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In tooay's changing global marketplace, fast nack is essential a resounding 20% from 1993-94. Fast track anows us to meet to Ameri ca's food and consumer products manufacturing the international demand for America's brand name products, industry. Under NAFfA alone. U.S. exports of processed and that's good news for our 2.5 million US. employen, pr0- foods and ixverages to Mexico grtW by a total of $2.4 billion, duci ng brand name products for the world's consumers.
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issue of the RiiX"1 FOnllll offers a wide array of material, from fast track negoti.lting authority to cartoons of AI Gore's RIPON T:controlling legal authority. We take a look at Arizona's new governor and get an update on Great Britain's Tol)' leadership in oppo sition. FORUM JUft[. 1969 VOL Y, No. Ii QNEDOilAit
The FOnllll begins with a Congressman's thoughts on maintaining Republican Congressional leadership. Delaware Representative When Com puten Hit Congress: Michael Castle has experienced governing from both the legislative and executive perspective. In our Cloakroom section, he shm-es his advice to fellow Republicans on how to maintain a majority while nm Systems Politics and the rung a government effectively. The magazine then offers an editorial Checks and Balances against free bro.,dcasl time for candidates. David Walsh is a Professor of Theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.c. His thoughtful essay urges caution to those public servants who would promote the virtues of religion as they would thai of wetlands, civil Dick Lugar: Making it as rights. etc. 8i11 Schneider, CNN political analyst, traces last summer's a GOP Mayor fracas between Governor William Weld and Senator Jesse Helms all the way to its roots, 150 years ago. The Fomm then profiles Ari7..ona's new Governor, Jane Hull. Political cartoonist Jeff MacNeUy exhibits his Plus SENATOR ROBERT P. GRIFFIN ON TliE FORTAS award winning hwnor in a recap of some of his latest cartoons. AffAIR ••• TliE NEW YORK PRIIUJIY ••. JUS- TICE DURING RIOTS ... ABM POlIT1CS •.• NEW President Clinton could not bring his party to support his trade goals, JERSEY TRIUMPH . .. PEACE CORPS PROILEMS ••. AND A REPORT fROM MAHOUT ON SECRET finally pulling fast track legislation rather than watch it be defeated. WHITE HOUSE PLANS! Megan Ivory, Senior Legislative Aide to Minnesota Representative Jim Ramstad, explains why this authority is crucial to our economic devel opment and needs to be passed eventually. In Capitol Grille, Republican Nation.ll Committee Chainrum Jim Nicholson sat down with the FOnlm to discuss Republican politics and strategy. Senator Susan Collins likewise shares her thoughts with Ripon Member and freelance journalist, Paul Peter Jesep. Despite Prime Minister Tony Blair's near dominance of the press and Parliament, the Tory Party does still exist in Great Britain (well, England at least). In Foggy Bottom, Andn!w Hicks, Editor of The Bow Group's Crosslmv maga zine, updates readers on the Tories and their future. Critic's Comer has been reading up on the nation."ll debt. Christopher Bremer, Legislati ve Aide to Ohio Representative Paul Gillmor, reviews John Steele Gordon's book Hamilton's Blessing; The Extraordinary ute and TImes of our National Debt. Finally, in Politbabble, Forum editor Mike G ill opills that fast track's demise can only be temporary if the Us. intends on remaining a dominant force in the next century.
Autumn 1997 3 The Ripon Society presents its video sale of A Salute to Republican Women Leadership F EATURING:
I I Former M n. Former Rep. Fonnfl'Rep. "Fonner Senator Tormer ite{,_ ReprnE'nt.1.tive Spt'olker Maj.Luder Jan ~crs BarbarJoVucanoviCh Nansy K:ISSebeWIL Susan Molinari Na~ Johnson Newt Gingrich Bob Dote The Ripon Society's Salute to Republican Women Leadership video is a 20-minute program honoring the strides made by women in the Republican Party. This video makes it clear, that fov all the rhetoric of the Democrat Party, it is the Republicans who actually have promoted and elected Congressional women to leadership - positions throughout history.
r·-··-······-··-··-·-···-·.··----···.········-·--·---· .. ___ .... .:..... ___ .______.1-_____ •..____ .• __ ..__ .. _ ..••..·········· ········--- ··'1 1 ! YES! Send me a copy of the Ripon Society's ! Video for only $15. j Salute to Republican Womell Leadership ! j i ! ! Address:. ____~ ~~--~------~=-----__~ i ! City ::_------State: _ _ Zip: I
You may FAX your order 10 (202) 547-6560. Or mail it to TIlt!. Ripon Society, j I 50 1 Cap-ilO l Court NE. Suite 300, Washington. DC 20002 . ! l...... 1...... __ .__ ...... _...... _...... _..... _._ ...... _...... ! The Ripon For1Ulltn
Autumn 1997 Volume XXXII, No. ]
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At Large:
9 Faith as a Matter of Public-Policy In an effort to promote conservative causes, religion has been peddled and promoted fo r its societal benefits. David Walsh points out that by politiz ing religion as a civic virtue we may be losing its foundation in faith.
13 The Desert is Blooming Co ...... Art: R.J. :!\1 .. t""" Arizona has its second non-elccted governor in a decade. The Forum takes a look at Former Secretary of State Jane Hull as she assumes the executive office in one of the fastest growing states in the country. A.s Ilu Rrpllbliu" Parly 1'P (ongfr55, Iht di5p"'a/~ intrrt5/s ~rr brcamHlg morr pro 20 nounad. CmrlruIHlg pjr"'pai,,'s thlll lL't'rl' rrnJrrl'd mool America Must Lead On Trade wr th rath $U{U~jj.,.. Drmocral Irgjsla/url' "OW purporl la The defeat of fast track trading authority was a blow to President Clinton's "" Ihr ,.,1, jdta/alli,~/ battbanr oj Ihl' ""rly_ " IIrrr~ ""r second term agenda and to the United States' influence globally. Megan .dra/ IIral "IIIlrs all factia"s a"d can Iracl' its legaty la Ihr Ivory ex plilins why the U.S. must confront this issue if it is to continue its Parly'S jaunding ar hilS Ih, GOP simply becoIII' " l't'lrjdr jar Imlay's ''''(resl graul'S' leildership in milking world markets consumer friendly. DEPARTMENTS 6 Cloaluoom ...... Maintaining a Majority 29 C'G 11 ...... Sena tor Susan Collins 8 501 C.p;tol Court .. .. Editorial 31 Fow Bottom ...... U pdate on Britain's Tories 10 11.., Rr..J Scoop ...... The Blue and The Gray 35 ('ril;,,'. Corn., ...... Hamilton's Blessing 18 n,., Fifth E.t.t...... Politi cal Cartoons . . • ...... Fa voring Free Trade 25 C .. pilol Grill., ...... RNC Chairman Jim Nicholson 1M Ripoll FonIm;, tI ... JO"..,,,d of TN R,PI'" Sadt1y. Com",,,,,,., opi"ion alitaria/s,,,,d Intm to t~ ....go::HlI' shoI./J "" IIlIdfr'$$a/ la Thf R.PI''' F"""m. SOl o.pilol ((IU". N[' S"ilr J(I(I, Wa~illg l"" . D,ClOOO1. Autumn 1997 5 MAINTAINING AND STRENGTHENING A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY e Republicans have a Americans wanted fundamental Sadly, Republicans have been losing lot to be proud of these change - and smaller, more respon the public relations war. The media, W days. After two years of sible federal government. They rather than write about Republican learning how to govern effecti vely as wanted a government that balances accomplishments, tends to focus on a majority party, Republicans are its budget and spends their hard internal party troubles ra ther than on now winning the policy battle in earned money wisely; but they also a cohesive GOP legislative agenda Washington and across the country. wanted a government that could help and stra tegy. Rather than become We are now advancing an agenda people in times of need and stay sore losers and claim that our issues that is comprised of issues that have focused on important issues like ha ve been stolen, or concentrate next been traditional Republican issues crime on our streets and the quality solely on issues that traditiona ll y for centuries. We have redefined the of education. Bil l Clinton saw that ha ve divided our party, Republicans ro le of the federal government; striking the right rhetorical balance, need to acknowledge and welcome enacted the fi rst balanced budget in talking about the need for fi scal bud the fact that we ha ve fundamentally decades; provided tax cuts for the get discipline yet remaining compas changed the agenda in Washington first time in 16 yea rs; made sweeping sionate about ways to help our kids and continue to concentrate on gov and much-needed reforms to our and protect the environment, was the erning in a responSible manner. welfare and public housing systems. answer to what many Americans We need to remember the lessons we Much of this was made possible by wanted . Bill Clinton essentially learned. Most Americans are gener the fact that, after the largest tax began governing as a moderate ally in sync with the Republican increase in the history of the country Republican. And, it has served him agenda of smaller, more effi cient and trying to enact a one-size-fits-all well. government and lower taxes. We hea lth care system, Bill Clinton must remember that the American gained wisdom and learned that public has not responded well when 6 The RIPON FORUM Republicans are perceived as being fle xibility and authority to meet are conserva ti ve enough or suffi extreme on issues like education and them as they see fit. ciently committed to the cause is an the environment. Just look at the Unfortunately, hm.... ever important unneeded distraction. Let's forget results of the '96 election, whether they may be, it is primarily social about whether an issue or our agen for president or for Congressional issues, be it abortion, family plan da is suffiCiently revolution.. ry; what seats. Calling for the elimination of ning or educa tion, that ca use our matters is whether or not it is good the Department of Educ.. tion or party to splinter and divide. It may government. Our focus shou ld be acti vely criticizing the not be possible to enact every aspect creating opportunities for working Environmental Protection Agency of a social, conservative agenda. Americans and strengthening educa was neither effecti ve policy nor the Collectively, we as .. Republic .. n tion and personal responsibility SO right message. majority must remember that and more young people can take advan Most Americans believe that there work with these issues as carefully t .. ge of those opportunities. should be a federal role in educa tion, as possible. Certai nl y, different Let's be open to new ideas and will and that the federa l ing to talk and com Department of Ed uca tion promise with those can help determine and on the other side if it guide the mission. The means workable Department should be , solutions to real efficient, however, and ~ ""',;, problems. We must should articulate a nation remember that we al vision for our country; do control Cong ress act as a clearing house fo r but Congress education programs; and, alone cannot enact hold states and local laws. We need to schools accountable fo r work with the presi waste, fraud and abuse. dent in order to get Republicans must espouse loca l deci regions of the country have their results and advance our agenda. If sion making, but with some level of own priorities. Different constituen we continue moving toward a bal feder.. 1 involvement and support. cies want and expect different things anced budget, reducing ta xes and Issues have become too complex and fro m their government. Yet to govern making the federal government problems too intractable to just say effectively and represent the entire more responsive to Americans, we that we can completely eliminate the country as best as possible - not just are succeeding. We should not feder.. 