Welfare Work Fillding a Replaccmcllt for tile Welfare Slate by Andrea Spring

ON THE RECORD

16 Specter Over the Right A Moderate Aims for tile White HOllse

DEPARTMENTS

4 Under the Big Tent by Michael Dubke 5 To the Ripon Readers 12 The Analyst by Christine Mathews 14 Capital Comix 25 Book Review- "Arrogalll Capital"~ Controversy 28 Fact Findings- Moderate GOP Committee Chairs ill COllgress 30 Notes & Quotes

January/February 1995 3 Welcome Back to the Reincarnated Ripon Forum For the past hvo years we have been going down in 1993, President Clinton Impossible:" bringing down Joe dil igentl y worki ng to position the asked 8ilI to serve as Re publican liai­ Mmkley (0 ) in a district that includes so that it can once again son in its struggle for pass.:... ge. Bill cur­ South Boston, Brockton, the textile mill be a gathering place for Republicans rently is a gu est scholar at the town of Taunton. Although Mike was who a re fiscally conservative a nd Brookings Institution in . not victorious, he was successful­ socially tolerant. To that end, I rein­ Also joining the leadership along with Marilyn Rollins a nd olher troduce to you the Ripon Forum. ranks of the Society as Chair of the members of the The Ripon goal has always Advisory Board w il l be Senator Nancy Chapter of th e National Black been-and continues to be- the pre­ La ndon Kassebaum (R-KS). Senator Republican Council-in spearheading sentation of provocative id eas and Kassebaum w il l be assuming the post the passage of an "Inclusion interesting stories that broaden and that Representative Sherwood Resolution" as part of the Bay Stale enhance American political debate and Boehlert (R-NY) has held for the past Republican party platform. practice. And now, w ith the Ripon four years. Other members of the Forum, we have a vehicle to bring them Advisory Board include: Governors Leadership Summit to you. The new Forum w ill contain William Weld and Christine Todd The Inclusion Resolution will be part articles from inside and outside the Whitman, Senators Jo hn H. Chafee, of the policy discussions a t the Beltway, written by experts, politicians Mark O. Hatfi eld, James M. Jeffords, Moderate Republican Leadership and those "in the know." We hope the , Olympia J. Snowe, Summit, to be held in Washi ngton on new format will help you connect with Arle n Specter, ; Friday, March 31 st and s..... turday, April the moderate Republican movement of Re presentatives Sherwood Boehlert, 1st. The Summit's main go.:... 1 is to the 1990s. William F. Cli nger, Jr., Ti ll ie bring together the leaders of over fifty Fowler, James C. Greenwood, moderate Republici"m groups to partic­ New Leadership , David L. ipate in a discussion of how to trans· Along with the resurrec­ Hobson, Amo Houghton, Nancy form the Re publican party into the tion of the Forum, Ripon is L. Johnson, Scott L. Klu g, Jim majority party for the next generation. pleased to announce a new Kolbe, Ji m Leach, Bill Martini, By working with the leaders of slate of leadership for the Joseph M. McDade, Ja n Meyers, Republican moderates, v,re will be able Society. Former Susan Molinari, Constance A. to strengthen the com munication Congressman Bill Frenzel Morella, Michael G. Oxley, Tom between pragmatic members of the has signed on to be the next Petri, , Miuge GOP and create an affiliation of like­ president, replacing former Vermont Roukema, Christopher Shays a nd minded individuals in anticipation of Congressman Peter P. Smith. Peter has Peter G. Torkildsen. the 1996 GOP Convention. moved on to become the founding The Ripon Society is in a preS ident of the State NGB Storms Capitol Hill unique position in 1995 to become a n University at Monterey Bay. We wish umbrella o rganization to the burgeon­ Peter the best of lu ck as we welcome Two membe rs of our National ing number of moderate Republican Bill to the helm. Governing Board vied in 1994 to groups sweeping the nation. During Bill Frenzel has had a long and become members of our Advisory the 1994 election campaigns, the illustrious public ca reer. He was fi.rst Board. Sta te Sen. John Carroll of national media continually turned to elected to state office in 1962 and Vermont came within a few thousand the Ripon Society for the moderate served in the Minnesota House of votes of defeating the o ne independent Republican perspective. One of Representatives until 1970, when he of the 103rd Congress, Socia list Ripon's assets is its reputation as the was elected to Congress. I.n 1990, the Bernard Sanders. Carroll came so close natio na l o rganization for Republican Almanac of American Politics that the Na ti onal Republ ican moderates, a nd we plan to use it. described Bill as "one of the hardest CongreSS ional Committee has put To thai end, please enjoy this working and most influential Bolshevik Bernie on its top ten "most issue of the Ripo/l Forum . Republicans in the House." He still wa nted list" for '96. - Michael Dubkc, In Massachusetts, Michael M. carries that reputation today; so much Executive Director so that when it appeared NAFfA was Mu rphy attempted "Mission

4 The RI PON FORUM Wanna Be a Majority? THE RIpON FORUM Represent the Majority! EOlTOR David Beiler

The 1994 elections succeeded in turning That means more than passing PRODUCTION the Congress upside-down, changing the the most important e lements of the Lori Wyard established Wash ington order to an extent Contract, which appears to be well under­ many considered no longer possible, just way. It me

January/ February 1995 5 1

Populist Fred Thompson Turned Tennessee Politics Upside Down in a Matter of Weeks; Nothillg doing. And they call deliver the COP response to this the "Volllllteer Stafe" Washington Could Be Next. . President Clinton's mid- .... The GOP here is stuck il1 term address to the nation in Mllllcllkillland .... (ButJ wllo kllOws? December. seat on the Public Service Commission, Tellnessee may become the /lext fro1ltier , the man expected to cOllqllcred by democracy. The Prince and the G OPer become Democratic Leader of the next Not so long ago, this drawling Vol was U.s. Senate, was beaten by fourteen - Campaigns & Electiolls, commenting anything but the center of ad ulation. points- by a political unknown who on the moribund state of the Tennessee As late as August-when a treasure­ had not registered to vote until he was Republican Party during the 1990 cam­ less s.,lesman held him to little more 36. paigns. than three-fifths of the vote in the The sudden and dramatic shift Republican primary - Thompson in COP fo rtunes in the land of Andrew f Tennessee voters had made it to looked like a sure loser in the race to Jackson could be traced to the elec­ the polls in recent years, they complete the last two years of Al torate's enthusiastic reaction to Senate weren't drawn by statewide races: Core's Senate term. Opponent Jim I candidate Fred Thompson, a straight­ the top three positions (governor, both Cooper had the strongest credentials talking attorney/ actor who had suc­ U.s. Senate seats) were all held by of any non-incumbent candidate in the ceeded in defining Tennessee's politi­ Democrats who had faced no serious country. A Rhodes Scholar son of a fo r­ cal agenda. Thompson's star quali ty­ opposition to their last fe-election. mer governor, he had already put in a already evident in such films as HUllt That carved-stone status quo exploded dozen years in Congress at the age of for Red October and III the Line of Fire­ in 1994, as Republicans captured all 40; his much-touted health care bill soon took center stage in three slots by convincing margins. had provided the insurance industry Washington, w here he was chosen to Democrats had held every statewide its first line of defense in its battle office for the past eight years; this against the far more sweeping pro­ November, they barely won one-a By David R. Beiler gram proposed by Clinton. Cooper 6 The RIPON FORUM was a legitimate national figure, and Dirksen) had both served as chanting "shame!" and led to unflat­ his campaign coffers reflected it, even Republi can Leaders in the U.s. Senate. tering headlines back home, such as though he had decided not to accept Baker spent a record $1.2 million, but the Nashville Banner's " Insurance PAC money. Cooper crushed her by a 2:1 margin. Execs Fill Up Cooper's Collection By contrast, Thompson's polit­ One indicator of the effectiveness the Plate." ical career appeared stillborn. Ever Baker campaign was its bumperstick­ For his part, Thompson gener­ si nce his high-profile role as the young er, whose black letters on a yellow a ll y laid low on the issues that threat­ minority counsel in the Senate background proclaimed one word: ened a n intraparty revolt against the Watergate hearings of a generation "Cissy." It was not often found on the presumed Democratic nominee. He ago, Thompson had been considered a back of the rural district's many pick­ took no position on the controversial heavyweight potential candidate for ups. GATI trade treaty that wou ld soon be statewide office. As the yea rs and coming before Cong ress, and offered opportunities passed, the once-rising Scorching the Scab no specific alternatives to the Cooper political star began to look like a polit­ A self-proclaimed "New Democrat" health care plan, which he claimed was ical Kahoutek-all hype and no hap­ whose path to the nomination had too expensive and restrictive. Instead, pening. After playing himself in a 1985 been cleared by the Nashville estab­ he harped on Cooper's insurance Sissy Spacek film about a crusade lishment, Cooper had gone a long way industry funding, reportedly lobbied against corrupt state government, toward alienating his party's base sup­ GOP senators in Washington to avoid Thompson launched a side career in port. He had recently voted against compromise on health care, and ca re­ the movies as a character actor, a move shifting the tax burden toward the fully laid plans for an image-driven that seemed to categorize him as little wealthy, for NAFTA, and had been fin­ campaign that would appeal to the more than the question to a $1,(X)() gered by the White House as the most widespread dis.:.ffection with Congress Jeopardy answer: "After uncovering dangerous opponent of the President's among middle class voters. the secret Nixon tapes, he lat er pl<1yed elaborate and ambitious health ca re Re markably, it would be the a presidential chief-uf-staff in the designs. only non-incumbent Senate campaign movies." All that made Cooper a partic­ in the country whose advertising Now that he was finally in the ular perSOlla 11011 grata with Tennessee's would virtua lly ignore the opposi­ field, campaigning for the Gore seat, labor unions, who burned a copy of his tion-even that favorite GOP punch­ Thompson was being roundly criti­ health ca re plan at a March 10 rally in ing bag, . cized fo r what appeared to be a lan­ Chattanooga. "You don't l"L~ k o n he's " It was something I had in guid, laconic start. He still bristles putting that bill in because its good for mind from the very beginning, about it today: the people, do you?" bellowed Ma rty Thompson recalls, explaining why he Berger of the Gmment Workers. "You passed up a concurrent chance to run Thompson: It seems li ke the experts are don't think he wants to grow up to be for a full six-year Senate term, chal­ always fighting the last war and really a Senator, do you?" lenging liberal establishment figure don' t have the ability to project- here The idea that the Congress­ Jim Sasser, <1 seemingly inviting target. in Tennesse(' especially. The way they man was a tool of special interests "One of the reasons the open seat saw it, Cooper had a million dollars gradually took hold, despite his PAC appealed to me was thClt I thought I going in, was the fair-haired boy of the b.:' n. A March 21 Cooper fundraiser in could talk about what I wanted to do health care industry, and was an effec­ the insurance capital of Hartford, instead of complaining about the o ther ti ve campaigner. The fa ct of lhe matter drew 100 protestors g uy. It worked out that way... landJ was was the only race he'd ,------, ever had was that first race for Congress 12 AROUND THE TRACK years ago. Tracing the Race By the Numbers

