The Journal of National Republican Politics & Policy
THE
RIpON FORUM Contents Publisher T he Ripon Society
President Hon. Bill Frenu.l
VOLUME 3S • NUMBER III • SUMMER 2000
Letter From the President offhe Ripon Society ..................................... .... .. .. 3 The Honorable Bill Frenzel Philadelphia Provides Historic Backdrop for 2000 Convention .............. ........ 4 Senator Arlen Specter
Returning to Philadelphia ................................ ................................. ... .......... 5 Executive Director
R ep resentativeJ im Greenwood
Lori H aJju Communications Dineror, Editor Ashleigh Roberts
Uniting the Republican Party ... .. .... ............. ..... .. .. ............................... .......... . 6 Ashleigh Roberts The Primary Problem .. .. .. ... ... .. ..... .. .. .. ........................................................... 9 A ngie Russell
Design/An DirecTion Chris tina F. Valis
A Smaller and Smarter Government ..... ... .... .......................................... ...... 11
Co'·cr Photograph C. P. Roberts
A Special Tribute ... ...... ......... ... .................................................................... 13 Ashleigh Roberts
Production CCI www.cci-s ervices.com
R epresentative Deborah P ryce
A Fresh Start ............. ... ... .. .. ... ..... .. .. ...... ....... ....... .. .. ..... ............................... 14 Ashleigh Roberts The Road to Victory .... .... .. ......................................................................... 17 R epresentative Tom D avis
Maintaining the Majority .. ........... ..... ....... ... ..... .... .......... .. ..... .. ............ ....... . 21
o 2000
Senator Mitch M cConnell
by The Ri pon Society All Righ ts Reserved
The Need to Lead ... ......... .. ... .. .... .... .............. ........................... .. ... ............... 23 Senator Chuck Hagel
Onc Year Subscription: S20.00 ind ividu als 510.00 students
Shifting Stability in the Middle East ... ........ .. ..... ......... .. ................ .. ............. 25 Frederic C. Hoi
Periodicals postage paid at Washington. D.C. and add itional mailing officn. POStmaS TU. send address changes TO: The Ripon Forum 501 Capitol COU rt, NE Suite 300 Washington, D.C 20002 2
Rewarding Republican Reforms ............. .. ... .... .... .... ........... ....... .. .. ..... .... .... .. 28 Ashleigh Roberts The Real Scoop ... ..................... ...... .. ..... ...... ... .... .... .. .... ............. .......... .... .... 31 T he Ripon FDrum (ISN 0035-55 26) is published quarterly by The Ripon Society. T he Ripon Society is a research and policy orga.nization. It is htadquanered in Was hington, D.C., with National Associate members throughou t the United States. Ripon is supponed by chapter dues, individual contribUTions, and revenu es from its publications. Commcnts, opinion cditorials and letters to the mapzine should be addressed 10: The Ripon Foru m, 501 Capi tol COUT(, NE Suite 300, \Vashington, D.C. 20002 or may be transmin ed electronically 10: len ers@riponsoc.org Summer 2000 Ripon Forum
l etter from the President
Letter from the President
W
elcome to the 2000 Convention Issue of the Ripon Forum. Republicans have much to be
proud of and many new opportunities. Republicans have the first chance in 50 years to lead both the Congress and the White H ouse. T hat alone, will make the convention exciting. Under convention news, Representative Deborah Pryce details the necessary leadership skills and the strong base Republican legislators have so~ lidifted for this change to occur. We also examine the RNC proposal to change the presidential primary process. The Ripon Society is proud to announce its first video, Setting the R ecord Straight: R eal PeopJr, Real Progress. The 15-minute educational piece highlights legislative accomplishments since the Republicans took over Congress in 1995. T he Ripon Society cannot take credit for them, but as a creator and distributor of policy ideas, we hope we have played a constructive role . The video's premiere will be July 31 at this year's convention . Aside from convention information, Congressman Rick Lazio takes a break from the campaign trail to give his old friends at Ripon an exclusive interview. Lazio shares his ideas for improving the lives of New Yorkers while talking about his bid for the U.S. Senate.