1 role in everything. The feder Republican constituencies - we all demand absolute purity on every al government ca n be smaller and need to remember that we must con social issue. It is a tough balance to less expensive, but it can't be elimi vey a positive yet effective message. strike - yet if we want to remain the nated completely - nor do most We must encourage more Americans majority party, we can't .. Hord to Americans want it to be. 1n areas like to get involved by showing that lim miss the mark. education and the environment, the ited government, and common sense federal government can set national policies do make a d ifference in pe0- Repllblican Congressman Michael N. • standards and goals, but state and ple's lives. Cnslle repn'SCnts Delaware as Ihe state's at-large Member in tile U. S. HOllse of local governments must be given Fighting over whether our leaders Representatives. Au tumn 1997 7 THE Broadcast Blues RIPON n any g iven day, some- even half this rate, candidates would FORUM where in Manhattan, exec- simply buy twice as much time. Voter O utives of the major televi- discontent stems from the lack of can EDnOR sian networks are busy trying to find structive discussion of the issues, not Mike Gill that one pilot that stands out among the lack of political sound bites on the EDITORiAL BOARD the crowd . The right show ca n set the airwaves. Broadcasters already offer Michael Dubke Bill Frenzel tone for a network, productions such free time in the form of candidate Mike Gill as SeinjeJd, All ill the Family, T Il e debates and public affairs shows. Yet, Melissa Pezzetti Elizabeth Wharton Si mpso1/ s, AI Go re, allow program- despite this opportunity, a quarter of mers to build audiences for other the candidates rejected the opportu Copyright 1997 by The Ripon Society. shows. Uh .. what's that? Al Gore nily to debate their opponents last All Rights Reserved. inspires paint to dry. Who would cycle. Furthermore, mandating willingly put broadcast time One Year Subscriptions: $25.00 for individuals him on TV? The "If we put free ads on the for federal can- $30.00 for institutions Government, of d idates will $10.00 for students airwaves, we will have to course. [n reac- crowd out drive voters to the polls 1I1 Second class postage paid at tion to the paddy wagons. " o ppo rtun ities Wash;IIgton, D.C. and unseemly cam- for state and additio1lall1Ul.iling offices. paign shenanigans performed by the local office-seekers to purchase ads. Postmaster, send address Clinton-Gore team and the DNC dur- Or, in a frightening scenario, it would changes to: ing the 1996 election, a proposal is spur ca lls to offer them free time too. Tile Ripon Forum 501 Capitol Court, NE gaining steam to allow candidates The airwaves of any city large Suite 300 free air time on network television. enough to have a local affiliate would Was/lington, D.C 20002 Proponents argue that the cost of tele- be overrun with political ads. Tile Ripon Forum vision advertiSing is the drivin g force Bill Frenzel, President of the Ripon (lSN 0035-5526) behind the undignified pandering Society, had it right when he testified is published quarterly l1y Tile Ripon Society. done in the name of campaign dona - before Congress, " If we put free ads tions. Therefore, take away this bur- on the airwaves, we will have to The Ripon Society is a den of TV costs and we will enter a drive voters to the polls in paddy reseJlrcll and policy organiZiltioll. It is simpler age, a time when candidates wagons." IIf'Odquartered in merely passed the hat from the stump The current plethora of negative ads Washi"gton, D.C., with National Associate membo-s of the old oak in the center of town. A every cycle are already driving voter throllg/Wllt "IR United States. nice goal, but allow us to play the role discontent to the point where barely Ripotl is supported by of TV critic and point out a few fl aws half of those registered to vote did so chapter dIltS, i,rdividUid contributions, aud revenll~ in this pilot. in the last Presidential election. The from its publications. Candidates already receive the "low- only justice is that candidates are est unit rating" of advertising, if forced to pay when they assault our broadcasters were to sell the spots at televisions. 8 The RIPON FORUM 1aitIJ as aMatter of Rilikc-Pokcy By David Wafsfl here is something disturbing about the brashness with which Treligion is now touted in political debate. Whether it is the Christian Coalition or the opposing Christians for a New Political Vision, we seem to have entered a new era of religious self-assertive ness. There is no longer any reticence about promoting an avowedly religious point of view. Even for one who is sympathetic to the gen eral cause, it is difficult not to notice that we have lost the two major sources of restraint on the public espousal of religiously motivated proposals. The most obvious is the self-restraint that is constitution- to reduce it to a th ing of this world. Once a religious com- ally encouraged through the prohibition of an established munity is organized to lobby public officials and voters, church. In a pluralist setting, this is reflected in an aware- then it assumes much of the character of such a special ness of the sensibilities of others who do not share our in terest. It cannot be the ho rizon that includes and religious perspective. We recognize that we must ma ke redeems all of human life if it has become merely the the case for our policy proposals on the basis of rea sons organized force of one particular fac tion. Political success more widely shared by a secular society. A largely reli- may be achieved, but something more important has gious justification will predictably be met with incom- been lost. This is why evangelicals until recently dis- prehension and even hostility. dained all contact with political life and why Catholics The second and equally serious consideration for dis- did rather well under a system in which they remained tancing religion from the public sq uare is the reluctance outsiders. (Cofltilllled 011 page 17) Autumn 1997 9 The Reali Scoop 1HE BLUE AND 1HE GRAY THE QJ)ARREL BETWEEN SENA TOR !ESSE HELMS AND GOVERNOR WiLLIAM WELD REVEALED MORE mAN JUST A PERSONA L AMMOSITY Bilo Bill Schlleider ore than a few reforme r, the modern-day incarna Re publicans had warned tion of Yankee abolitionism. M that, by taking a ll Senator Helms is a Southern Baptist educated Jesse Helms (R·N.C.), former at Wingate College and Wake Forest Univers ity, two Southern Baptist Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld schools. He has deep roots in the con would start a "civil war" in the GOP. CNN Political Allalyst Bill Sclllll'ider servative traditions of the Old South. Now wait a minute. Civil Wars are behveen Weld and Helms run deep. [n his campaigns, Helms has been fought over issues people care deeply In fact. they run all the way back to .... known to exploit the race issue for about. ot over whether or not Weld well, the Civil War. political advantage, which is exactly became ambassador to Mexico. Why The Civil War pitted New England how slaveowners and conservatives should Weld's confirmation, w hich Yankees against southern conserva used to dominate southern politics. Helms succeeded to block, provoke a tives. Weld is a Boston Brahmin, the One Helms ad in the 1990 campaign fratricidal conniet between moderate very pinnacle of the New England showed a w hite man's hands crum and conservative Republicans? tradition. He's Episcopalian. He went pling a rejection sli p as he voiced Because the roots of of the conflict to Harvard . He's a liberal social frustra tion over racial quotas. 10 The RIPON FORUM Hold on a second. Weren't southern Democrat (and African-A merican) Rockefeller and William Scranton got slaveowners and conservatives, opponent in the North Ca rolina whipped by Barry Goldwater back in Democrats? Yes, they were. And so Senate race. 1964. John Lindsay switched parties was Helms. But like many white Helms' tradition is that of the conser- and ra n as a Democrat in 1972. southern Democrats, Helms switched vative southern aristocracy, which John Anderson left the GOP after it parties. He and other conservati ve held on to power after the Civil War was taken over by Ronald Reagan southern Democrats moved into the by appropriating a powerful populist and ran as an lndependent in 1980. Republican Party - Bill Weld's issue: white supremacy. After the Arlen Specter ran as the moderate Republican party - and took it over. civil rights revolution took the white Republican standard-bearer for the Which is why Weld Republicans are supremacy issue away from them, the 1996 nominati on. His campaign so resentful. conservative southern Establishment ended in November 1995, before the For a century after the Civil War, the switched to the GOP. Strom race even started. GOP Establishment came from the Thurmond pointed the way. Helms Could Bi ll Weld be running fo r northeast. Theodore Roosevelt, joined him, as d id John Connall y, Phil President? He handled his nomina- Calvin Coolidge, Wendell , - ----'------'------'------, lion so undiplomatically Wil ki e, Thomas Dewey, "Moderate Republicans feel like that a lot of people think Dwight Eisenhower and he really did not want to Nelson Rockefeller all had they are being pushed out of their be confirmed. ties to New York and New own party". Perhaps he was position England. ing himself for the next Theirs was a moderate Republican Cramm, Dick Shelby and many oth- presidential race by taking on Helms tradition - conservativc on econom eo;. and making himself a hero to moder ic issues, liberal on social issues. Richard Nixon used the "southern ate Republicans. Could Weld hope to Teddy Roosevelt was the great con strategy" to draw George Wallace do any better than Specter? servationist. Wilkie was the great voters in to the GOP. Ronald Reagan Weld could certainly win the New internationalist. I.ke sent troops to brought the religious right into the Hampshire primary. New Hampshi re Li ttle Rock to enforce school desegre party. That's not elitism. That's pop is a suburb of Massachusetts, and ga tion. ulism. Weld 's popularity in Massachusetts That is Bill Weld's tradition. His base Southern Republica ns have been has S0<1 red si nce he took on Helms. is the northeastern business elite - gaining power in the GOP. Look at Moreover, several candidates are like educated, moneyed, pragmatic, high the Republican leadership of ly to split the conservative mjnded and reform isl. Liberal on Congress: Trent Lott of Mississippi, Republican vote in New Hampshire. race, liberal on abortion, li beral on Don ickles of Oklahoma, Connie Weld could win with a plurality, just gay rights. It's an elitist tradition: Mack of Florida, Newt Gingrich of as Pat Buchanan did (Buchanan won "Volvo Republicans." Georgia, Dick Armey and Tom Delay New Hampshire with 28 percent of Jesse Helms is their hereditary of Texas. Not a northeasterner among the vote). enemy. His ancestors fought their them. Then what? Most likely, furious con ancestors over slavery. It was Moderate Republicans feel like they servatives would pool their support revealed that Weld's wife - a direct are being pushed out of their own behind a single stop-Weld ca ndidate, descendant of Teddy Roosevclt - party. Look at what happened to their just as mainstream Republicans ral gave money to Harvey Gantt, Helms' presidential candidates. Nelson lied behind Bob Dole last year as the Autumn 1997 11 stop-Buchanan candidate. But conser Republica ns. They're losing power to vatives are a fissiparous bunch (ask conservatives in thei r party. And Newt Gingrich). There's always the they're losing power to Democrats in chance they could stay divided in the their region. Ri ght now, 2000 primaries. If Weld ended up Massachusetts does not have a single with more primary votes than any Republican in Congress. other candidate, he would have a Republicans have been losing power rightful claim on the GOP nomina all over the northeast. The GOP is tion. down to 45 percent of the senators Then what? Then the GOP would and 40 percent of the representatives split wide open. Many, perhaps most, in the New England and Middle conservatives would refuse to stay in At lantic states. At the same ti me, a party led by the li kes of Bill Weld . Republica ns have made steady gains His nomination would reverse every in the South, to the point where the thing conservatives have been fight South is now the most Republican ing for since 1964. Their loyalty is to region of the country. the conservati ve movement, not to Republicans now account fo r two the Republican party. thi rds of the southern senators and 56 Then what? Al Gore would become percent of southern representatives. President. After a ll, President Clinton Yankee Republicans may have won has turned into something of a Volvo the Civil War, but now theirs looks Republican himself. When he signed like the Lost Ca use. Can anyone save the balanced budget bill, Clinton real moderate Republicans? Actually, yes. ized one of his lifelong ambitions: to And it is not Bill Weld. leach Democrats fiscal responsibili ty. Colin Powell is a New Yorker, an In fa ct, now that Clinton has given Afr ican-American, an internationalist Weld his blessing Weld may decide to and a liberal on socia l issues like pull a John Lindsay and run fo r abortion and affirmative action: the President as a Democrat. If he had the perfect moderate Republican. Weld is energy and the organization, Weld a curiosity. Powell is a popular hero. could pull a John Anderson and run If Powell were to run for President, fo r President as an Independent. Not just let Jesse Helms try to stand in his likely, however. Weld 's an aristocrat, way. not a striver. Powell is the moderate Republicans' The irony is that Weld is where most dream candidate. With Powell at the North C.. uI,n4 Americans are on the issues, and top of the GOP ticket, Republicans Mount.-.l R,II...... n where President Clinton would like like Weld dare to say, "The North to be: fiscally conservative, tough on shall rise again!" crime and socially tolerant. He's just missing one thing - a party. Weld Bill ScJmeider is tlte political analyst • epitomizes the dilemma of moderate for the Cable News Network. 