True enough, (The first percentage in each column refers to support; the second refers to name identification.) but that first race had left a deep impression. Ci.\ndidale: liLat!;: Iy.1)!: UMid-Sfpt. JlMid-Q!:I. Rftum5 Running in a newly­ Thompson (R) 33/49% 39/62% 46/85% 61.1% created, marginal dis­ Coope.-(D) 45/88 41/84 40/89 38.9% tTi ct that sprawled 300 Undecided 22 20 14 miles across the state, Cooper faced Cissy All surveys by Mason-Dixon/ PMR for THE (Nashville) TENNESEAN: 1) taken 7/24-26 of 838 Baker, whose fa ther likely voters (margin of error +/-3.5%); 2) taken 9/15-19 of 814 likely voters (margin of error () and + / - 3.5%); 3) taken 10/8-10 of 804 likely voters (margin of error +/ - 3.6%). gra ndfather (Everett

January/February 1995 7 responsible for a mCljor part of our suc­ early low profile was "more or less the Bush re-election effort. But it was clear cess." plan we laid out in September 11 9931" this ca ndidate would need little reports Thompson manager Bill Lacy. instruction in how to communicate to Stalking the Wi ld Voter "We knew little attention was going to the voters, particularly the key swing Success looked a long way off when be paid to our race during the primary "3-M" cohort: Moderate, Middle-class Thompson formally opened his cam­ season, with a big, weU-financed field and Mad," paign on April 18. Cooper was ICClding shaping up in the Republican primary ''The people around me had him by a 3:2 margin in most surveys for the other seat. So we concentrated the confidence to sublimate their own and had outraised him 3: I. The on raising money fo r the big mt.>

8 The RIPON FORUM step," Thompson charged, pushing a heartland: health care plan favorable to the insur· ance industry while raking in contri· They have no id ea, do they. butions from it. Furthermore, he had The ca.recr politicians. How the laws "ignored the need for congressional and taxes they put on us affect us. So reform while voting to increase his let's stop Co ngress from exempting own salary." themselves from the laws they make fo r the rest of us. Let's take away their mil­ Cincinnatus in Plaid li on-doll ar pensions and payraises. The day after the August 4 primary, Same laws that apply to us ought to Thompson leased a red pickup from a apply to them. Who knows? Maybe Knoxville car dealer, emblazoned the they wouldn't make so many laws if Cooper in Stripes; Bad CompallY doors with his campaign logo, and set th ey actually had to li ve under a few of Gore's old media firm (The Campaign o ff on a trek that would carry him to them. Group) on the bench and called in everyone of Tennessee's 95 counties Usually closing with footage Strother, Duffy-specialists in south­ he had not already hit in his quest for of the red pickup hurtling through the ern populism. offi ce. Wearing jeans and plaid shirts, countryside along a rail fence, the farm Castellanos became concerned the one·time bicycle assembler pressed Clds put Thompson's numbers on the that the Democrats would soon use the flesh at county fairs and country move. By mid-September he had their la rger media budget to drive stores and in small hamlets far off the pulled even in the poils, and Cooper home the chmge that Thompson's beaten campaign trail. had begun to panic, charging in a radio common-man image was another The shift in tactics ca used no debate that Thompson was concealing movie role; that he was really an elite great commotion until the Cooper "his secret life ... as a foreign agent" lobbyist for special interests. He urged campaign ridiculed it as "a Hollywood from the voters. Slowly the race was the reluctant candidate to discredit his actor driving Clround in a rented sttlge being defined as John Wayne meets opponent first, loading ammunition he prop." As the news media took note of Miles Si lverberg. had already fired in debates into attack the amusing controversy, Thompson ads. Thompson finally relented, allow­ and the truck became overnight The Bronk vs. the Wonk ing the production of a single negative celebrities. In an attempt to turn the tide, spot (Stripes). Bu t he dictated it be held the lisping lawmaker did his best to in reserve and used only in response to appear tough in an ad that called on Cooper's first negative advertising. him to recount the attempted burglary Like duelists from JCl ckson's of his home by a man with a pitchfork. time warily keeping each other in their The episode was plainly overblo,",in, sights long after the count of ten, the with Cooper describing his home­ candidates showed remarkable Cllone wife's alarm and declaring the restraint, neither wilnting to take the arrested criminal "got off." [n fact, the first ungentlemanly plunge into the incident took place in Washington; the quagmire of negative ad vertis ing. burglnr avoided serving time there With only a month left on the cam­ only because he was subsequently paign schedule, it was the only CO Ill­ given a much longer sentence in petitive major race in the country that another jurisdiction. As his numbers had avoided muddying up the voters' continued to wane, Cooper put Al living rooms.

January/February 1995 9 Washington special interest lobbyist. " helped that he was of the Howard No, that is not a Fred The mud-caked message soon hit the 8.:.ker / La mar A!ex

The RJPO N FORUM FRED'S BEST PICK-UP LINES

Even before Fred Thompson we especially need to take this win­ pened to us. TIle American people are assumed his first elective office, he dow of opportunity to make those ready to give our substantive propos­ was being beseiged by a capital elite changes. If we don't, we're going to als a try in terms of welfare and han­ in search of clues that would explain have any smart Republican who can dling the crime issue-just to use a the recently evident revolt of the claim to be an outsider running couple of examples. But I really think masses. Ripon interviewed him as against Congress. And although it's the driving force behind what hap­ he was unpacking his boxes, and going to be our Congress now, that pened was the fact that we were there; came away with the following message wiU resonate even within the we were a tool the people used to insights: party, unless we get about the reforms express their dissatisfaction. II has to that we promised. That will be addi­ do with the reform issues; it has to do tional pressure on us. I expect Lamar with changing the way the federal ON THE SECRETS OF HIS Alexander to continue in that vein and government does business, the way ELECTORAL SUCCESS, I don't think that he'll be alone." Washington operates-particularly in regard to special interests. If "It was the combination of a straight­ ON READING THE MANDATE Republicans think we were given an forward refoml message by a fellow OF THE '94 ELECfIONS: overwhelming mandate-that people who was not a politician and the fact suddenly woke up and started loving that it was not a negative campaign. "There were a lot of people at these RepUblicans and all the details of our When you tell people you're not going victory rallies on election night saying to be a politician, it helps your credi­ 'Oh, the Democrats don't know what programs-we're making a terrible mistake. But if we can take the lead on bility if you don't act like one. We did happened to them: It's much more reforming ourselves, thereby pUttillg not act like one, from the way we important that WE know what hap­ us in a position to move outward, then ca mpaigned to the message we deliv­ pened to them, and know what hap- ered." we're going to have much more success enacting these substantive programs." ON WHAT CONGRESS CAN DO TO REGAIN PUBLIC ESTEEM, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF REFORM AS AN ISSUE, "Apply laws to Congress that "It could wind up being the are applkable to the aven'g" ~ only defining area. Many tend person and small business. to speculate-and I tend to Restrain themselves in the way agree-that Clinton will move they spend money: a balanced rightward. On welfare, for budget amendment. Cut staff. Carry out some of the mea­ example: if the question sures that were recommended becomes: "after two years Ion the dole], then what?" - that's in the past by the Joint a pretty narrow debate. We Commission on could wind up with a pretty Organization of Congress, such as paring down commit­ minor philosophical differ­ ence, if he decides to go back tees and subcommittees. to his original campaign Discipline hack " pledges. And if Clinton is additionally smart, he'll take it ON APPLYING HIS MES- to us 0 11 some of the reform SAGE TO THE '96 PRES I· measures-starting with the DENTIAL CAMPAIGN: executive. making it apply to the executive branch and chal­ "I wouJdn't be surprised to see it happen. Frankly, J think lenging Congress to do the there will be more than one __~ ______...... __ same. Another good reason for presidential candidate taking Freshman Senator Fred Thompson ~f~~~tay in the forefront of oul after Congress. That's why There 's something people like about a pickup man

January/February 1995 11 The Lessons of Victory, '94

he 1994 e lections have been the white vole by a substantial 16 losophy. What is described in terms usually points, but trailed among all minority the genuine arti­ T reserved for natural disasters; groups: Asians (by 10 points), de is a prevalent lack of confidence in tsunami, earthquake, avalanche. The Hispanics (20 points) and blacks (a government. In response to every con­ (orce behind this cataclysm-the stunning 84-poinl margin). Feeling ceivable question about the role of American electorate-have been threatened and ignored, middle-class government, voters arc emphatically described . by Republicans, includ· you to the destination (fi~ ~o oQ ing those in eight of the you're looking for. nine largest states. To some extent, the Making it more difficult to get an abortion I-leading into the Nov- '94 elections were also rep- 100 ember elections, Rep- resentative of the politics of ublican governors had scarcity: "us vs. them." This the highest average job sentiment is reflective of a 53% approval scores of any crumbling Old Order 50 group of politicians test- embodied by the lack of ed; they also registered good-paying jobs, increased the largest collective mar- global competition, an over- 3% gin over their opponents taxed infrastructure, dwin- 0 at the polls (56-40%, com- dUng Social Security funds ('_~..p~ .,dl",,0 . ~of;>. pared with two-point col- and chaos on the streets. ,,~' ~o oq< lective margins for There is immense Republican U.S. House polarization in the elec- and Senate candidates). torate. Republican congres- Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll. Nov. 28-29, 1994. N""J020 These same popular gov­ adults nationwide. sional ca ndidates carried ernors are now lobbying