12 The RIPON FORUM he image of Arizona as a fron inhabitants for a civ ilization. Its popu ness climate. The people who came to tier state on the periphery of lation was a hardy mix of Mexicans, Arizona during this period arc the T the country first began to Native Americans, white miners and demographic link between the state's change in the years after World War ll . ranchers, ingrained with a frontier heritage and its current boom. The infl ux of retirees boosted name spirit of self-reliance. During the years Arizona has matured into a technolo recognition among relatives back east gy powerhouse. Its population is while the Salt River Project trans younger, wealthier and most dr Autumn 1997 13 Jane Dee Hull is still a Goldwater new Governor has already declared Republican in Arizona. Of course, her intention to run for the post. nowadays, what that means depends Political observers agree she will be a on whom you ask. tough opponent. "She is the Declaring herself "ready to begin" a Democrats' worst nightma re," new era of integrity and cooperation, declared Mike Hellon, Chairman of Governor Hull was sworn in as the state Republican party. "The party Arizona's 20th chief executive on has never been in better shape and September 9, 1997. The veteran law· clea rly she is the favorite." maker and former secretary of state Hellon's comments come despite vowed to bring stability to an office some grumbling from the more con· that has seen its hvo most recent elect· servative elements of the party. Long ed holders resign mid·term. dominant in the Capitol, conserva· Characterized as a moderate in lives lost a strong voice with Arizona's dominant Republican party, Symington and are not sold on Hull's Hull ascended to the governorship in centrist convictions. It is because of the wake of former Republica n these convictions and her wiUingness Governor Fife Symington's legal to speak out, that she is clearly a Governor Jan e Hull was swom in woes. Those troubles culminated fa vorite among moderates and the as A rizolla 's 20tll Cllie! when a federal grand jury said he was electorate at large. And, while conser· Executive in September. guilty of lying to banks and commit· vatives looked to Symington as one of ting wire fra ud to raise money for his their own and will miss the influence rea l-e;tate developments. Arizona law they had with him, aU Republicans are does not permit a felon to serve in glad to have his legal woes out of the public office and Symington promptly headlines. resigned. Born in Kansas, Ms. Hull moved to Forgive voters if they feel a sense of Phoenix in 1964 when her husband Arizona has grown phenom deja vu. [n 1988, Rose Mofford, also a bega n his residency in obstetrics and secretary of state, became Ari zona's gynecology at a local hospitaL Both It enally in recent years. fi rst woman governor upon the volunteered their time for Goldwater gained one Congressional impeachment of Governor Evan during the Republican primaries that seat after the 1990 census Mecham. Mofford's decision not to yea r and after the election, Jane con· run in 1990 set up a contest behveen tinued with GOP politics. Beginning and expects to pick up anoth Symington and Phoenix Mayor Terry at the precinct-committee level, she er, maybe two, after the Goddard. Symington eventually won worked hard for the party. Eventually coun t in 2000. the race in a February 1991 runoff elec· she ran and won a seat to the Arizona tion and served until his conviction House in 1978. Her diligent work and last month. reputation as a no-- nonsense legislator Despite this inauspicious environ· earned her the respect of her col ment, Arizona Republicans are opti· leagues. In 1986, she was elected mistic about Hull Although an elec· Republican whip, the first woman tion in 1998 is still a year away, the ever to become part of the majority 14 The RJPON FORUM leadership. By 1988, the fallout over Motorola, Intel, Honeywell, Hughes two, after the national count in 2000. the Mecham impeachment shook up Aircraft and Allied Signal. Sun Belt migration may have slowed the Republican ranks and put her in a In recognition of this growth, Arizona in other parts of the country, but not position to be elected Speaker. She has become a "major league" state. In in Arizona. won and held the office from 1989 the last ten years, the state's sports The growth has also changed politics. through 1992. It was during this time fans have gained the NFL's Cardinals Like her New Jersey counterpa rt, she established herself as a tough leg (formerly in St. Louis) and the NHL's Christine Todd Whitman (get used to islator and a top party leader. Coyotes (formerly the Winnipeg Jets) the comparisons), Hull is conserva She also began to draw fire from con- to root for along with the NBA's Suns. tive on fiscal matters and a moderate servatives in her party fo r some of her They will be joined by Major League on social issues. Unlike Governor positions. As in other parts of the Baseball's expansion Diamondbacks Whitman, who burst upon the scene country, the rightward shift of the in 1999. by narrowly losing to then Senator Republican Party in Arizona left Politically, Arizona gained one con Bill Bradley in 1990, Hull has been in many "Goldwater" Republicans such gressional seat after the last cenSllS Arizona poli tics for thirty years. She as Hull standing in the center of the and wi ll receive another one, maybe knows her way around the political political spectrum. It is a strange irony that the man referred to as the Godfather of Conservatives, the pro choice, free-trade Goldwater, would JANE DEE HULL currently feel more at home with the centrists of the party. The vacuum of EDUCATION poli tical direction in the country has Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education from the led to Democrats quoting Teddy Un iversity or Ka nsas; has done post-graduate work in Political Science and Economics at Arizona State University. Roosevelt, Republicans quoting Kennedy, moderates quoting CAREER Goldwater and conservatives quoting 1979 Elected to represent District 18 in the Arizona House of Representatives. Jefferson. 1988 Chosen byher RepUblican colleagues to serve as Hull is not interested in labels, how HOllse WhIp ever. She has a dynamic state to run. 1989 Became the tirst woman Speaker of the House Arizona is prosperous, fa st-groWing 1995 Elected Secretary of State and rising in national significance. In the years since World War II the pop 1997 Assumes the position of Governor ulation has grown from 700,000 to 3.6 PHILANTHROPY minion in 1990, and now stands at 4.3 She is Honorary Chairman Race For the Cure and an active million. Contrary to the stereotype of member of the Arizona Save a Life Alli ance. a land of retirees, its proportion of FAM ILY population over 65 is actually lower Married to Terrance W. Hull, M.D. They have four chi ldren than the national ave rage. Rather, and eight grandchildren. high technology and low taxes are the INTERESTS root of the state's economic explosion. Hobbies include fam il y activities, golf, walking and reading. The state's biggest employers include such high-tech heavyweights as Au tumn 1997 15 community and has been an active In a state where both Senators and which drew them to the area. This player in Arizona's p rogress. She five of six Members of the House are concentration also means it is hard for brings to the office a reputation for Republican, the drama in Arizona challengers to garner supporters in toughness, integrity and a quick wit . political battles usually involves the the political or business communities. She has strong ties to all aspects of the conservative and moderate factions of Most ha ve to deal with the governor political community, and is expected the GOP. Hull has come under fire on a daily basis and and few will be to be more of a consen- ,---'------, willing to publicly oppose her. In sus-builder than the "Hull is conservative on fiscal addition, Symington's strident con often aloof Symington. matters and a moderate on social servatism had worn thin with many . " Her willingness to ISSUeS. voters. Hull's pragmatism and inten stand up for her views L ______J tion to open the lines of debate have from the right-wing in the past, and on social issues has made her a so far struck a positive chord. Finally, some conservati ve legislators are favorite among centrists within the if the economy keeps hummin!y it wary of her agenda. party. Hellon himself was recently will be hard to argue fo r change. One of the first issues she will deal elected to the post of state party chair Despite these advantages, at least two with is legislation calling fo r a $350 over a more conservative rival. In a conservatives have declared they will million tax cut which is backed by state defined by its conservatism, is challenge Hull in the primary. How conservatives in the state legislature. there a trend towards the center? strong those challenges will become Hull has maintained that a tax cut is Hellon is quick to caution against will depend on Hull's ability to walk one of her top priorities so the sides classifications or trends, "Labels are the hne between conservatives and will most likely find a compromise relative, if the Christian Coalition is moderates, without sacrificing her ,------, agenda. The the baseline, then she is a moderate. But she has always been strategically "We have been fixhting over Democrats expect conservative. We have been fighting the direc~ion of tFie party for Eddie Basha, who ran over the d irection of the party for twenty-fIVe years, so the strong against twenty-five years, so the debate is debate is nothmg new." Symington, to ru n L ______-' again, as well as oth- nothing new." As state cha irman, quickly. How they handle the issues e..s. Hellon will be coaxing Republicans to For now, though, Hull is basking in a unite around common themes that of abortion, the environment and wel honeymoon period of praise from all draw people into the party rather fare spending are another malter. Arizona's unique demographicS will sides, including Democrats. Senate than exclude them. "The party has Minority Leader Art Hamilton, a d rifted to the right. For some ideolog give Hull some advantages as she Democrat from Phoenix said on the ical purity is more important than advances her agenda. Her views on day of her swearing-in, "The fact of winning elections," Hellon said. "I the environment for example, are at the matter is, people expect us now to believe in putting together coalitions odds with many conservatives, but govern. I think Democrats need to to get 51% of the vote not standing are popular with an overwhelmingly support this governor, and to support firm at 30%." Hellon believes he is urban population. Un like its neigh getting the state under way and get making progress. He points out that bors, Arizona has virtually no rural ting it back on an even keel. We ought his large victory margin means that electorate. Phoenix, Tucson and the to leave the politics of '98 to '98." many conservatives, who may not surrounding suburbs comprise 80% agree with all of his stands, obviously of the population. Most citizens are voted for him anyway. eager to protect the natural beauty • 16 The RIPON FORUM (FAITH cOlltillued from pnge 9) debates. Faith has found a place when allegiance than any other beneficiary The answer of course is not to pre it has found use within this world. of public largess. serve such a wall of quarantine Utility in this sense has long been sug- But faith is in fact given by God. It between the two spheres but to recog gested as the appropriate political role arises from the touch of the divine nize the peculiar nature of religion in for religion. I know that this was presence that convinces us to fol- its public presence. A report issued by not the intention of Fagan's .