12 The RIPON FORUM Congress for the authority administer welfare at the state leveL without THE PULSTER unwieldy mandates from the federal government, Congressional freshmen Policy Preferences of the Public should listen carefully to their request, and resist partisan instincts that teU CBS News 1'011. Jan. 2·3, 1995 N=931 adults nationwide. them Bill Clinton is their target: "Do yo u support or appose a cons/ill/tional amendment /0 rI'tplire a batllllced federal budget?" revenge and spitefulness are indul­ Support 80% Oppose 16% gences the voters will not tolerate. No Opinion 4% Pulling Whitewater out of the hat again will look nasty and irrelevant. If "Support": WOlild yorl srlpporl or oppose rl cOllslitlltional amendment 10 The public will rightfully want to require a balanced federat bridget if it meallt cuts ill federal spt'llding 011: know why we are getting distracted by s..'pport Oppose No Opinion something that is so off-course from Welfare 59 % 38% 3% what they' ve been shouting about. Na!'l Defense 56% 41 % 3% Education 37% 62% 1% Fully 65% of those interviewed fo r a Social Security 34% 65% 2% Time/CNN national post-election sur­ vey said they were opposed to revisiti­ "Do you think the presidellt of tire u.s. should or should /lot have the authority to il/di­ ing the Whitewater case; if coverage of vidrm/ items illihe federal budgd, something kllown as tire tille-item veto?" it dominates the news once again, vot­ Should have line-item veto 64% ers will collectively throw up their Should not 31 % hands in disgust. Republica ns in No opinion 3% Congress would do much better taking on the status-quo in Washington than "Do you support or oppose a rt?ductioll ill Ihe federa l cal1ita/ gaiNS tax- that is, tile tax all prof­ ganging up on Clinton, who is already its from investmel1ts?" well on the move toward the center. Support capital gains tax cut 52% Republicans also must be cog­ OpJ'O'" 40% nizant- as Speaker Gingrich indicates No opinion ,% he is-of the path of d istraction. Elected by a campaign focused on the "Do you fallOr or oppose a limit on the mrmbcr of years a person coutd serve as a U.S. repre­ economy, change, and middle-class sentative in Congress?" Favor term limits 75% concerns, Clinton seemed to lose ,,% course in his fi rst few months in offi ce. OpJ'O'" Noopinioo 2% He became d istracted by gays in the military and other peripheral contro­ versies. Only now- in the wake of Division of Authority: State vs. Federal Democratic devastation at the polls­ NBC News/Wall Street laumal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter can he hear the faint echo of his pledge Hart (D) and Robert Teeter (R). Dec. t o-13, 1994. N=I000 adults nationwide. (Each to cut taxes for the middle class. item asked of half the sample.): Republica ns must keep this example close at hand when tempted "Whicll do you tllink s/routd lrove more responsibility for aelriL'lIing tlris goal, federat got>erll- ment or state govemment?" to veer off course on issues such as Federal Stal" Neilh<'r .,., Ul\~un: abortion (a majority opposes making them more difficult) and the separa­ Strengthelling lire ecOllomy 67% 23% 1% 8% 1% tion of church and state; otherwise, we Improving !zeal/II care 45% 48% 2% 4% 1% too will be swept away in a cataclysm. Protecting the ellvironme/l/ 44% 45% 10% 1% 5.:,msara makes no exceptions. Improvil1 o~fX!.rtw!ilie~ for rDCUli all et mc milian/res 41 % 46% 2% 10% 1% Providing assistance to poor 4

January/ February 1995 13 c o

II11l ,! \'IOULDN 'TGO AS FAR AS NEWL .I1l TAKE PRIg)Nms.

I~

14 The RIPON FORUM ;::, A-tthe Helm u.s.

~Y,Bll.L . A.~n lliN ·"",'r IlElPMlQI BTI!ER .

UH ,.. WIJAT C:OTIl~ FULLS SF« MY CORE B~lI8=S ARE. P. ..

January/ February 1995 15 ON THE RECORD Specter Over the Right

There's a Moderate ;', til e Crowded GOP Presidential Field. In Lack of Numbers, 17tere May Be StreHgth.

yebrows arched this Fall when U.S. Sen. (R-PA) became the first GOP presidential candidate to Eregister an exploratory commitee with the FEe. It wasn't merely the fa ct he is the first moderate in 16 years to have the temerity to ask for the party's to p slo t. It \"las mo re pointedly his seeming lack of a base even that sizable. A pro-choice moderate mig ht just turn the trick aga inst a field stacked with "wingers," but Specter had alienated modera te women activists-a key part of his con­ stituency-with his dogged interrogation of Prof. during the 1991 hearings on the Supreme Court nomination. A year later, he had ju st barely won re­ Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) electio n over a novice woman candidate, despite a record of Ballkillg all a reaction agaillst the Religious Right accomplishment [see sidebarl and ideological compatibility with his middle-road Rust Belt sta te. The pundits all muse: Wha t collid tllis gllY be thi llkillg? RIPON: YO II seem to be offering yO/IT calldidacy as all illsll r­ To find Ollt, Fortlll! snared the frenetic Senator on his ance policy agaillst controJ of the party by tire Religiolls Right. way to the athletic dub and posed some obvious questions. You r alar1ll lllay be well taken, as a survey last FII III!y Campaigns & Electioll s magazine !ozmd 18 slate RepuMica/1 orga nizatiolls already IIn der sllch dominat ion. But while the other potellt ial RIPON: In 1992, 63 percellt of an al/gry electorate voted against GOP presidell tial candidates are quite conservative, 110ue of an incumbent presidell t. Bill Clill loll took his 43 percellt mandate them-with the possible exceptiolls of Pat Buchallall and Bob 10 meall voters wal/ted a retli TII to paternalistic govemmellf. He DOTllal1-seem to have milch connection to the Religious Right. obviollsly miscalcillated. Are Rep rl blicalls ill similar dal/ger of How might il succeed ill laking cOlltrol of tire party ill '96 if it misreadillg tlleir '94 ma l/dale as beillg given carte blalldze to does/!'t have a ca ll didate? ellact pet conservative ca llses? SPECTER: You know, was right when he SPECTER: Our Republican Party now has a historic oppor­ wrote in his book that the intolerant tone of the '92 conven­ tunity for long-term control of the Congress and winning tion hurt the Bush/ Q uayle re-election campaig n. Pa t back the White House in '96, but only if we unite behind our Buchanan was dead w rong when he said America is traditional core values: fiscal and socia l liber­ engaged in a "holy war." wields considerable tarianism. If we allow what I call the "Far Ri ght Five Percent political influence through his various organiza tions, but I Fringe" to use the party as a vehicle to push an extremist am completely at odds with his statement that the social agenda, the American people w ill turn from us as Constitutiona l doctrine of separation of churc h and state is quickly as they turned from President Clinton and the a-quote-"tie of the left. " That doctrine is more than the Democrats last yea r. soul of the Republican Party; it is the soul of America. These la st two elections reveal a fo rmula for Pat Robertson, a nd their confederates Republican victory: DO run on a platform of less govern­ dominated our '92 convention and undermined our effort ment and more individual freedom. DON'T focus on divi­ to retain the presidency. Their control would ha ve been sive social issues like abortion. DO emphasize the "Big even greater if the incumbent had not been a mainstream Tent" approach of appealing to more women, blue collar Republican. It is only re(1listic to expect them to be (1 formi­ workers and minorities. DON'T embrace intolerance a nd dable force at our '96 convention, but we must not a Uow allow the Far Right Five Percent Fringe to slam the door on them to hamper our Republican d rive for the White House those w ho disagree. in the Fall. Q'"