+$~~ low it even when it no longer Pat Fagan of the Heritage Foundation report, but it is one of the inad- serves our interest and even draws us against our inclination. illustrates the problem. His innovative vertent consequences a r many and thoughtful essay calls such efforts to carve out It does not primarily serve our attention to the multitude of happiness in this world because a publicly persuasive .4!::::::t~:::I social science studies on the it assures us of our fulfillment role for religion. The beneficial effects of religion beyond it. Indeed, its point is precisely goal is laudable, but the effect in promoting health, reduc that health or weU-being within this ing stress, preserving mar strikes at the core of religious life is not our ultimate purpose. Faith riage, reducing delinquency belief. A faith whose deepest is of use at exactly the point where the and so on. He suggests that govem inspiration is the attainment of limits of all utility become appar- ment might take a more sympathetic functional success in this life is ..,=I:.e~=-> ent to us. interest in the promotion of religion not true faith. Nor will it endure. Religious faith is not in that sense for these reasons. As any believer knows, it is when one of the va riables within the Quite apart from the unease we our faith no longer serves aUf social or political community. It is might feel at the prospect of such offi utility that it is truly tested. If it is the horizon of meaning that ultimate- cial interest in our fa ith, there is the based on nothing more substantially includes the social and political marc disturbing sense that religion than our own self-satisfaction, then it order as well. This is why it cannot has now been reduced to one of the soon crumbles away. Even if we gave definable social variables of policy faith a grant, it would get no higher (continued on page 24) .4~CH R V CORPORATION Autumn 1997 17 The Fifth Estate ______,Sv .J EFF M AC NELL Y__ _ 18 The RIPON FORUM " ,~. , I):, 1/. ', ,~. • ~• Au tumn 1997 19 CONGRESS FAILED TO RENEW FAST TR ACK TRADE NEGOTIATING A UTHOR ITY AND AMERICA SHRUGGED. ~tisFastTrack? A HOUSE AIDE EXPLA INS WHY THIS TOOL IS NECESSARY The fast track authority is a procedure IF THE UN ITED STATE S IS TO HAVE A SEAT AT TABLE devised in tile Trade Act of 1974 to estab WHEN GLOBAL DECISIONS ARE MADE. lish a congressional-executive partner ship for trade negotiations. In parti 20 The RlPON FOR UM The friends and families of the going to do with the other 5 billion rate of the U.s. economy, access to for Founding Fa thers weren't just happy people on this planet that need infra eign ma rkets will ensure that this eco with selling their goods in Virginia or structure and technology. What we do nomic windfa ll fo r American busi New York. Interstate commerce drove can help these people, and in doing nesses and workers continues. the building of the railroad and today so, help ourselves." This is why fast track authority for the keeps the trucking industry in busi Although Ibberson is not a large com president is so important. But to ness. pany, this increase in trade means a lot understand why the American people So, if interstate commerce is accept are better served when the ad minis able, why not international com tration has this authority, we must merce? While the U.S. buys more first understand what this authori goods than any other nation, that ty allows the administration to is not always enough. The do. U.s. only accounts for 4% 1u st imagine, you are a of the world's popula representati ve of a for- tion. If we wa nt our eign country with the economy to continue responsibility of to expand, we must working out a trade also sell to the 96% agreement with the of the consumers U.s. Si nce both li ving throughout sides w ill benefit the world - espe from greater access cially those living in to the other's mar the rapidly develop ket, the negotiations ing ma rkets in La tin will be tough, but America and Asia. worthwhile. Yo u walk For example, consider the negotiating Tbberson, Inc., an engi room to see 535 Members neering and construction of Congress sittin g there fi rm specializing in industrial with pens in hand! How long food processing plants in would it ta ke before you run out Minnesota, which owes much of its screaming demanding they recent success to in ternational trade. appoint someone to represent them or Since the company began in 1881, it for Minnesota's economy and the you won't negotiate any further? It has built plants a ll over America. In employees of Ibberson, Inc. Th is holds probably would not take long fo r you fact, it has built so many that it has true throughout the entire country. to insist on a more efficient method sa turated the U.S. market and has had More than 25% of U.s. economic for negotiating. to look outsid e the U.S. for new growth during the past fo ur years can That's what fast track authority is: growth opportunities. From 1993 to be attributed to trade. During the permission for the Administration to 1996, Ibberson export sa les grew same period, exports created 1.4 mil appoint someone to represent 535 steadily to alm ost $50 million, an lion new American jobs. Overall, 11 Members of the House and Senate in increase of 1,891%. According to the million jobs are supported by exports, negotiations with other nations. AU of President and CEO of Ibberson, incl uding one in fi ve manufac turing the represcnta tives of ou r trad ing Walter Hanson, "it is imperative to jobs. Everyone billion do llars of partners are empowered with similar understand tha t we deal with 260 mil ex ports supports 20,000 American authority and, realistica ll y, they won't lion people in the U.s. and whether it jobs - jobs whkh pay an average of talk to us if our representative doesn't is 1997 or 2007, we can only sell to 13-16% higher than non-export relat have similar backing. ourselves for so long. There needs to ed jobs. And, with the global economy Keep in mind the Administra tion offi be a proacti ve view of what we are projected to grow at three times the cial represents Members of Congress. Autumn 1997 21 Nothing can go through without nations negotiate advantageous trade u.s. Trade Representative Barshefsky CongresSional consultation before agreements w ithout U.s. involve has stated a U.s. telecommunications and during negotiations. It is through ment. Since it expired in ]994, some 20 equipment supplier lost a sale consultations with Members that the agreements have gone forward wi th because Canada had negotiated an Trade Representative learns of special out the U.s. Out of the 35 agreements agreement with the importing coun concerns that Members need in our hemisphere alone, the U.s. is try that gave the Canadian supplier addressed in an agreement. Every only involved in one. This damages an 11 % tariff preference. Also, a deal must be voted up or down. our ability to export goods as well as Massachusetts fabric producer lost a Congress does not abdicate its power our dominance in our region. 51.8 million sale in Chile to a to oversee the negotiations or its con Failure to be involved in trade agree Canadian competitor because of a stitutional authority to vote on any ments is particularl y damagiJlg to our similar 11 % tariff preference for the agreement that requires changes in agriculture exporters since the lowest Canadian product. U.S. law. price agricultural commodities usual The U.s. is missing out on some As early as 1890, Congress under ly gets the sale. Since we have not important opportunities in the com stood the international marketplace been included in the trade agreement petitive international marketplace. and our role in it, and extended the behveen Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay Future trade negotiations could help Administration tariff bargaining and Uruguay, commonly called MER us regain lost market shares in other authority. In order to remain the COSUR, U.s. w heat ends up being countries, but an understanding of world leader on exports and innova more expensive, thus less competi basic marketing principles like brand tion, we must remain in front of the tive, than w hea t from Argentina in the name recognition and loyalty should pack and secure the best agreements Brazilian market. U.s. citrus is less tell us that we cannot make up for lost possible for American producers and competitive than citrus from Chile in opportunities. Ii is essential we enter a exporters. Argentina's market. And the list goes market before our foreign competitors We know what happens when we sit on. Sitting on the sidelines makes it do. The Administration needs the on the s ide lines and watch other harder to sell goods and costs us sales. authority to negotiate the market ~ issues that proponents of free trade were with Mexico. The Clinton Administration was JL able to keep out of the most recent agree able to satisfy most environmental groups with ments were that of labor and environmental side agreements on standards but not labor. In standards. These were not prominent obstacles looking to secure his Democrat base prior to the in negotiating previous bi-lateral trade agree 1996 election. Clinton hinted future accords ments with Israel and Canada. The inclusion of would include labor and environmental clauses. Mexico into the North American Free Trade However. with the election over. Mr. Clinton Agreement. however. caused concern among labor sent fast track language to the Congress with and environmental interest groups. who per out these conditions. Republicans in Congress ceived a threat to U.S. standards. Obviously. had made it clear to the Aministration that how third world nations do not have the same wages ever much support the President would gain from or environmental controls as the United States. Democrats would more than be offset at During the NAFTA debate. organized labor argued Republican defections if the President politi vehemently that jobs would go south as corpora cized the authority. Free trade advocates have tions sought out cheap labor . Concurrently. long felt that including these types of non environmental groups felt that there would be trade issues would so severely handicap negoti immense pressure on the U.S. to loosen environ- aters. it would be nearly impossible to con- mental regulations in order to be competitive elude treaties. Better to argue these issues in 22 The RIPON FORUM opening agreements to get our U.s. important issue. Trade is too impor what fast track legislation should look exporters that access. tant to our economy and our workers like. we should not disagree that Fast track authority is also essential to - induding labor union members. international trade is important. make sure the multilateral agree Even Minority Leader Gephardt rec Americans should not be mislead into ments under the World Trade ognized this when he testified before believing that trade is bad. Rather, Organization (WTO) achieve the goal the Ways and Means Trade they should know the truth: trade has which attracted us to this body - Subcommittee on September 30th by helped make our nation the strongest opening markets for U.s. goods. The saying he supports free trade. in the world. Fast track authority next phase of WTO negotiations on Of course, unli ke Rep. Gephardt, I helps us maintain our competitive agriculture nnd services nrc just believe fa st truck should permit con edge over our foreign competitors. around the comer. Absent fnst trnck sideration of labor and environmental Call me patriotic, but I want the U.s. authority, the Administration is with matters only to the extent that they are to remain #1. I want the U.s. economy out its greatest tool for ensuring the directly trade-related. Non-trade to continue to grow and provide more agreements aggressively open mar related issues like the labor and envi and better jobs. I want America to kets, and open them wide, for ronment can and should be more remain the international leader and I American goods and services. appropriately addressed in other want the Administration to have the According to the International Dairy in ternational arenas, like the tools it needs under fas t track author Foods Association, which has mem International Labor Organization. The ity to keep us there. bers with 730 dairy-related facilities in President already has the ability 48 states, "we cannot afford to allow under Executive Authority to enter • the European Union (EU), which has into agreements on the environment, Mega" Ivory has worked on frade captured substantial shares of world just as he did in the side agreement to issues for several years. She is tile dairy trade through subsidies, to North American Free Trade Sel/ior Legislative Assistal/t to dominate these negotiations." Agreement (NAFfA). Rep resen tative Jim Ram stad (R TIle U.s. cannot afford to wait on this So, while we ma y disagree about Mi""esofa). forums specifically created to deal with them, trade as a concept. Previously, with the such as the International Labor Organization in General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs and the the case of worker standards and the United ascension of Mexico into NAF'TA reaching criti Nations in the case of the environment. cal stages, the fast track reauthorization Another reason fast track has been stalled can itself was viewed as a test of support for free be described as trade fatigue. The acrimonious trade. The details of the agreements themselves debate surrounding NAF'TA and creation of the would be voted on later. Now, in the absence of World Trading Organization, soured Members of major trade negotiations to focus the attention Congress on the issue of trade. The American of American business, it is the fast track pro public, despite countless studies showing the cedure itself which has been cast into the spot positive benefits, are wary of foreign trade. light. The only near term trade agreement on the In a 1996 poll by the Bank of Boston, 54 per- horizon is extending NAFTA to include Chile . cent of the public said they believed that trade While most legislators would be comfortable accords helped foreign countries sell more in having closer relations with our South American the United States rather than helping U.S. neighbor, it ranks 27th among U.S. export mar firms sell more overseas. kets. Members were hardly anxious to face the During past debates on fast track, there was a heat of constituents over free trade for such a clear majority in Congress who favored free small reward . - Mike Gill Autumn 1997 23 (FAITH cOlllilmed from page 17) the public square. Rather than viewing our secular worldview are indeed the it as the interest of a specific group that limits. simply be viewed as a phenomenon, wishes to make its own policy propos Do we really live within a secular self-contained and apart from the als and claim its equal right to self world? [f we do, then from where do observers of it. While it does have sig expression, religion would be present our convictions of the transcendent nificant material expressions in the ed as the intimations of the broadest dignity and worth of each individual fo rm of churches, institutions and horizon possible for all human life. It come? Whence comes the sense