16 The RIPON FORUM RJPON: TIle plllldits soy you cannot be nominated primarily have no doubt that I can appeal to that crucial vote as well becausc you are prtH:/lOice all abortion. They speculate YOIl are as anyone. fIl1ming solely to bring a bloc of pro-cilOicc delegates to Sail Diego that will be strollg ellollgll to scuttle a pro-life platform plank. RIPON: A female state party official recently told I/S: " I've been Christiall Coalitioll Executive Director Ralph Reed lias flatly waiting a 10llg time for a moderate, pro-choice Republican to fIm declared that n pro-choice Republica" is alltomatically ntled alit for presideut. Finally, we've got aile, bllt wouldn't YOIl know it­ as tir e GOP's preside/lfia/nominee ill 1996. How do you expect to it's Arlen Specter, who I have real trouble witll becal/se of Anita Will, givell yo"r al7Orliol1 vi(!1.us? Hill./I Fair 01" 1I0t, your questiol1ing of /·/ill was Seel1 as bullying by mallY women SPECTER: I take strong exception to activists. Tlmt would seem to deprive you of that statement by Ralph Reed . It sug­ what ollghl to be the comerstolle of a will­ gests Arlen Specter or any other pro­ l1illg coalitioll for your campaign. How are choice Republican who may aspire to you going to clear that llig/I hurdle? the nomination is a second-class citi- zen. I supported Ipro-lifel Sen. Rick SPECTER: I was able to overcome con- Santorum IR-PAI in the last election cerns about my questioning of Anita Hill because I believe there should be not in my 1992 re-election effort-when it litmus test fo r Republica ns, just as I was much more recent, less than a year supported President Reagan and away-by candidly acknowledging that President Bush. Again, the Republica n those hearings were a learning expcri- Party should emphasize the issues that ence fo r me. I had no idea how extensive unite us .... As my former colleague sexual harrassment was in America. land current supporter I Bmry Many women told me afterward that Goldwater sa id : "The government they had been sexually harrassed, and should stay out of our pocketbooks, off found it very painful when I was ques- our b(\cks and out of our bedrooms." ======tioning Professor Hill, almost by trans- The Pilgrims came to America " ... Emphasize the 'Big ference. They knew they had been har- in the early 1600s for equality, just as T.' I f l· ra ssed and fe lt they weren't bei ng 1 0 my parents ca me to America in the ,enl appronc appen 1118 to believed. I told them I regretted that, fo r early 1900s so their children would not more women, blue colla r that certainly was not intended. And I be second-class citizens. A single-issue workers and minorities. point out to people something they have li tmus test for the presidential nomina- not focused on: When the hearings were tion makes all pro-choice Americans DON'T embrace intolera l1 ce." going on t h at Sunday a f ternoon- second-class citizens. That is unaccept- spilling over until two a.m. Monday able in America. The Republican Party will not be black- morning-Sen. Hank Brown (R-CO) and I were the only mailed by any special interest group. Our nominee will be ones who stood up and said we ought to take more time Iso selected in the Republican primaries. that l we could question Angela Wright. who was later fea­ tured in the book A Strallgt' lust icc. 1 don't know that Angela RIPON: Clilltoll voters wmt as hcnuily Democratic ill Ille '94 Wright's testimony would h(\ve made a difference, but it electio lls as 81/sl1 voters wenl Republicllll.The dramatic differellcc should have been hea rd. ca me lIy way of the Perot vote, whicl'lllCllt 2:1 RepubliClIII. Ollr The second, and perhaps more important reason I '96 presidential nominee will have to do as well willI these voters was able to overcome Ithe fallout froml my questioning of to will. Wily would you be better equippt>d to do that thml tlte Professor Hill was my very strong record on women's other Republicans ill this race? issues. 1 had been a leader in setting up the separate unit at NIH for women; a leader on lobtaining funding fori breast SPECTER: I ha ve long been in close communication with ca ncer research, long before it became a national issue; my United We Stand in my home state, particularly with regard leadership in tearing down the glass ceiling and making to the two most important issues of the day: health ca re and sure women got equal pay for equal work; my hi ring of crime. Mr. Perot called me up to ask if he could borrow women, going back to my days as district attorney, when I some charts we'd put together showing the bureaucratic had 29 professional women on my staff; my consistent pro­ mess that wou ld be created by the Clinton Health Care choice position. When all that was considered, overcame plan. Those people are particularly impressed with my my questioning of Prof. Anita Hill. I can do it again. work on crime prevention, and my background as a prose­ cutor, having been Philadelphia's district attorney for eight RIPON: President Clilltollappears to be veerillg to till' rig/It ill years. And they very much appreciate my blend of fiscal rt'Slxmse to the Democratic debacle at ti,e polls tI,is November. Bllt conserva tism and social libertarianism. They are radical Speaker Gingrich appears to be maill/ail/illg Ir is collfrolltatiol/al only in their demands that the federal government clean up stal/ce. fs that good strategy, eitlll'r;'1 regard to tlte '96 electioll or the way it conducts its business, which arc well-founded. I policymakillg ill the 104th CO l/gress?

January/ February 1995 17 SPECTER: I'm optimistic that Speaker our being confrontational instead of SPECTER: I, for one, think it IS justi­ Gingrich can focus on the core issues. I cooperative. So I think we have to be fied. We have critical responsibilities know th"t some of his statements have very, very careful, and I include myself across the globe, and serious potential been taken out of context and exagger­ in that along with . He's adVer5

18 The RIPON FORUM The GOP's Garden of Greatness Wannabee Republican returned to the City of Brotherly Love a Godsend .... We were able to maintain Presidents and Arleu to launch his legal career. one of the finest school systems ever, Specter Grew Up in the Same While it is astonishing for a even while times were so hard almost remote hamlet to have bred two con- everywhere." Small Prairie Towu .. ,.A Town temporary potential presidents, the Two products of that system With Ripollite Roots origins of the town itself lay yet anoth- shO\ved early promise. Dole was an er layer of karmic coincidence on this accomplished athlete in high school We all know the story of how a hand- tale. "with a following:' recalls Dawson, ful of Whigs, Free Soilers and aboli- Eighteen years after the party "especially with the girls." At 15, the tionis! activists gathered in a tiny clap· of Dole and future Senate Leader took a job at the board schoolhouse in Dawson family drug store for two dol- Ripon, and lars a week "and all the ice cream he gave us the Republican could eat." There, he occasionally Party, 141 years ago this waited on a young customer with a February. But very few fondness for malts: nine-year old are aware of another civic Arlen Specter. crop planted by that same During World War II, Dole generation of Riponites; was severely wounded in a European one that promises to pro- foxhole and spent two years on his vide the GOP with two back in a succession of VA hospitals. its most marketable presi- The town took up a collection to help dentiat prospects for 1996. pay for an operation that restored Senate Majority --____ some use to a badly man- Leader Bob Dole has never gled arm. "Every store in made a secret of his roots in the prairie town had an old cigar box soil of Russell, : he has often on the counter with Bob presided over events there--includ- Dole's name on it," Dawson ing his 1988 presidential campaign proudly remembers. kickoff-with big-name politicos in His health much tow. Born and raised in Russell, he restored, Dole went back to subsequently served its 5,000 rural L. college and was elected to the andresidents county as attorney state repre beforesentative going off :~ ~:~~s;~~~~~;~~~~~~ lstaawte sclegislaturehool-as awhile Democrat. still in to Congress in 1960. GOp ' . Law degree in hand, he went to The Russell roots of another ' two preSident: COmmon see local political sage John US. Senator and presidential con- Specter was 1<1/ prospects Woelk for advice on running for tender come as more of a shock: founded in Ripon, a group county attorney. Unlike his legisla- Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter-the of its townspeople set off for the fertile tive district, Russell County was only Jewish Republica n in the upper expanses of Western Kansas, then heavily Republican, so Dole immedi­ chamber-has long been identified as opening up in the wake of the Civil ately heeded Woelk's first recommen­ an urban politician from the Eastern War. Once settled there, they named dation: "Become a Republican." Seaboard, having launched his career their new community after the man Specter did the hometown as the District Attorney of who had sponsored their exodus, a proud himself, anchoring a high Philadelphia (see previous page). Vet Civil War general named Russell. school debale team that won the state his nasal midwestern twang is heavily When Dole and Specter were championship. But there is little doubt evident, and didn't come from watch- growing up during the Depression where the sympathies of modern-day ing re-runs of Green Acres. Born 125 years, Russell was in the middle of the Russell lie, should the Republican miles away iJ1 Wichita, Specter moved Dust Bowl; its traditional liveli hood in presidential nomination come down to Russell with his family at age four, the processing of wheat literally dried to its two famous sons: billbo<1Tds on and stayed until he enrolled asa fresh- up and blew away. But a major oil the outskirts of town proclaim it to be man at the University of Pennsylvania strike nearby on the eve of the stock "Bob Dole Country." in Philadelphia. After a stint in the Air market crash kept the town afl oat. Force during the Korean War and ''That really saved our bacon," recalls - David Beiler earning a law degree at Yale, he retired druggist Bub Dawson. "It was

January/ February 1995 19 Making Welfare Work Paymellts are Slrrillkillg, But tire Rolls Are Exploding as tir e Public Dole Co ntinues to Undermine America's Work Ethic and Faitlr in Govemment. Is TI,ere a Moral Way Out?

BY ANDREA L. SPRING

enrollment in AFOC totaled fiv e million fa milies (with 9.5 million children, and 355,000 two-parent families), receiving average cash benefits of $377 a month. Welfare programs have been growing astronomica lly in recent years, because they are entitle­ ments, g iven automatically to anyone w ho meets the criteria. Congress has expanded AFDC to include unemployed married "Everyone talks about the special interests or-as in the case of couples and disabled people as well as weather," Ben Franklin welfare beneficiaries-organized lob­ single women with children. Although once observed, "but no one bies. overall costs have been risi ng, the ever does anything about it." Were this a Democratic revolu­ amount each recipient recei ves has Much the same could be said tion, we might expect at least a super­ been decreaSing. The combined maxi­ about our burgeoning, mtl ch~malig ned ficial assault on the wealthy; and, in mum AFOC and food stamp benefits welfare system. Almost everyone com­ fac t, the Clinlon tax ilnd health care for a family of four fell 22 percent in plains about it, agreeing that it is bloat­ initia ti ves were just that. But the '94 real value between 1971 and 1993. ed, inefficient and debilitating to those voter revolt utilized the Gor as a vehi­ About 26 percent of AFOC families it is supposed to help. Politicians have cle, and a call also receive direct housing subsidies. dredged Ihis dissiltisfaction for votes be expected to advance down different esti­ for at least a generation, promisi ng a venues: congressional reform, a trim­ mates that total welfare spending, on sweeping changes that would cut off m ing of all government except Social all level s of government, was 5304.6 the loafers and put the able-bodied to Security and d efense, and a drastic billion dollars in 1992 - 73 percent of work. Yet nothing very substantive has overhaul o f the welfare state. it federal funds, and all but 3.5 percent been done in the way of reform. mandated by fed eral regulations. Beneath all the rhetoric, there has been Bigger Than a Bread Basket AFDC is only the tip of the spending an all-pe rvasive resig nation III iceberg. According to the Heritage Wa shington that the "welfare mess" is The welfare debate begins Foundation, the government spent as impervious to human correction as wi th what is included in the d efinition about $65.9 billion in cash aid, $34 bil­ the weather. of "welfare. " Generally, it includes a lion on food p rograms, $21.8 billion on That attitude may be chang­ series of federal and state p rograms for housing, $147.5 billion on medical pro­ ing. The Republican sweep at the polls the poor, the centerpiece of which is grams, $1.4 billion on energy aid, $16 last year has brought to power a large Aid to Families with Dependent billion of educational aid, $5.4 billion new gene ration of revolutionaries Children. AFDC itself will cost the fed­ on job training, $6.7 billion on social who-atleasl for the lime being- have eral government about $24 billion in services, and $3.9 billion on communi­ the beyond-the-Beltway perspective 1994 - a relatively small slice of the ty aid in 1992. Enrollment in welfare is necessary to see the fatal flaws in the national budget. The states administer lip 31 percent since 1989. federal status quo, and still ha ve the AFOC and set maximum benefits in The welfare stale has rightly wilJpower to do something about it. each state, ranging from 12 percent of become an important issue in the pub­ Most were elected by the swing of tra­ the 1993 poverty thres hold in lic discourse because o f growing costs, ditionally Democratic voters who feel to 71 percent III concern about its effects Oil its recipi­ their standard of living slipping, and Connecticut; federal funds pay at least ents and society as a whole, and who point the finger at a Washi ngton 50 percent o f each state's benefits and increasing reluctance by the public to culture that represents only wealthy administration costs. In July 1994, hand out money without getting