of organizations, the most important solemnity with which we invest the dimension of faith escapes all analysis JlOnce a religiolls commu important events of human life? And of its meaning and utility. That dimen nity is orgallized to lobby sion is the inward response to the if th is is all, then why do we continue d ivine invitation that not only is hid public officials alld voters, to believe the difference between good den but also represents a source of then it aSSllmes milch of the and evil ultimately ma tters? It is through such re fl ections that the real meaning that cannot by surpassed by character of SlIch a special any higher perspecti ve beyond it. utility of religion is established in a Perhaps much of the incomprehension interest. " way that neither undermines faith nor with which religion is greeted iJl a sec would become mcluslve rather than disregards that autonomy of a secular ular world arises from just such exclusive. world. Their intersection lies in the attempts to view it from the outside. It But that strategy requires that we acknowledgement of the mystery of is not a surprising reaction if even reli begin not with religion, which is clear life and death that finally includes and gious spokesmen are inclined to put ly not universal, but with the ques sustains us all • forward the public-policy benefits of tions within human life that clearly their faith. Common ground might are. More concretely, it would require David Walsll is a Professor ofTileology more solidly be discovered if we could us to reflect on whether the limits of at tile Cat/lOlic University of America ill present the true nature of religion in Was/lillgtoll, D.C. 24 The RIPON FORUM Republican Ranger Jim Nicholson A F0111111 Interview With The Republiron National Committee Chainnan he Republican National between the Capitol com business in Denver. Committee budding in plex and the surround Over the course of T Washington, DC. is directly ing neighborhoods. the next twenty south of the Capitol Dome and with Within its walls are a years, Nicholson in walking distance to the three radio and television stu increasing House of Representatives Office dio, as well as banks of tele- amounts of his time to Buildings. Its proximity to phones, fax machines and comput- the planning, management power is functiona l, in .... "" .... er's being used by countless and fund-raising required to that Members often" III, til, '" young staffers and interns build a s trong grass-roots stroll, over between 1 til, _ III III. all busily promoting the Republican political organization meetings to make Republican message of in Colorado. The success of that those never-ending'. ",III, III less government and lower organization put Republicans in fund-raising calls, as well ~ •• taxes. office a t the local, state and as symbolic. Tourists visiting the Directing the operation is a for national level and kept them Capitol by the Washington subway mer Army Ra nge r and small busi there. After ten years as Colorado's system are greeted by the GOP's nessman from Colorado, RNC National Committeeman, Nicholson headquarters as soon as they exit the Chai rman Jim Nicholson. A West is attempting to recreate that success station. Together with the Capitol Point graduate who earned on the national level. Hill Club, a p ri vate facility for numerous medals during his ser The Chairman recently sat down with the Republican dinners and events, the vice in Vietnam, h e came back to RifX»1 FOl1lm to discuss the current status structures dominate a city block run a successful home-building of the Republican Party. Autumn 1997 25 RF: What motivated YOIl to cam N IC HOLSON: Honestly, I paig" for this post? think it is more coincidence. President Clinton asked two NICHOLSON: We ll, I've been other people to be the chair active in grass roots politics man before he asked for the last 20 years. I started Governor Romer. However, I out working to get people do think the West is burgeon elected to city councils and ing in political importance. boards of county commission Governor Levitt of Utah and ers in Colorado. From there I I held a press conference began helping people run for recently in which he dis the legislature, state-wide cussed his idea of having a races and then federal races. regional primary aggregating In 1986, I was elected the the western states together. National Committee member There is a tremendous in Colorado. At that point, I amount of growth in those started getting more active states and there are an awful here at the national political lot of resources. They are party level. I became vice becoming more important chairman of the party in 1992 strategically and they are cer and chaired a couple of key tainly strong bastions of committees at the Republican Republican ideals. National Committee. I discov ered that this was a good place RF: Dllring ti,e campaign for to be very involved and make cilairman last !mlllary, YOllr a contribution. When Haley sllpporters Iligltligltted yOllr Ba rbour decided not to run abilities and SIlCCesS at organiz again for chairman, I looked at illg at tile grass-roots level. the position and decided that I Describe What is the biggest dif would. ference you have fo und between organizing at the state level alld It is the right fit for me in my 1I0W beillg ill charge of all ell tire life, family-wise, business /latiOIl ill terms of tlte party? wisc. I saw it and see it as a way to make a significant con NICHOLSON: Well, you get tribution to the country by working hard inputs from a lot more constituencies. Here in and for the Republican party. I deal with 50 states and 5 territories at the RNC level, 32 Republican gover I believe strongly in Republican nors, 228 Republican members in ideals and p ri nciples. The ideals of the house, 55 members in the sen making government smaller and ate. They all have an interest in the giving people more freedom, ele RNC and they are not bashful vating the individual, at the same about requesting things from the time tasking the individual with per RNC or offering advice. sonal responsibi lity. I want to enhance the fabric of the family in America which is the basic build RF: Wllat isslles sllould Republicans look for this spring ill ing block of our society and which has li terally kept us terllls of IIOW tile party defines tile agCl/da? together. It is the training ground. We have seen some real deterioration in that and I'm very interested in help NICHOLSON: Well, that is a good question because at ing to restore the moral fiber of our the RNC meeting this summer in July, a country. resolution was passed me to create a process RF: YOllr cOllnterpart at the party leadership the Democral NatiOlwi focus an agenda for 1998. Committee, Governor Together with Roy ROilier also hails from Leader Lott, Colorado. Are the faitllflll Gingrich and the from IJoth parties recognizillg the Republican Governors, ti,e Wi-'S! as a battleground or is it /10 Governor Branstad, I am developing a I/Iore tlmn a coincidence? package of items that will be announced as the goals of 26 The RI PON FORUM the party and why the nation should be electing ity in both houses of Congress, in states houses, legisla Republicans in 1998. tive bodies. We are now the majority in Congress and near parity in state legislative bodies. More importantly, I can tell you, they are not going to be big surprises. It will in just the 32 months that we have been in the majority include a strong emphasis on improving educational here, look what we've done. We've changed the terms of opportunities. We will continue to enhance welfare refonn. debate in W;:lshington from ta x increases, bloated bud We will continue our efforts on reducing crime and improve gets and nationalizing healthcare to one of cutting taxes, the criminal justice system. Finally, we will work to cut balancing the budget, reforming welfare, restructuring taxes, especially on s.wings, investments and debt. and prolonging medicare and we' re just getting started. RF: BollI parties wil/ seek to c/aim tile edllealion Iligh ground. Are To our critics, I also cite strongly a couple of Ronald Repllblicalls serious abollt reform. Reagan axioms. One is the 80 percent rule. The former president used to say that if a fellow agreed with him 80 NICHOLSON: The availability of a quality education is an percent of the time then he is his friend and not his foe, issue in which I take a particular interest. I grew up one of and he meant that. ( think that in our party people tend seven kids in a tenant farm house that never did have to agree about 90 percent on the issues and while the dif~ plumbing while (lived there. I went toa one room schoo-::::l __..... ___~ ferences are often sharp and important, I try to house through the fifth grade and a two room people to rea lly focus on the things that school through the eighth grade. Now my bind us. I NICHOLSON: As I travel the country, I constantly point N ICHOLSON: Recently, I had the opportunity to have a out to people how fa r we've come in such a short time. If long conversation with Mayor Giuliani in his home. New you go back to just four years ago, we were in the minor~ York Oty is thriving. The city feels proud. In a city where Autumn 1997 27 only 16 percent of the population NICHOlSON: I think we continue to stay on our mes is registered Re publican, s.,ge. Our message is one of smaller government, more Rudy Giuliani managed to freedom, less taxes, better educa tion, less crime, welfare get himself elected as a reform. We also must demonstrate that Republican and re-elected we not only tal k about it but that we as a Republican. He was do it. Stay with the mess.,ge. Act re-elected for all of the on that mess.,ge. right reasons. He has reduced taxes, he's gotten RF: The conflict between Sellator people off the welfare roles, Jesse Helms alld GovenlOr William he's cut crime. He has guts and Weld became a media evellt. Gouernor ta lks directl y to the people. The Weld is a member of Tlte Ripon Society's Mayor has increased the pride that people have in being board of aduisers and Sellator Helllls is lIot , so we Il(Id a root a New Yorker, both in their li fe and in their dty. Those are ing illterest ill favor of ti,e Gouerl/or beillg allowed to Iw ve Itis significant accomplishments. I am proud of Mayor day ill court so to speak. More tlWII the /lomillatiOIl itself, we Giuliani and I'm proud that he's a Republican. felt till' Party slwuld haue used the opporflmity to Iligllligllt tile diversity of ti,e Party. Throughout, yOl/ did 1I0t make a state mell t 011 tile affair. Does tile Clwirmtlll have a role ill this type RF: You are a honorary co-ciwirman for Americans for of sit uatioll. a Brighter Political Flltrue, a new political action committee designed to elect African-American NICHOlSON: I had a lot of opportunities Republicall s to Congress. Tlwt is a lIice theme, to make a statement and chose not to get but is this a serious effort? involved. I believe that Governor Weld is a good Republican and was a good gov NICHOLSON: This is a very high prior ernor. He cut taxes, he cut the size of ity for myself and the Party. Recently, we government and he did what he said he launched our new majority council, was going to do. As to the controversy which is an effort to do a better job con over in the Senate, which is backed by necting wi th and rela ting to minority 200 years of tradition and the fact that commun ities around the country. This this is rea ll y a matter of foreign policy, 1 includes recruiting, felt I had plenty of other things to do than cand idate assistance, worry about President Clinton's nomination and community fo r Ambassador to Mexico. involvement. I can tell you it is serious because we have RF: Filially, modernte Republicalls are more and 1II0re beillg committed to putting over described as Northeast Republicalls. Is America slidillg a million dollars into this. It towards a regionalism i" its politics? not just something that is nice to do; it something that NICHOlSON: There is no question that the Northeast is imperative that we do. And has a concentration of more moderate Republica ns. 1 it is working. One of the reasons spend a great deal of ti me up there and they are cri tical that we are seeing success in this area ly important to our Party collectively. There is a lot of is because we are working hard to link policy to rea l li fe . energy up there. We just had a Parental choice in education is one example. This initia Northeast Republican leader tive enjoys tremendous support in the minority commu- ship conference. It was well nity and African- attended and there was a REPUBUCAN NATIONAL a>NVVmON America n and great amount of enthusi Hi spanic pa rents asm for the party. Our know it is our issue. officeholders are doing a good job. We have six RF: Pollsters often Republican governors in l10illt to lI,e fact tlwt New England that are good, givell tlte Republical/ strong leaders. I am opti mistic message aud we ca n win back in 1998 some of Housaoa, TemI Democmt message the northeastern Congressional seats we lost in 1996 side by side witllOllt knowledge of which party supports wllicll, Congress. We have d ifferent elements to our coa li tion all the public gives hig/ler marks to ti,e