20 The RIPON FORUM something in return. There is little Although AFDC cannot be them of responsibility to stay with and debate as to whether drastic change is w holly blamed for the increase in iIle-­ care for their families. needed. Altering the federal welfare g itimacy, it does enable poor people to Americans are increasingly system cannot be accomplished by tin· raise children w ithout the stability of a unwilling to provide welfare benefits kering with AFDC or food stamps; it t wo ~ paren t family. One out of seven without getting something in return. involves fundamental changes in how children in America is on AFDC, and Stag nating real incomes, slowe r eco-­ the government treats the poor in this roughly 40 percent of the families on nomic g rowth, burgeoning federal country. AFDC are divorced or separated . deficits, and increasing anti·govem· When AFOC was enacted in 1935,88 ment sentiment have led the public to Caught in the Safety Net percent of families that received relief target welfare for change. It's v isible were needy because of the death of a and si mpler to understand than many Critics sec welfare as the cre­ father. Today, 98 percent o f child ren on government programs, agricultural ator of a culture of poverty, in which A FOC have two living parents (59 per· price subsid ies, for instance, and work· people forget how to work and tradi­ cent of whom were unwed), but 89 ing people see it as an "us against tional American values are subverted percent live with only one parent. them" issue. In 1988, 74 percent of pe0- in favor of handouts and irresponsibil­ Most parents on AFOC a re d ivorced, ple in a survey for the Times Mirror ity. Increasing welfare is viewed as the deserted, or never·marriecl mothers. Center agreed that "It is the responsi· cause-not just the result- of the By making fathers fi nancially u nneces­ bility o f the government to take care of na tion's exploding illegitimacy and s.1ry in children's lives, AFOC absolves people who can't take care o f them· crime rates. They s.'ly that the system ~ ______~ fosters a lack of reciprocity and per- sonal responsibility that is ripping apart the fabric of society. Estimated FY 1993 Income-Tested Outlays for Children and There is ample evidence that Their Families from Selected Major ProgramSll] the current welfare system encourages illegitimacy. Thirty percent of all Federal $ S t a t ~loca t S RecipientsJ21 American children arc now born to (i n billions) (in billions) (millions) single mothers, and two-thirds of all children born out of wedlock are born Cash aid S29.0 $11.7 to women under 25. Households head ­ AFOC 14.0 11 .7 13.6131 ed by young, single women are morc EITC 11 .8141 0 13.9 likely to be poor, a nd 22 percent of all 55I 3.2 n/a 0.7 children live in poverty. Being raised in Food benefits 29.1 nl a a single parent ho me and in poverty is Food stam psrsl 20.6 1.4 22.1c positi vely correlated with increasing Free o r reduced~p ri ce tendency toward crime, lower perfor· mealSI61 5.6 nl a 15.7m mance in school, and a greater likeli· WIC 2.9 nla 6.0 c hood of eventually ending up on wei· Med icaidls] 15.5 11.7 32.6 c fare. Child ren raised in families that Housing Benefits 9.8 0 2.5191 receive welfare assistance are three HUD programs 8.4 001 2. 1 times as likely as others to enroll in Farmers' Home Ad min· welfare as adults. is lTation programS/l1) 1.4 0 0.4 There is some evidence that an Source: Congressional Research Service increase in welfare benefits leads to an increase in illegitimacy; however, the FOOTNOTES··························· .. ·•• fact that real welfare benefits have fall~ en over the past twenty years, while III Includes administrath·e costs whet\' available. ExcludE'S education, job-trdining. social services, illegitimate birthrates have skyrocke t ~ energy aid, and numerous smaller programs.121 Caution: Average monthly number of individuals, eJCcept. school mcals, school·year dairy average of lower income lunch l'OCif.ients; WIC (Special ed, indicates that benefits alone are not Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children), Juty 1993; '" edkaid, yearly total driving the illegitimacy rate. Welfare I;'Slirnate (FYl993); EITC, yearly total number of familie.;;; and housmg, number of household$ OIt end of year. III Includes part'nts. Child totals: food stilmps, 14.1 million; WIC, eslim;ltc not available; may encourage unwed women to have AFOC 9.5 million; Ml.'dicaid (yearly total), 15.2 million.141 Credit earned ill calendar year 1992. ch ildren by g iving them the assurance Dill'd payments, $10.6 billion; reduced tax liability, $1.2 billion. lSI Includes Puerto Rico(61 includes income-tested p.1.rts of school lunch, school breakfast, alld childCilre food programs; also SUmm('T of a s.1 fcty net, but the lack of social food serviCt" pr:ogram. (Excludes cost o( rommodities.}[71 Excludes children in child cart' food pro­ So:1 nctions against unmarried girls w ho gram .IBI Spending estimate for FYl992. but recipient estimate for FYI99l.l91 Estimated number of nouseholos with childrt'n: public housing. 41 % of units; Section B Ct"rtifiCiltes and \'ouchel'!l, exist­ g ive birth, and the lack of paternal ing units, 61 %; project.based aid, 38%.IIO} Loca lities accept bclow·t.u: payments in lieu of property taxes on public housing projects.1ll1 Subsidized toans to low·income persons for home ownership responsibility, certainly play a large (Section 5O1l and rental aid (Sections 515/521). part in the rise of illeg itim acy in America.

January/February 1995 21 , selves;" by 1994, only 57 percent erhood, it allows girls (a nd boys) to 30 percent for the remainder of eligi­ agreed. People no longer wa nt to sup­ escape the full consequences of their bility. Thus, there would be an incen­ port those who've made bad decisions. actions: the government will pick up tive to find work as quickl y as possible or maybe even those who've simply the pieces. and enter into the American work­ had b.ld luck. Job training and education has force. It should also disregard any long been widely touted as the solu­ income from account reserved for The Search for Solutions tion to getting women off welfare-by educational purposes and adopt an eli­ making them more employable. ill gibility formula that does not deter the The most popular solution for 1992, less thall five percent of families formation of a small business. the problems of AFDC is some version with children who had one or more Unfortunately, the govern­ of "two years and out"- capping a family member employed year-round ment's work placement record has recipient's benefits after two years. were poor. As NYU poli tical scientist been wanting. Women on welfare are This solution hinges on the availability Lawrence Mead has written in The rarely among the most employable of jobs or funding for the recipients at ew Politics of Poverty, "On the people in the market: not only are they the end of two years. Some proposals whole, the immigrant poor of old were less likely to have a high school diplo­ would keep people in subsidized jobs poor despite work, while the current ma, but over half of welfare mothers indefinitely. while some others plan to poor are needy fo r lack of it. " If the are found to have cognitive skill levels cut people off from such employment government can get women into jobs placing them in the bottom fifth of the after a few years. The idea is to gct and keep them there, they will be able popu lation. These women may not people off welfare and into the work to support their families eventually. benefit from years of speciali zed job force, thereby creating a break in the training; basic workplace skills and culture of welfare. However. almost Breaking the Chains intensive placement services are more half of all mothers who enter AFDC important. A recent study of Job can already be expected to leave with­ The first step is an entry-level Training and Placement Act (JTPA) in two years. The more serious prob­ job-probably at minimum wage­ programs found that they increased lem is that most of the women eventu­ where people can gain experience and wages of female trainees by only 3.4 ally return. These families live on the increase the value of their human cap­ percent--.l!ld those of men not at all­ fina ncial edge, and an additional child, ital. This is no pie-in-the-sky fantasy; it though participation in the programs illness, or a broken ca r can be enough is economic reality that most adults increa sed the likeli hood of finding a to send the women back on welfare. It deal with during their lifetime. Nor are job. may not be difficult to get a large num­ there convincing indications of a ber of women off welfare after two severe shortage of entry-level jobs in years, but if they are limited to two the marketplace. Hardworking people Hop on Pop years in a li fetime, they no longer have may still find themselves displaced, Paternal responsibility ("dead­ a safety net. however, so the principle of a Sclfety beat dad") clauses in reform propos.lls Long-term users of welfare net is sound. It should not, however, are necesScl ry to provide not only the usually enter the rolls as young high become a hammock or a spid er's web. fund s to support new Illothers, but school dropouts who have yet to To fa cilitate the transition continuing funds to support children marry, and most welfare fami lies begin from welfare case to productive work­ throughout their childhood. The lx'S t with a birth to a teenager. This is why er, any policy reform should allow way to get women off welfare may not many plans focus on keeping teen recipients of AFDC to retain a higher be just to get them to work. but to mothers from ever entering welfare in percentage of their earned income require the fathers of children on the first place. Welfare was never without experiencing a reduction in AFDC to work as well, garnishing intended as a pennanent option to their monthly benefits. Such a raise in thei r paychecks to provide support. raise families on, and it is this use that the "earned income disregard " would Working mothers with two or more is most troubling to its critics. A in vigorate the the lower-income sector children typically have non-discre­ woman without a high school diploma of the economy by reversing a disin­ tionary spending of around $15,000 a who has never held down a fu ll-time centive in the current system that dis­ year; a woman would need to earn job is difficult to employ. and her chil­ courages the chronically dependent $7.50 an hour in a full-time job to pro­ dren don't have a productive role from obtaining entry-level work-a vide that. A supplemental payment is model to emulate in the work force. A disincentive that often seems to be a Jl(.>cesSclry-from the father or the gov­ reform plan must be somewhat puni­ 100% marginal income tax rate. ernment-for those many women who tive to young mothers if it hopes to dis­ Such a plan would increase will never qualify for better-paying suade single young women from bear­ the earned income disregard from the jobs. ing and keeping children before they current 33% to to 80 percent. but rapid­ Lack of an available job is not are capable of supporting them. ly decrease it over time: to 60 percent the only barrier to getting women off Although welfare may not cause the after six months, 50 percent after one welfare. Available jobs sim ply Illay not behavior that results ill unwed moth- year, 40 percent for the third year and bring in as much as women do with a 22 The RIPON FORUM DEADLINES FOR DEADBEATS: Welfare Reform Proposals in Congress

The following abstracts refer to hills intro­ The Moderate Republican some cases, be allowed to keep as dllced ill the last Congress. It is expected Proposal: H.R. 3500 much as 50 percent of their benefits for fllat similar proposals will be brought a year a ft er marriage. New mothers, This proposal, advanced by the sick, drug addicted, full-time stu­ forth as alternatives this year. Congo , Congo Clay dents, those giving care to a disabled Shaw, Congo Rick Santorum, and dependent, or those who were already The Clinton Proposal: Congo Mike Castle, would force recip­ working more than 30 hours a week H.R.4605 ients to work after two years of educa­ would be exempt from the work pro­ tion and training. The states would vision. States could opt to receive their A two-year time limit wouJd have to provide jobs for those who AFDC and food and nutritional funds be imposed on adult recipients in a block grant, and federal spend­ born after 1971. Sta tes would be ing on AFDC, food stamps and required to establish a jobs pro­ Supplemental Security Income gram and pay wages to those with­ would be capped at two percent out jobs after two years, supple­ per year growth plus inflation plus menting with AFDC payments to the growth in the poverty popula­ prevent income loss. States would tion. This would end welfare bene­ be allowed, but not required, to fits to most non-citizens. It is esti­ deny benefits to additional chil­ mated that this bill would save $19 dren born to a woman all welfare billion dollars over the next fi ve and allow states to pay AFDC to years. two-parent families, regardless of their work history. Minor mothers The Conservative Proposal: would be required to live at home, H.R.4414 with some exceptions, in order to receive benefits. Congo James Talent, Congo The administration esti­ Tim Hutchison, and Sen. Lauch mated that this plan would cost Faircloth would deny all AFDC, $9.3 billion over five years, and food stamps, and public housing funded it from cutting the eligibili­ benefits to mothers under the age ty of immigrants for welfare. of 21 with illegitimate children, raising the limit to under age 25 in The Moderate Democrat 1998. This would drop 3.4 million children from the rolls, who would be Proposal: H.R. 4414 Pushing a moderate alternative ca red for through block grants to the hadn't found them at the end of two Presented by ex-congressman states to give services, such as orphall­ years, but they would have the option Dave McCurdy, this is very similar to ages and group homes, instead of cash of dropping recipients totally after the Clinton plan, but cuts even more grants to minors. Recipients would five years. Extra benefits would be aid to non-citizens to save money. have to establish paternity to receive denied to women who have more chil­ benefits. Total eligibility would be lim­ dren while on AFDC, and no AFDC ited to five years, and half of all AFDC The Liberal Democrat would be given to families where recipients would be required to work Proposal: H.R. 4707 either parent is a minor. Women by 1996. No additional benefits would would have to establish paternity of be given for more children. The states Backed by Congo Robert their child to receive benefits (with would receive money for job training. Matsui, this plan would impose no some exceptions), so the state could Welfare benefits would be time limits and not fundamentally sue fathers for support of children. denied to non-citizens, and total bene­ change the current system. Instead, Recipients under the age of 19 would fits would be capped at inflation plus recipients would be encouraged to have to live with a parent or guardian the growth in the poverty population. move off the welfare rolls by the gov­ unless they were in an abusive home. Its proponents estimate that this bill ernment providing more education To make marriage more would save $40 billion over the next and training. attractive, AFDC recipients would, in five years.

January/ February 1995 23 combination of welfare benefits, off­ Streamlining the Leviathan vices, such as assistance to legal immi­ the-books jobs, and handouts from grants. Public support can be gathered family and friends. If the government Money that is now spent on for added costs as long as there are provides a job that pays just as much many different federal programs could strings attached. Even blacks- who as welfare benefits, it won't be enough. easily be converted into block grants to tend to be more liberal on welfare-­ states, allowing experimentation with According to Christopher Jencks' support additional restrictions: 57 per­ influential book, TIle Homeless, women different programs on a smaller, more cent of them support the denial of typically spend about twice as much manageable level than the chaotic additional benefits to single mothers cash as they receive from welfare: a national stage. Instead of administer­ who have more children, according to full-time job would hinder their ability ing separate food stamp, nutritional, a 1992 survey by the Joint Center (or to supplement their incomE'. housing, energy supplement, and cash Political and Economic Studies. As the Job training and time limits grant programs, the federal govern­ public generally supports spending ment can give the money to states in are designed to give people a strong more on programs to help children, incentive to become self-sufficient, but large grants, cutting down on over­ reform should be pointed in that direc­ what is to be done about people who head costs and allowing states to adapt tion. If the issue is framed as helping do not respond? Some women are differently, but requiring that money families become self-sufficient in the never going to hold down a steady job, be spent on helping poor children and long run by spending more in the short their families. The '18,000 welfare recip­ because of drug and alcohol addiction, run, most people will assent. And physical or mental illness, or behav­ ients in North Dakota may derive opti­ while the specter of Dickensian mum benefit from a different set of ioral problems. Some mothers will orphanages and people starving in the prove obviously unfit, but others may programs than those favored by streets may curtail some of the most be borderline cases. Just because a Louisiana's 274,000 recipients. conservative reform measures, the key womall call't hold down a job doesn't Economic efficiency could be promot­ swing element of the electorate is mean that she is a danger to her chil­ ed by block grants, as well, by target­ demanding radical change in the cur­ dren, and keeping children in orphan­ ing money to where it will do the most rent welfare program. ages, group homes, and foster homes, good, instead of spending it where fed­ The success of that effort will is generally more expensive than sub­ eral regulations require. ultimately be measured by what is sidizing their mother to care for them. Expansion of the Earned Income done about those who are resistant to Any reform propos..1. 1 needs to either Tax Credit could help families get off all the economic blandishments provide for these children with their welfare and decrease the economic dis­ offered by new proposals, and how mothers (perhaps by appointing some­ incenti ve to working. Poor working many people this ends up being. If one to oversee their funds) or take the families with one child are currently some cases involve irrational econom­ given back 26.3% of yearly earnings up children away and provide other ic actors, all the sticks and carrots to $7,750 (for a maximum credit of arrangements for their upbringing. won't have the desi red effect; the wel­ Some ideas that have been $2,038). The cred it is phased out as fare culture may be emblematic of f1 ck'l.ted arc simple: don't give money to income increases, until it vanishes at a greater societal ills. family income of $23,760 for one child, drug abusers or alcoholics; cut benefits Although the increase in if children are skipping school, or if or $25,300 for more than one child. The unwed teenage pregnancies is greatest mothers who haven' t received their EITC rewards work instead of penaliz­ at the lower levels of the socio-eco­ high school degree aren't working ing it, and a higher EITC could offset nomic sca le, it is increasing throughout toward completion. Insist that children lower welfa re benefits by making it society, and the destruction of the be immunized for mothers to receive more practical for mothers to work at American nuclear family isn't limited benefits. Require that mothers (and, if the minimum wage. This could also be to those who need welfare when they politically more popular than welfare, possible, fathers) attend parenting, become part of the wreckage. nutrition, and money management since it not only rewards work, but is Abolishing the current system of wel­ less visible and can be portrayed as classes as well as job training. Promote fa re, if not done right, may send pe0- abstinence and, yes, provide birth con­ more of a tax cut than a handout. ple into the streets and not the work­ trol. All of these programs are compar­ Practicall y, any program that force, and America may not be aware atively inexpensive, but the current requires work is going to have to pro­ of the ultimate consequences of the welfare system doesn' t allow states to vide some sort of job training and sub­ change being contemplated. require these without getting special sidized jobs-at least to start people wavers from the federa l government. into the \\'orkforce--and is going to cost more money. The welfare system A for mer mal/agillg editor of Campaiglls cannot be reformed silllply by cutting & Eleetiolls lIlt/gazille, Alldrea L Sprillg Rescore11 director for tltis project was its budget. In the short nm, reformed is cllmmtly stl/dyillg at Ha rva rd Brinton Taylor Warren. welfare is going to cost more, though it University's KClmedy School of may be funded by cuts in some ser- Governmellt .