Repllblica/l s. Yet, when over the country, but I feel very comfortable that we are 1Ia/1II..'S or party idelltificatioll s are added, this support drops. dedicated to that 90 percent of the agenda on which we Why? What call be done? allag..... • 28 The RIPON FORUM An Interview with United States Senator Susan M. Collins On October 15, 1997, U.S. Senator Susan M. Coflills sat views are not welcome in the party. That would be a dan ~ w itll Paul Peter l esep, National ExeClltive Committee gerous and unfortunate message. Member of tIre Ripon Society, to discflss tile iutllre of tile GOP. PPJ: There seellls to be a great deal ofdisellchalltment amOllg mod~ erates/progf.'Ssivt'S ill tile GOP. Tiley feel aliellated and umveicome. PPJ; There is a great deal of con/l/sioll about wlmt it means to be n What would you say to a roomful of moderate/progressive Republical/. What does it mean for Susan Collins to be a member Republicans to boost their moral? of the GOP? COLLINS: It's moderate Republicans who hold the balance COLLLNS: I'm a Republican because I believe in the party's of power in the Senate. The power of the moderate wing has core values: freedom, personal responsibility, strong nation never been greater. Look at the New England Republicans, al defense, Jess government, belief in the individual. balanc for example, their votes are (almost) always the swing votes ing the budget, and lowering taxes. Those are core beliefs on a whole list of issues. That gives us a great deal of clout. that unite us regardless of our views on various social issues. If we vote wi th moderate to conservative Democrats, we effect the outcome. PPJ: Have party lilies blum:d between the Democrats and Republicans? I would tell a roomful of moderate Republicans not to lose heart. Look at who controls the votes of the Senate. It isn't COLLINS: No. The Republican Party has dramaticall y those with extreme views on either side, whether it's the left changed the agenda in Washington. A decade ago, when I o r the right. It is people in the m iddle who have the clout. worked for Bill Cohen, the deb Autumn 1997 29 PPJ: Have soutller/1 cOllservatiVl.'S take1l ewer the GOP? decided to go out on their own. But it is also because women realize the opportun ities for them in nmning their own COLLINS: I would Like to see more northeast, northwest, or business. midwest senators in leadership positions. Having said that, our leaders are very effecti ve and do a good job. But I would In discussing small business issues, we should acknowledge like to see more geographic diversity. We have, however, a the growing and critical role of women business owners in number of moderate senators who chair committees. For our economy. That is an important issue. example, jim Jeffords of Vermont, probably the most mod erate of Republicans, is the chair of the Labor and Human Health care is another important issue fo r women. There is a lot of concern about the uninsured population. The issue Resources Committee. John Chafee of Rhode [stand is chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee. of uninsured children, whkh Republicans believe in addressing, in this last Congress, Orrin Hatch and John When we ta lk about leadership, we need to think of it Chafee, both introduced bills that I co-sponsored. bro.1dly, when it comes to committee chairs, moderates are Uninsured children is an issue that troubles both men and well represented there. women, but especia lly women since they are largely respon sible fo r child care in this country. Women are concerned PPJ: III ti,e last eMction, il seems Illat lIUII/y Republicall womell about access to affordable, quality health care. felt alienated from the GO P. What do YOIl SIIy to II,em ill brillg;IIg Wall/ell back to ti,e RepllbliclIIl Party? PPJ: Has it beell difficult for you, as a womall, ill ti,e Sellate, which strikes /lie as nil old-boys club? COLLINS: The Republ ican Party must do a better job in speaking to the concerns of many women. The Party does COLLINS: There has been more of that than I expected. Part reflect the views of many women who did not vote of learning the Senate is learning to deal with the cultural Republican in the last election. We didn't couch our mes differences. There are real cultural differences. It is chang sage to reach women. ing. But there has been more of a sense that it is an old-boys club than I would have expected. For example, I believe education is important. Republicans, when they talk about education, because we are strong PPJ: How do yo" cllnllge wllnl omOlillts to silliness? believers in local control, tend to talk about reducing the federal role. That scares many women and men because COLLI NS: Prove again and again that you can do the work as well as, if not better, than some of your male counter they view it as anti-eciucation. parts. The hearings I've participated in on the Government In fact, what the Republican Party is ta lking about is putting Affairs Committee investigating campaign finances proved more money and more resources into local hands rather it. It gave me, beca use they were so complicated, an oppor than in the hands of Washington bureaucrats. We don't tunity to show that I do my homework, will be prepared, couch that message weU. It comes across as an anti-eciuca and tha t I can be effective. That has helped me earn my tion rather than pro-education, trust-in-loca l communities stripes among both men and women. [approach). PPJ: How does IIII' Republican Pa rty will ;11 fhe year 2000? The Party need to stress that women have traditionally been given a lot of leadership roles. In Maine, for example, it is COLLINS: The message has to be that we are an inclusive the Republican Party women not the Democrat Party that party, we welcome people of va rying views. We ha ve to has elected women. speak to the concerns of middle class Americans. Middle class Americans are the audience. Of the 15 women who have been elected to the Urti ted States It is interesting to analyze the vote in the last election. Senate in their own right, not appointed, three are from Maine and all three have been Republican. Republicans not only did poorly among women, but also among suburban voters. These voters are interested in If you look at the pa rty who actually elects women, who small business, health care, educa tion, and the environ entrusts them with responsibili ty, and recognizes their ment, in addition to the budget and tax issues. important role, it is the Republican Party. These voters expect the Republicans to be good on the bud PPJ: Wllnt are tile two top issues tllat tile Republican Parly should get and taxes. We don't need to convince voters of that. We be addressing all bellnfj of Tl'omC1l? need to convince them that we have a heart as well as a ca l culator. [The Republican Party needs to convince them COLLINS: One issue increasingly important to women is that) we care about their families and the issues they con small business. Women are starting businesses at hvice the front every day. • rate of men. By the end of this century, it is estimated tha t women wiU employ as many people in their businesses as Mr. /CSL'P is the jllcomillg New Ellglalld Cllnpter Presidellt. He is men do. The trend is, in part, because women have bumped a former member of the New Ham pshire Repll blican Stale up against the glass ceiling in large corporations and have Executive Committee and a free/alice writer ill POrISII/OIlt/I, New Ham psllire. 30 The RIPON FORUM NINE MONTHS OF LABOUR by Andrew Hicks here IS only one subject of to the next, while the party laboured own costs of unification throughout political discuSSIon In Brltam under the unshakable whiff of sleaze. Europe. Pressure fo r devaluation or T today: w hich party leader can A few Ministers of State being caught withdrawal reached a peak when the take their party to victory at the nex t with mistresses and a couple of back markets forced Italy to devalue. The general election. This may seem sur benchers taking bribes (a few thou Government's unwillingness to prising as the last election was just sand pounds) for asking questions in devalue, combined with a reluctance last May, yet the prospect has people Parliament might seem minor by from Germany to support Sterling led captivated. international standards, but caused to the crisis of Black Monday, on outrage in Britain and undoubtedly which Britain blew 15 billion pounds Why the Conservatives lost in 1997 contributed to the massive scale of the defending Sterling against the mar Britain now has its first Labour Conservative defeat. kets but then withdrew from the ERM Government in 18 years, a govern The real causes of the Conservative altogether. Allowed to float free, and ment that was elected offering almost defeat, however, lay elsewhere. The with interest rate cuts, Sterling fell identica l policies as those of its tired party was wracked by collecti ve guilt further and the economy started to Conservative predecessor, yet which at its knifing of Margaret Thatcher, a grow aga in, yet the Government was disciplined, clean and united necessary condition for winning the gained no credit fo r that in popular around its young leader, the 46 year 1992 election. Britai n joined the opinion. Rather, it was seen as weak old Tony Blair. The Conservatives, by Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) in and indecisive. The decision to raise contrast, were divided and fractious. 1991 , with much public support but taxes to pay for the increases in public The Prime Minister, John Major, had greatly again st Lady Thatcher's expenditure prior to the 1992 election been systematically undermined both insti ncts. The rate at which Britain was the last straw. In two strokes, by back-bench Conservative MPs and joined, however, was too high and these actions totally destroyed the by members of his own Government. became increasingly unsustainable as reputation of the Conservatives, care Policy seemed to change daily as the the British recession continued and fully cultiva ted over many years, for Government lurched from one crisis Germany used the ERM to spread its tax cutting and fi scal p robity. Autumn 1997 31 Conservative popularity plummeted and set about massively reforming its Labour in Gove rnment and never recovered. policies and its image. Clause 4 of its Ha ving been elected to Government, From this point on the cause was constitution, the famou s socia list L.,bour is concentrating on constitu effectively lost. Conservative MPs commitment to "public ownership of tional reform and policy tinkering. fearing the loss of their seats turned the means of production" was delet Abolition of the Assisted Places on the leadership, especia ll y for its ed and replaced by an anodyne objec Scheme, where state scholarships "betrayal" of Margaret Thatcher in tive of "social justice for all ". One by paid for bright children to be sent to signing up to the ERM in the first one its broad policies accepted the priva te schools, as promised, ha s place and sought to prevent all fur Conservative status quo, by propos been abolished, as has tax relief for ther moves towards a united Europe, ing simple modifications that could pensioners on priva te health care. while Ministers undermined their be presented as social reforms while The effect of these spiteful acts is sim own Government as they jockeyed costing litt le and achieving nothing. ply to add to the queues and pressure for position in the leadership contest The commitment to a Bill of Righ ts within an already overloaded public that would inevitably follow defeat. and a minimum wage look good, yet provision while offering insufficient The Party stopped talking to the peo in practice will mean only that the savings to achieve anything meaning ple and focused entirely on its inter courts ca n highlight conflicts of law ful once the increased costs are con nal debates with itself. and refer back to Parliament while sidered. the minimum wage will be set low Labour's fl agship job creation pro How the Labour Party won and will apply only to older workers. gram is being paid for by savers from The Labour Pa rty, meanwhile, seeing It then packaged these "promises" pensions as well as investors from the that victory was at last within its into a Gingrich-like "Contract with windfall tax in privatized utilities on grasp, elected Tony Blair as its leader Britain". their "unfair" profits. Where nation- PHILIP MORRIS COMPANIES INC. Philip Morri s USA Philip Morris International Inc. Kraft Foods, Inc. Kraft Foods International, Inc. Miller Brewing Company Phi li p Morris Capital Corporation 32 The RIPON FORUM alization cost the state massively in erendum on "Proportional Chancellor, Gordon Brown, has suppo rting loss making ventures, Representation" (PR) fo r already been given a nasty beating by Labour views private industry as a Westminster. If successful, adoption the markets (which are in favour) for cash cow to be milked in taxes and of the Party List System that they hinting that ea rly entry was on the strangled in regulation and "social have imposed on the regional assem cards and then recanting. costs" (Le. get industry to pay for blies and on the European Parliament The Conservative position on EMU is mandatory social