24 The RIPON FORUM Book Reviews WASHINGTON: Wastrel or Whipping Boy? Opposing Views of Kevin Phillips and His Theory of 'Capital Arrogance' "A Venomous Screed ... "The Most Important of Populist Mythology" Book of the Decade" By Bril1ton Taylor Warrell J\ ITI Jga lIt By David Beiler

I is no brave new endeavor to denounce ichard Nixon once sa id of Kevin Washington and its inhabitants as oul of p'lt(} I ttl Phillips: "Gut,s and brains are a rare touch, self-s<, tisfied, profiling at the pub­ I \\ ,I~lIlmll .l. Iml. ~TIII:r.T. Rcombination in politics, and he has lic's expense, and resistant to change. ,\\11 TIII'.I'IIIISrn.lTIl1\ III' plenty of both." That may explain why Criticizing Washington has become the plat­ Phillips and (perhaps) Bill Greider are the '\\11'.IIILIlI'III.1TII~ itudinous staple of public discourse, occu­ o nly Washing ton pundits who both under­ pying the ground once held by motherhood, stand the anger in the American electorate the flag and apple pic. Kevin Phillips hl:\ 1\ PI!ILLIPS and are not afraid to explain it. llonetheit.'Ss bashes with renewed vigor in \,,,,._ •., "" ,-,,1"4 . ,·. ",,', ..... ,"... The Beltway ruling class has long his latest work, Arrogant Capitnl, a ven­ Boston: Li ttle, Brown & Co. clung to the notion that the massive omous screed which damns a ll things American middle-class- what H.L. Washingtonian. Mencken termed "the booboisie" -has no inkling as to the Phillips argues that Washington historically has context of government policy, and therefore must be kept been subject to periodic w holesale cleansing through elec­ from influencing it too directly. But as Phillips so carefully toral upheavals which amou nted to nothing less than documents in his latest treatise, Arrogallt Capital, the com­ bloodless revolutions. 's election in 1800 moners have historically had a remarkable instinct for brought about the expulsion of the once dominant knowing when the ship of state was veering o ff course, Federalists. Yea rs later, flfter the electio n of 1828, Andrew away fro m the port of their well-being. Those in power Jackson and friends litemll y tore through the White House, were either too divorced from reality to realize it, or too smashing and basking in the dis.:'lpproval of the cul­ focused on the pursuit of their own, very different interests. tural elites w ho had just been ousted by the voters. After Much as Thomas Jefferson fo resaw the need for rev­ the election of 1860, Abrahflll\ Lincoln and the Republicans olution every generation or so to keep democracy function­ arrived in Washington just as the Southerners who ruled al, so the voters reacted, overthrowing the political order in during the Democratic 1850s were bugging out to prepare the elections of 1800, 1828, 1860, and 1932, while igniting a for rebellion. delayed-reaction progressive era in 1896. Whenever the The pattern of periodic bloodless revolution ended, powers-thai-be got too smugly esconced with their special Phillips asserts, in the Twentieth Century. After one la st interest buddies, the public booted them out of office. bloodless revolution, the New Deal of the 1930s, Another revolution might ha ve taken pli'tce in 1968, with the Washington was transformed from a backward and easily New Deal coalition collapsing in the face of cultural diver­ dominated hamlet into a metropolis brimming w ith gence among its component parts. But that last revolt never entrenched special interests which, to preserve themselves, quite succeeded in overthrowing the established order, a sabotage the efforts of those sent by Middle America to gov­ failure Phillips blames in part on Watergate, but more fun­ ern. The first Presidential victim of this sabotage, Phillips damentally on the entrenchment of a parasitic class i.1l o ffers, was . President N ixon's election in Washington--one which ultimately represents international 1968 represented an electoral revolution, but the results of fi nance to the detriment of all else. According to Philli ps, this electoral revolution were denied pmctical effect by a those parasites on the body politic have since made them­ disa pproving Washington elite which w as now large selves indispensible to the maintenance of power while sub­ enough to resist the will of the volers' representatives. jugating the interests of The Great Unwashed. What Mr. Phillips has to say in this regard is of p<,rticular There is plenty of evidence to back up this assess­ interest, now that we have experienced one of the g rea test ment: 90,000 people a re now employed in Washington's electoral revolutions in our history. Could entrenched lobbying industry; those representing foreign governments Washington deny effect to this revolution as well? include most living U.s. trade negotiators, trade commision The ascendancy of Washington is representative of chairs, and national party heads. A Public Citi zen study of a general historica l trend the author identifies as the almost congressmen, congresssional staffers and presidential inevitable decline of greatnatiollal powers. Ancient Greece, appointees leaving public life in the early '90s found nearly i W~r m ' fO"'"",(d 0" pa!l<' 26 )

January/ February 1995 25 ( Warrell rem/illued) mends this course, given that it would only multiply the the Roman Empire, Hapsburg Spain, eighteenth-century opportunities for conflicts of interest and spcci{l[ interest Holland and pre-World War 1 Britain all became infected by lobbying the author justifiably despises. He makes other, bloated capital cities containing a parasitic governing elite equally less thought-out recommendations for tax increases capable of defying the will of the populous. Also part of the regulating financial markets and international investments, pattern of great power decline. Phillips argues, is the emer- and, in a bow to the technological imperative, having voters genee of a financial elite which profits from the true labor of go on-line for frequent national referenda. the nation by speculating in financial markets and conduct ~ Indeed, in his frenzy to scrap the Constitution, the ing international trade. Phillips warns that no nation is author opens the door to a new age tyrant, one who could immune from history, and, unless we realize that "the time centralize power and have o nly to answer to his semi ~ for another attack and purge is at hand," then we a re cra zed o n ~ lin e foll owers. Such can be the result of "massive doomed to repeat the demise ~. ..._ __-~. infusions of direct democr- of other great powers. ~J\lP1 - ~ Pe rhaps o nl y a All in al L Arrogant elitist with a Capital is an unfortunate con- GET OFF vested interest in the current tribution to the debate on MY BACK. would object. The what is wrong with ing Fathers thought a Washington. While his histor- lot about the system of rep- ical thesis has plausibility, resentative government they Phillips, understandably exas- established, a nd, while peraled after decades of cov- Washington has changed a e ring the Washington scene, lot in the past few centuries, reduces all in Washington to a human nature has not. caricature. The author thus Most disappointing is that tosses his rhetorical Molotov Phillips misses an opportu- cocktails: Our two party sys- nity to further the public dis- tern, aside from being bought cussion regarding the one and paid for, is too old to respond to our current problems. Washington pathology deserving of his righteous indigna­ Politicians arc too concerned with courting the favor of tion: influence peddling. The art of influence peddling in campaign contributors to heed the public inte rest. government is every bit as crass as Mr. Phillips makes it out Members of Congress, the Administration and their staffs to be, and the current state of the art has convoluted our are all sell-outs who mark time before spinning th rough the nation's ideal of public service in the political arena. The revolving door to employment with a corrupting special problem, one Phillips aptly id entifies, is an elite profession­ interest. al cadre of political sta ff who are able to milke a career out Rather than enlightening the topic, Phillips merely of the specialized knowledge required to legislate and rehashes the half-dozen or so stereotypes that commenta- ad minster billions of dollars worth of government pra­ tors and candidates have been pounding into our skulls for grams. What are we to think of people who go into gov­ quite some time now. Worst of all, when the author trains emment and its ideas for profit? In their defense, they often his scope on Wa ll Street rather than Washington, he reall y provide important services and often id eflli stically serve misses the mark. His discussion of the "Financiali zation of causes which they believe advance the common good. America" is some form of populist mythology regarding the Calling the entire lot parasites, Mr. Phillips does not move financial sector, revealing the author's misunderstanding us toward a useful theory. about economics and how social wealth is created. Incredibly, Phillips seems to pooh-pooh the idea of Phillips' bitler hatred of Washington leads him lcgislilting il ban on the revolving door, opting instead for astray. For example, he suggests that Congress convene in some utopian evolution away from the lobbyist-inspired Denver during the summer to get away from the influence Washington culture. I would offer that, as part of reform ~ of lobbyists. After lilying out a strong case against the per- ing how Washington works, the new Republican majority in vasive influence of lobbyists, he somehow overlooks the the next Congress should bring forth more draconian fa ct that these same lobbyists have phones, fax milchines restrictions on the revolving door. Perhaps to Mr. Phillips, and frequent-flyer miles. Lobbyists, as a species, are not the suggestion of something less than the reversal of confined to their habitat in Washington. They arc capable of Marbury v. Madison and everything that followed is mere­ migra ting in pursuit of their prey. ly the minor tinkering of one clearly under the sway of the He also recommends that Members of Congress be entrenched special interests who dominate the system. Mr. allowed to serve in the President's Cabinet. Aside from his Phillips has expressed a liking for blistering public discus­ erroneous conclusion that we no longer need the sion, but, as w e til ke on Washington, it would be better if Constitution's separation of powers as protection against our discussion was a little less blistering and a little more overreaching government, it is surprising that he recom- thoughtful. h

26 The RIPON FORUM (Beilt'T cOl/tjm/ed) three-fifths going to work for lobbying firms or law offices Trust In Washington: A Loss of Faith with lobbying arms. [n addition to $400 million in PAC Percentage 01 people who say that they can trust the g-overn­ money and $1,000 individual donations raised for the 1992 ment In Washington to do what Is right all or most of the lime campaigns of federal candidates, another $83 million '00% flowed to the major party national committees from special interests-ostensibly for "party-building activities"­ 80% almost entirely in chunks that would otherwise be illegal. Phillips estimates the "Gross National Influence-Peddling I-- Product" at $20 billion per year, propelling the Washington 60% I'-. suburbs to the top of the nation's per-capita income hea p. I...... As lobbyists grew fat, so they made officeholders and their aides happy: yes, with gifts, junkets, and easy­ \.... money honoraria; but more significantly with campaign / \... funds and implications of future employment. The repre­ 20% sented monied and/or organized interests generally got - their way with government policy, while the unrepresented middle-class picked up the tab, saw their purchasing power slide, and grew increasingly disillusioned (see table>. "" Other factors driving these past two decades of SoofCf/; GaJIup Organization June 1994: sevvOlQ

January / February 1995 27 Moderate ~pu6acan Leaders

Our research department has uncovered information that most advocates of the Reactionary fught do not want you to know. This intelligence Is so powerful that they will do anything from letting it silp out from beyond the Beltway. But we have pa.instakingly uncovered what even could not keep out of his own Limbaugh Letter: proportionately. the moderate wing of the Republican party controls more leadership positions in the I04th Congress than any other ideological bloc.