programs rather British Constituencies (for the elec skeptical at best. The new than voting taxpayers). tion in 1999) would ensure perma Conservative leader, 36 yeM old Labou r's insti nct to interfere and reg· nent Labour Government for Britain William Hague, has moved the ulate is now manifesting in restric in coalition with th e Liberal Party's position on Europe to the tions on ca r ownership through park Democrats. This is the worst right (i.e. more skeptical) as part of ing regulation and charges to reduce Conservative nightmare: a Britain as the process of uniting the Party congestion in the cities be forcing ineffectual and corrupt as Ita ly or as around a single line, without ruling people to use public transport. dominated by extremists as Israel, in out entry if it were proved to be clear which MPs lose all autonomy and ly in Britain's long term best interest. Labour's Constitutional Tinkering become voting fodder for thei r party The Conserva ti ve fear of EMU is not Blair has stated that his primary goal leaders and in which democracy really the loss of control over British in government is to secure his own becomes subordinated to back-room interest rates or sovereignty, although reelection in 4 years time, an unprece deals amongst power brokers. these arguments are made and score dented achievement for a Labou r Labour, for all its adoption of easy points, but rather skepticism Prime Minister. The Conservatives Conservative Euro-skeptic rhetoric, is about the long term convergence of have rightly derided this as a a fundamentally Eu ro-phile party. the European economies and fea r that Government without principle, yet Many Socialist Euro-phiJ es ma ke lit Monetary Union is just a prelude to the fear of Labour's hidden agenda tle secret of thei r desire to make Fisca l and Political Union. The fact remains. Europe into a "Super-state of the that the European Commission has The real damage will come from Regions" with total abolition or mar recently demanded that Ireland raise Labour's constitutional tinkering. ginalization of the current national its business tax rate from its current The devolved assemblies for Scotland governments into a continent-wide low level, to remove its "unfa ir" and Wa les are marginally popular federa l structure. Conservatives are advantage over Europe's other more (the Welsh one got 50.1% support in a naturally opposed to this and regard profl igate members serves only to low turnout referendum) but threaten the existing structures of Europe as confirm the Conservatives' worst to break the U.K. Even if the L.:l bour undemocratic and unaccountable, not fea rs. Party loses the next election they will to men tion bureaucratic. rema in in permanent co ntrol of William Hague - Conservative Scotland and Wa les. The regions are The EMU question Leader at 36 already over-represented at The litmus for this, at present, is the Notwithstanding his election as Westminster and massively subsi question of whether Britain should leader of the Conservative Party, dized by the English. Blair need lose join in the first phase of Economic William Hague has not had a particu only a few English Labour MPs in the and Monetary Union (EMU) - the larly good summer. At 36, engaged next election to end up ruling 45 adoption of a single European curren but not yet married, he is the Million English based on the votes of cy (the Eu ro), join later or rule out youngest Conservative leader since 8 Million Scots and Welsh (both over joi ning altogether. Public opinion, William Pitt nea rly two centuries ago. whelmingly Labour) over whom post the ERM debacle and the trauma The truth of the matter is that the Westminster will exercise no control. of the extended recession that ERM Conservative Party was so divided If the English lose faith in the Union caused, is either hostile or skepticaL after John Major, with so much rancor then it is fi nished and Labour risk Labour has therefore adopted the towards other older candidates who testing this to destruction. Conservati ve "wait and see" position had held senior office in the last Labour is also pledged to hold a ref- with a bias on joining if practical. The Government (and share in the blame Autumn 1997 33 for its fa ll ) that the Party decided to the state, at the expense of neglecting from Chris Patten or Michael Portillo, skip a generation. Since then he has cherished public institutions and the the rea lity is that Hague is secure as had to contend with a Shadow weakest members of society. Look out Leader until at least after the next Cabinet, many of whom are older and in the fu ture for a touchy·feely election, and will probably continue more experienced than him, a trau "Caring Conservatism" that respects even if he loses that. The uncomfo rt· matized party for which there is still able truth for Conserva ti ves is that massive public distrust, and an L.., bour have a huge majority while understaffed office in which com pet· the Conservative Party was more ing interests fig ht for his ear. The.blmal oftM Bow Group than halved in Parliament. Most pun· Having been elected, Hague immedi· dits have the Conserva ti ves in opJ'O"' ately la unched the biggest reform sition fo r at least hvo terms, noti ng process the Party had ever seen, with that Blair is currently the most popu· the intention of making it more mod· lar Prime Minister in British history. ern, democratic and accountable. A closer examination of the 1997 Ordinary members of the Party will results shows that much of Labour's at last have a say in the choice of gains were due to unprecedented tac· future leaders and policies. This tical voting within Bri tain's "first past Miehael Howard t>ucu the 1iber.U trend process has added to the turmoil and the post" electoral system. Many Sir Palrid< Mayhcw '~ lon8 and 5tony ~d it is unclear yet whether it goes fa r Who should C'Orltrol Schools? Conservative seats were lost d ue to enough to make the Party credible liberal supporters voting for Labour, with the public. In effect, the Labour supporters voting for the a Conservative Pa rty is copying the Crossbow-- is the jOllrnnl of Great Britnin 's liberals or loss of Conservative votes internal reforms undertaken by the Buw Grollp. to the Referendum Party (actua ll y Labour Party after its unexpected freedom of choice in li fes tyle and pre> Euro·skeptic) or not voting at all. The 1992 defeat. motes civic virtues and family values overall turnout was low and the evi· At the sa me time Hague has in tra. to strengthen communities and pre> dence suggests that many former duced some significant policy shifts. mote social responsibility. Mrs. Conservatives withheld support by The reform of policy has been given Thatcher's famous nostrum "There is not voting. Tony Blair won his huge as a task to Peter Lilley, the Shadow no such thing as Society" is well and majority based on fewer votes, over· Chancellor and one of the best mi nds truly dead. all, than John Major gained in 1992. in the Pa rty, yet already the broad As yet the jury is out on Hague. He These factors are unlikely to be themes are emerging. While Hague often comes across as wooden, imma· repeated in 2001/2 which shoul d ture and uncharismatic. His perfor· has moved the Party to the right over deli ver a substantial swing back to mance on the day of Princess Diana's Europe he is moving it to the left on Hague. If one adds in possible public death \·"as wid ely criticized for its social policy. lack of emotion while Tony Blai r's disillusionment with a Labour There is a new mood of tolerance emotiona l eulogy fo r "the Peoples' Government that promised so much sweeping through the Conservative Princess" ca ught the public mood and delivered so little, and a revived Party towards those who are d isad· exactl y. The indications are that Conservati ve Party with a more vantaged or have chosen "alternative Hague will improve his performance attracti ve message, then Hague has a lifes tyles" such as single pa rents or over time and will soon be seen to be chance. The future of Britai n as a scoring points over Blai r at the homosexuals, while still affirming the nation hangs upon this thread. • Dispatch Box in Parliament in their Party's commitment to the traditional weekly spats. Even Mrs. Thatcher family structure. This results from a had a wobbly start in 1975 when few AI/drew Hicks, 32, is Deputy Clmirmall strong public perception of expected her to survive. of tile Bow Group atld Editor of its illJlu· Conservatives as "uncaring", "intol· entiaf journal, Crossbow. He is lIIarried erant" and having focused too much Can Hague beat Bla ir and, if so, alld works as a stockbroker at NOli/lira on the economic liberalism of when? interllatiollaf pTc ill Lolldoll. Thatcherism, with aU its hostility to For all the idle gossip of challenges 34 The RIPON FORUM bills, Gordon explains; the government can print, tax, or borrow. Hamilton paid for the cost of the Revolutionary war by creating a central bank to assume the debts of the states. Gordon shows us how Hamilton conceived of the HAMILTON'S BLESSING: The Extraordinary Life national debt as a blessing and a "powerful cement to our and Times of Our National Debt union." Can you imagine any scenario today where a pub John Steele Gordon, lic figure would caU our $5 trillion national debt a blessing? New York, Walker and Company. Th is is the kind of historical context Gordon provides, and he does a masterful job of interconnecting the history of the debt wi th the history of the U.s. The chapter, "The Debt hich event this century has done the most to drive Explodes," ties the historical frame of reference in to today's up public spending and increase the federal debt? burgeoning national debt. W Most people would probably say the Great The debt in the last 200 years, Gordon shows, has grown in Depression or the world wars. According to John Steele seven periods, six of these marked by war or depression. Gordon, they would be wrong. As Cordon iJlustrates in his What this COWltry has witnessed in the most recent decades, provocative book, Hamilton's Blessing:Ihe Extraordinary however, is the explosive growth in the national debt when Life and TImes of Our National Debt the force behind the times are good, due to explosive ambition of the federal explosive growth in our country's national debt is the government. "For that trend results," Gordon writes, "not growth of transfers and subsidies since 1960. This was not from a deliberate political decision to spend in deficit, but in response to some crisis, but a deliberate act of spending rather from nothing more than the sum of myriad decisions policy at a time of rapid cconomic growth and relative poUt regarding taxing and spending that, collectively, now sub ical stability. Gordon's discussion of the national debt takes stitutes for fisca l policy." place at hvo levels: the insightful frame of reference level So how did the United States lose control over such a fun and the misdirected lesson of how to proceed with the dis damental responsibility as its own budget? As with most tribution of poli tical power in this country. Fortunately, the govemn,ent policy disasters, the answer is "one innocuous first level comprises the majority of the book. step at a time." So far, Gordon is right on the mark. But A discussion of the national debt is meaningless without a then he misdi.rects. frame of reference. Gordon's book is worth reading (or this The question that sets the tone in the concluding chapter is: reason. The national debt, Gordon says, must be under for what have we increased the national debt by a factor of stood as a "dynamiC economic entity, and not just a static 17 since 19607 The answer, Gordon is afraid, "is little more sum of money." The dynamic entity has been both a funda than the political self-interests of a few thousand peo mental resource and a concern for Presidents and lawmak ple ... who held office during this period." Without even dis ers since the fi rst presidency under George Washington. In puting the premise that virtually all politicians are motivat fact, one of the first constitutional battles, we learn from ed by self-in terest, this assumption is grossly inadequate Gordon, concerned the national debt and pitted 1l10mas and subsequently [mis]directs the reader away from the dis jefferson's doctrine of strict construction against Alexander cussion of the national debt. The inadequate assumption is Hamilton's doctrine of implied powers. Hamilton's doc also the point from which Cordon draws his four lessons trine, which would win out with George Washington's sig which dominate the last chapter. nature of a bill to establish a central bank, said that "if the The explosion in the debt is not limited to "the political self federal government was to deal successfully with its enu interests of a few thousand people," but instead is a trend in merated duties, it must be supreme in deciding how best to almost aU industrial countries since the early 19605 due to a perform those duties." shift in government transfers and subsidies. Yes, self-inter Gordon's depiction of the national debt as a historic entity ested politicians played a part, but so did self-interested also sheds light on many of the political fights we witness bureaucrats, self-interested pressure groups and self-inter today. The poli tiCS of special interests and self preservation, ested voters. Writing in January 1966, Yale economics pro for example, are nothing unique to today's taxing and fessor, Neil W. Chamberlain, describes the publiC shift in spending decisions. Taxes playa fundamental role in any attitude about a balanced budget, "the unbalanced budget, discussion of the national debt, and Cordon brings to life which had SO recently been an object of revulsion, had taken the history of the income tax, protectionist taxes (tariffs) and on respectability. Government deficits had ceased to be a the political struggles on who to tax and how much, or in sin and had themselves become the mark of a shrewd other words, social engineering. That our tax code today is Administration's prudence." too big and complicated is old news. Gordon's work The reality of the federal budget is that it represents com reminds us also that the concept that an interest group "will mitments made over decades. Those commitments will not always work hard to maintain its benefit long after the orig be changed without significant conflict. And, despite inal purpose of the tax has been served." Gordon's illusion, the budget achieved its present state with Hamilton's "blessing" is really the way the national debt is the knowledge and ac ti ve collusion of the American people. used as an instrument of national interest to payoff the costs Gordon says so himself in the chapter, "The Debt of a war or depression. There are Explodes," but unfortunately fails to three ways for government to pay its HI! CIII '" HII'II/Cf draw this connection in his conclusion Autumn 1997 35 that the debt has been caused by a few thousand lawmak ers. "The backdoor spending that has had the grea test '(( destabilizing effect on the budget has been the 'entitle ments'· monies paid without limit to aU who qualify in such programs as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Beca use these spending programs dire<:tly benefit many millions, the political forces behind their continuation and enlargement quickly became awesome." Gordon is right that about 54 percent of the total budget consists of required payments to individuals-Social Security, Medicare, milHary pensions. That part of the bud· get now taken up by direct payments of income-income transfers-is so large a percentage of the total that it virtual ly determines the entire budget. lncome transfers have a momentum of their own, unrelated to the limits of the econ omy or the needs of other programs. Remember, these pro grams are entitlements: they are assured by la w to qualify ing individuals; they do not pass through the appropria tions process. These entitlements have resulted in more or Jess permanent deficits. This is a sign that government is persistently spending more than citizens can be persuaded to pay in taxes. As federal debt has become a larger share of GOP, taxpayers and beneficiaries of fede ral spending have been required to sacrifice to accommodate interest payments. New interest payments on the federal debt rose from 9 percent of federal spending in 1980 to 15 percent in 1995. Today's increase in the federal debt is incurred for the benefit of current enti tle ment recipients and to the extent that it exceeds net federal investment that increases future resources, future recipients face corresponding further s.1crifices. One renowned columnist has characterized our govern Because Congress has shown itself "to be inca pable of set ment as an "overcommitted" one. Overcommitted does not ti ng a limit to total spending and then sticking to it," necess.1rily mean too much, it just means we have more Gordon proposes to give the president the power to set the government than we are willing to pay for with taxes. But limit on overall spending. The president is the one offi cial in this ra ises a number of fundamental questions-the appro Washington elected by the entire country and "thus has his priate size of government, the value and impact of federal political self·interests dire<:tly bound up in the national programs, the role of government vis-a-vis the priva te sec interest of a prudent fiscal policy." Oh, reall y? tor. Instead of goi ng off on his tirade about the distri bution This suggestion fli es in the face of rea li ty and good public of political power, poli ticians' self·interest, and his loath fo r policy, not to mention the Constitution. Of course, we do Poli tica l Action Committees (PACs), Gordon would have not need to think back beyond the current president to see better guided his readers by asking simple questions. Now the absurdity in this suggestion. President Clinton's health that we know the history of the national debt, what does it reform initiati ve, which would have increased spending to mean? Are the American people getting good va lue for bring another 5 percent of GOP under federal control, their money? Has the connection between increased gov should be fresh enough in Gordon's memory to realize the ernment spending, leading to an expanding federal debt, absurdity of this proposal. Did we not just learn from and improved social outcomes strengthened?--or become Gordon that the problem isn't the discretionary spending weaker? Given the shortcomings of big government, and budget, but the entitlements? Since these entitlement pro given that nobody likes paying higher taxes, why is it that grams are already law, does Gordon mean to propose giv ing public spend ing and taxes have both risen so dJ"amatkall y the President the authori ty to chance existi ng law without over the past 50 years? the will and consent of Congress? These are the questions that politicians and the American Two of Gordon's other propos.1ls, banning political actj on people alike will have to try to answer in the years ahead. committees and changing government accounting methods, Hamilton's Blessing provides an historical frame of refer both suffe r from the s.1 me misguided diagnosis-that doing ence when thinking about the the fundamental questions away with a prominent symptom will do away with the for today and tomorrow. problem. While both proposals have merits on their own, they would probably do little to counter Gordon's original Chris Bremer is a Legislative Assistant to Congressman Palll • premise, the sel f·interest of politicians. Gil/mar (R·OH). 36 The RIPON FORUM &he Jl6rfuYn -6aaca~(U Me to tham/c de ~ 0/()W)( 1.9.97 &Jta/JZ(JcAtkntic ~~~ce. ,a... fmc its' inccption in 1982, t~ig' nnl1ui1( [onfrr · ~ emf bas soug!)t to still1ulate crrntibr bis'ms - sions of puIJlic poUep questions /lith to inlJollJr tlJr talents. rnergies anb ibrns of s'cbolnrs, politicians, cibi! s'rrbants anb citi, rns' of bartOns nations in proposing: innobntibr poliep solutiolls'. 'Q:br 1997 tfip to ~rnlJllr , url)t € ?('ci) lhpublic, wns' n trrmenbous' s'nrrrs's' tOIDarbs' OUf gonl in fulfilling tlJis mission. Bil Mike Gill One of the significant American accomplishments this centu mering out the details. ry has been the g radual reduction of tariffs and trade barriers The fast-track authority, contrived in 1974, and the United among nations. Unfortunately, this steady if slow march con States Trade Representative Office, which was created in 1979, tinues to be undercut by the new isolationists in Congress. are both descendants of America's evolving and successful The decision of President Clinton to pull his fast track legisla trade diplomacy. Unfortunately, somewhere in the last few tion from the House fl oor rather than watch it lose was pru years, the Ways and Means Committee and the Finance dent. World stock markets would have reacted poorl y to a rat Committee have lost their power to lead. Too many Members ified defeat as opposed to the fig leaf of delay. But the episode started believing their town hall rhetoric on trade defi cits. reflects the immense intellectual struggle politicians have Bashing deficits is an easy point of unity. What Members have w ith foreign trade. neglected to rc-enforce among their communities is the Fast track authority is one of the many misnamed trad ing unprecedented rise in the living standards of the American tools, the fonner most-favored-nation status being another, consumer. Some Members of Congress are once again push w hich pennit the executive branch to lead the country's trade ing to protect their parochial interests to the detriment of the policy with one voice. Very few oppose the tactic itself, rather, nation as a whole. These prognosticators of "us versus them" its reauthorization came to symbolize an opportunity to reject in the trade debate have m isled public perception to the point America's trade progress thus far. that free trade is now our Public Enemy Number One, the El The irony of the si tuation is that Congress is moving to claim Nino of economics, responsible for unemployment in Toledo back its Constitutional prerogative to dictate trade policy, "To and mudslides in CaJifomia. lay and collect...Duties" and "To regulate commerce between The question over fast track was simple. Who shall lead on nations," at the very moment it is attempting to usurp the trade policy, Congress or the President? The debate instead President's role in foreign policy. Through such legislation as became a referendum on prior agreements. Just as there will Helms·Burton Act and the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, always be dissenting voices on the Panama Canal treaties, Congress is setting the foreign policy goaJs of the nation, Aid to the Contras etc., trade treaties are not infallible encycli through the use of all things, trade. Clearly, the goals of these ca ls. They are, however, inlpossible without a clear-<:ut leader. laws are correct, but similar to its last fuJi fledged trade mea The President mllst be allowed to lead on trade for two rea sure, the Smoot-Hawley tariffs, Congress is too often a sons. If America should pause on this front, the ability of the cacophony of interests unable to speak with one voice on fo r U.s. to influence the direction of trade talks will shrink con eign policy. Siderably. Without the explicit backing of fast track, no coun Prior statesmen of our national legislature recognized this try will seriously sit down to negotiate. Secondly, al though dilemma. As far back as the 19305, Congress granted to the trade and foreign policy have always been linked, the next President, with limitations and conditions, the power to nego century will bring a new era to this parallel. MERCOSUR, the tiate bi-Iaterally the reduction of trade barriers. This authori South American version of NAFfA, is a poor cousin in terms ty was used by the Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, (notice the of liberalizing trade among its signatories, but symbolica ll y it office), to begin leading our allies to a more efficient and con has proven to be a point of pride in South America and an sumer-orientated trading structure. This ingenious use of pol example of Brazilian leadership. It is instructive to note that icy not only allowed America to speak with one voice, but Chile originall y declined to become a member of this South emancipated individual Members of Congress from prior American p..1Ct, preferring to wait and join NAFfA. It has constraints in speaking up on behalf of their districts. By shift since, however, joined as an associate member. If the U.S. ing trade duties to the executive, Members were free from the wants to pursue economic opportunities with its American task of 10<1ding legislation with individual preferences on neighbors, ahead of the Europeans and Asians, it must be at trade. Now they could point a disgruntled corporation down the table talking instead of outside the room shouting. to the executi ve branch, with its national priorities. All the Without fast track, we simply would not have the capacity to while, a Member could claim SOlidari ty w ith the d isgruntled, do that. • safe in the knowledge it would be the executive branch ham- 38 The RIPON FORUM Thosa funds you just transferred? That note you just faxed? That stock you just bought? That e-mail you just sent? That search you just launched? That order you just filled? That fi Ie you dow load That site you just That lin ~ U., d? JUs C Ic~e . ~~~.... ~ .... We did the hard part. LocaJ phone SCMce, So;mportanl. yet so dependable, you almost never have to think about it. Local service Is the hard part 01 every caR. Irs the part thai goes from you to your long distance carrier. Or your tnfeme! provider. Or out to your COfpOrate network. It's ttle part Bell Atlantic has been doing fOf 100 years. The part thai takes 90,000 service people, 30,000 vehicles, and atxxJj $5 biltion a year - in maintaining, upgrading, and innovating _ to make happen. So it's Okay if you never think about your local phone service - after all, we think about it all the lime. C BeII Allanlie 1&97 • In the Mainstream of American Thought. ... OF 'DE tt In today'iAVor\d, everyone has an o~nion. Be iLthe Far Right Republicans or the left wing Democrats, the voices that are heard seem to come loudestli:om the::fring$ of-American political thought. Not Anymor . 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