Below and to the light we have listed those leaders and the committees that they con­ trol. It is an amazing feat. that with all the talk of a conservative wave sweeping the country. the Republican colleagu es of these individuals have elected them to guide the Republican majorities in both chambers through the last two years of the Clinton Administration. We hope you will join the Ripon Society in saJuting the moderate Republican leaders of the 104th Congress.

HOUSE COMMITTEES

Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman: Livestock, Dairy and Poultry · Steve Gunderson (WI)

Banking and Financial Services: Chairman - (LA ) Subcommittee Chairmen: Domestic and International Monetary Policy - Michael Castle (DE) Financial Institutions and Co nsumer Cred it - Ma rge Roukema (N»

Government Reform and Oversight: Chairman - William Clinger (PA) Subcommittee Chairmen: Government Managementlnfonnation and Technology - Sieve Horn (CA) Human Resources and Intergovernmental Affairs - Christopher Shays (CT)

International Relatio n s: Chairman - Ben Gillman (NY) Subcommittee Chairman: Asia and the Pacific - Doug Bereuter (N E)

Science Subcommittee Chairman: Technology - Constance Morella (MO)

Small Business: Chairwoman - (KA) Subcommittee Chairman: Government Programs - Peter Torkildsen (M A)

Standards of Official Conduct: Chairman - Na ncy Johnson (CT)

Transportation and Infras tructure Subcommittee Chairmen: Railroads - Susan Molinari (NY) Surface Transportation - (R-Wn Water Resources and Environment - Sherwood Boeh lert (NY)

Ways and Means Subcommittee Chairwoman: Oversight - Nancy Johnson (Cn

28 The RIPON FORUM Jim Leach Christopher Shays Connie Morella Pete r Torkildsen Susan Molinari

Sherwood Boehlert Bob Packwood

SENATE COMMITTEES

Appropriations: Chairman - Mark Hatfield Subcommittee Chairmen: Defense - Ted Stevens (AK) District of Columbia - James Jeffords (VT) Labor-HHS- Education -Arlen Specter (PA) Interior - (WA) Transportation and Related Agencies - Mark Hatfield (OR)

Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee Chairmen: Communications - Bob Packwood (OR) Consumers, Foreign Commerce, Tourism -Slade Gorton (WA) Oceans and Fisheries - Ted Stevens (AK)

Environment and Public Works: Chairman - John Chafee (RI)

Finance: Chairman - Bob Packwood (OR)

Foreign Relations Subcommittee Chairmen: African Affairs - Nancy Landon Kassebaum (KA) International Operations - O lympia Snowe (ME)

Government Affairs: Chairman - Willia m V. Roth (DE)

Judiciary Subcommittee Chairman: Terrorism, Technology, Government Information - Arlen Specter (PA)

Labor and Human Resources: Chairman - Nancy La ndon Kassebaum (K A) Subcommittee Chairman: Education, Arts, and Humanities - James Jeffords (VT)

Rules and Administration: Chairman - Ted Stevens (AK)

Select Committee on Intelligence: Chairman - Arlen Specter (PA)

Special Aging: Chairman - William S. Cohen (ME)

January /February 1995 29 rr======...... J( W ASHINGTON NOTI,S & QeOT ES Coming to Terms control became plausible. That cer­ Shays of Gingrich-The sta r of tainly bodes ill for the Democrats, Congo Chris Shays (R-CT) is clearly in The effort to pass a Icon limits who have largely financed their cam­ ascent. His longstanding proposal to amendment to the U.S. Constitution paigns through such sources in the bring Congress unde r the laws it has hit rough weather as proponents recent past. makes for the private sector became squabble over the number of years the first plank of The Contract With required before pulling the congres­ Dole Picks Jockies America to be enacted into lilW. sional career plug. Reform hawks are The evidence is now compelling Although the Ripon board member is demanding a six-year limit on I-louse that Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) WILL be opposed to term limits, he is consid­ service, bolstered by an advertising running for president next year at the ered the moderate closest to Speaker campaign by U.s. Term Limits which of 73. The new Majority Leader Gingrich. calls a 12-year lower cham- --; filed an exploratory committee ber limit backed by with the FEe on Ja nuary 12 and Chafing Chafee Chased-The Speaker Newt G ingrich started signing o n top ca mpaign only chance federal health reform leg­ "phony." Congo Tillie talent soon thereafter. Scott Reed islation had last year \\'as provided by Fowler (R-FL) is pushing a resigned his post as Execu ti ve a group of moderate Republica n compromise eight-year Director of the Republica n "mainstreamers" led by Sen. john House limit, ca lling it the National Committee on February C haf('(~ (R-RJ), head of the COP's task "Goldilocks" plan: not too 1 to assume new duties as man- force 0 11 the issue. Chafee's initiatives long, not too short. "If Fowler: ager of the Dole '96 effort. Veteran for compromise raised the hackles of those of us w ho support Blonde Justice ca mpaign operati ve Bill La cy­ many right-wing Senate Republicans, term limits fixate on the who ran herd over Dole's 1988 however, who have now helped COIl­ number of years rather than the num­ presidentia l ca mpaign- will be on vince Majority Leader Dole to replace ber of votes," Fowler warned, "we are board again as vice-chair and chief the Rhode Islander as the Party's destined to faiL " strategist. Lacy skippered the phe­ health care point+man with the Detecting GOP b.Kksliding on tenn nomenally successful Fred notably more conservative Sen. limits, syndicated columnist William Thompson U.S. Senate campaign in Robert Bennett (R+UT). F. Buckley underscored the impor­ Tennessee last year (see cover story). tance of the issue in late january, writ­ Ruins Of Ozymandias-The ing: "If Mr. Gingrich abandons or Moderation on the Line WlIshillgfoll Times reports that a huge severely dilutes the term limits plank, A national grassroots organi:wtion dumpster parked outside Room 527 then he will have problems two years dedicated to advancing mainstream of the Hart Senate Office Bu ilding in late ja nuary was not large enough to from now, as wi ll his party." Re publicanism has set up its hi-tech contain a gigantic piece of cardboard shop. Republica ns for ALL left astride it- the blowup of a red, Newtered Americans (RfAA) will be providing white and blue national health securi­ The Speaker also touched a raw information and organiza tional links ty card, used by President Clinton to nerve wi th his lesbian sister, Candace to mainstreamers through an on-line tnlmpet his ill-fated health plan. Cing ri ch, this time when he recently computer network, in preparation for urged "toleration" of homosexuals. the 1996 elections. Interested parties Rat on Pal-Televangelist/entre­ "A leaky faucet is something you tol­ should contact Jeff Osanka at E-Mail: preneur/ politidan Pat Robertson has era te," Ms. Gingrich indignantly majordomo @ efn.org/ Message: sub­ been accused by a fomlcr top lieu­ opined to Tile Washing tOil Btl/rie, a gay scribe rfaa. O r snail-mail Jeff at 1742 tenant of improperly diverting assets newspaper in the capital. Skyline Bou levard/ Eugene, OR within the vast communications 97403. Fat Cats on the Prowl empire he controls. Mark Barth, for­ Analyses of FEC reports reveals mer president of U.S. Media- a sub­ Gopher Goes For Goodies s idia ry of Robertson's gargantuan that the 74 Republican freshmen elect­ Ex-congrcssman Fred Grandy will C hristian Broadcast Network ed to the House in 1994 spent more be returning to Washington after all. (CBN)- has filed a lawsuit w hich than their Democratic counterparts in The fa nner Ri pon Advisory Board claims $9 million in production assets the inlhe final three weeks of the ca m­ member has become the President of were transferred wi thout compensa­ paign, despite the fact nearly half of Goodwill Industries, headquartered tion from CBN to 1nternational Family them faced incumbents. The fi gures inside the Beltway. Grandy narrowly En te rtainment , another Robertson­ indicate the flow of special interest missed ousting Cov. Terry money Changed course once a shift in Branstad (R) in the '94 primaries. controlled entity. 4

30 The RI.PO N FORUM THE RIPON EDUCATIONAL FUND

~ranss!(lan(ic (ionfrrmcr

The Ripoll Educational Fund will be sponsoring its 13th Allllual TrallsAtlalllic COllference August 19-26th in Dublin, Ire/and this yeQ/: Issues covered will include: Irish - American Relations, Trade , Economic Opportunities in Ireland, Telecommunications, Agriculture, Transportation, Techllology, and the Welfare State.

For more information please contact us at:

The Ripon Educational Fund 227 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Suite 201 Washington, DC 20002

MARK O. HATFIELD SCHOLARSHIP

By providing scholarships to qualified mdividuals, The Ripon Educational Fund allows for original research into pollcy issues which are likely to have a direct influence on the concerns of the American people. Recipients are expected to produce a paper of publishable quaUty to be disseminated by The Ripon Educational Fund. Most grants are of $2,000 and the reward is paid over the course of the scholar's work. Interested applicants should send a one or two page research proposal. writing samples, and a resume to:

The Hatfield Scholarship Ripon Educational Fund 227 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Suite 201 Washington, DC 20002

Papers should reflect the spirit and interests of Senator Mark O. Hatifield. This includes work in the areas of foreign affairs, dvilllberties, the environment, and the nature of the goverment.

January / February 1995 31 In the Mainstream of American Thought ....

In today's world, everyone has an opinion. Be it the Far Right Republicans or the left wing Democrats, the voices that are heard seem to come loudest from the fringes of American political thought. Not Anymore. The Ripon Forum seeks to go beyond hard -edged ide­ alogies and represent a voice for those in the mainstream of America. Afterall , it is people like you who elect our leaders and are affected by public policies. Whether it's discussion on what's really wrong with the federal government or a discussion on the realignment of our political system , The Forum has it all.

Become a Subscriber Today! r ------, YES! Send me The Ripon Forum for only $20. (students, people in the military service and Peace Corp volunteers pay only $10) Name :______

Address:. ______

City :. ______State :___ Zip :______

You may FAX your subscription card to (202) 547-6560 . Or mail it to The Ripon Forum, 227 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Suite 201 , Washington , DC 20002.

L ______