We're pleased to welcome fonner Democrat activist Vickey WJcher to the Republican Party. Wilcher, recently named executive director of the Washington D.C. Republican Comminee, brings enthusiasm to the party, and more importantl}; a commitment to the people of the DistrictofColwnbia. As the November elections draw near, Senator Mitch McConnell and Representative Tom Davis provide a quick campaign analysis of this year's Former Minnesota Congressclose races. On the foreign afmon Bill Frenzel served in the House of Representatives fairs front, Senator H agel offrom 1970-1992. He is fers his views for America's role currently a Distinguished in the global arena. Guest Fellow with the Brookings writer Frederic C. Hof outlines Institute. In '994 he become President of the th e border conflict among Ripon Society. Lebanon, Israel and Syria. H ope you enjoy this issue and as always, we welcome reader response. D rop us a line at letters@riponsociety.org H ave a safe and spirited convention! Bill Frenzel President
2000
Convention
Philadelphia Provides Historic Backdrop for 2000 Convention
W Senator Arlen Specter
elcome to Philadelphia
to select U lysses S. Grant in 1872, William McKi nley
and the 2000 Republi-
in 1900, Wendell Willkie in 1940 and Thomas Dewey
can Nat ional Convention! Philadelphia will again showcase its history as host to the convention, almost a century and a half since it hosted the party's fIrst
in 1948. The 1948 Republican Convention also offered the city another "first," the first nationally-tele-
convention.
vised political convention. Today Philadelphia offers its visitors many opportunities to learn about its rich history through modern attractions. The Independence National H is-
Philadelphia has a tradition of hosting political
torical Park is known as the most historic square-mile
events that have shaped the fab ric of our nation and embodied the American spirit. The First Continental Congress, which would evenrually evolve into what many consider to be the greatest governing body in the
in America. T he Park encompasses Independence laration ofIndependence was signed and the Constitution was drafted. V isitors can also see the site
world, mct in Philadelphia in
of the first Continental Congress in Carpenters'
1774. Subsequently, Philadel-
H all. Since 1753, the Liberty Bell has become an
phia hosted other such monu-
artifact of America's history. T he Bell, which was
mental events as the signing of
rung on July 8, 1776, to summon citizens to hear
Arlen Specter was elected to the United States Senate in 1980.
He re presents the state af Pennsylvania and seNes an the Senate Cammittee s an Appropriations; Gavernmental Affairs and Judiciary Veterans ' Affairs/ Chairman.
Hall, giving visitors a chance to see where the D ec-
the Declaration of Indepen-
the first reading of the D eclaration of Indepen-
dence on July 4, 1776, and the
dence, is on d isplay to the world 24 hours a day in
Constitutional Convention in
the L iberty Bell Pavilion. T he home where Betsy
May 1787. P hiladelphia also
Ross sewed the first American flag is nearby as well.
served as our nation's capital from 1790untiJ1800.
T his year's convention gives Republicans from across the country a unique opportunity to both cel-
In addition to Philadelphia's prominent place in
ebrate our nation's past and help shape our country's
our country's history, P hiladelphia has played a simi-
future, in nominating a leader to take the Republican
larly promi nent role in Republican party history.
Party and the nation into the next century.
Philadelphia hosted the first Republican Convention
Enjoy the convention and our wonderful city!
in 1856, nominating J ohn C. Fremont as candidate for President. Republicans returned to Philadelphia
-Smator Arlm Sputer
2000 Repu blican Convention
Returning to Philadelphia Convention Reflects Party Roots
O
ne hund red and forry·four years ago th is sum mer, Philadelphia was the site for the first National Convention held by the Republican Party. Ri pon, Wisconsi n, from which our organization takes its name, was also the site for the firs t gathering of people to call themselves Republicans. We like to think that it was in Ripon where the party fi rst took shape, but what is more important to us as Republicans, are the ideas that the early members of our party held most dear. Our founders were enemies of slavery, surely, but they opposed slavery not only because it was morally repugnant, but also because it threatened human lib· erty and more importantly, human dignity. The pio· neers of our party were, first and foremos t, champi· ons of liberty. They also understood the benefits of new technologies, like the railroad, and the need to invest in America's future. They believed in stro ng fami· lies and supported homesteading to give every fam· ilya stake in the American D ream. They knew the value of education and offered t he first com pre· hensive land-grant legislation to create strong state· run universities. Like them, we remain committed to a belief in individual freedom, in the value of pursuing new tech· nologies, in the need to strengthen and empower America's fami lies and in the importance of education as a bulwark of a self· governing democracy.
As Chairman of the Ripon Society's Congressional Advisory Board, I am excited about the contributions we are making to strengthen and broaden our party's appeal to the voters. We &prtuntQtiw Jim Grttn'Wf)()(/ need to continue to highlight the many accomplishments our Republican Congress has made during the past five and a half years. Like you, we in the Ripon Society are fuUycommitted to advancing the model of compassionate co nse rvatism, which G overnor George W. Bu sh has so successfully art iculated . The Convention we hold in Philadelphia this year will once Jim Greenwood was elected to again serve as a defining moment the United States Hause of in the history ofour party and the Representatives in November 1992. He represents the 4th republic. For the first time in District of Pennsylvania and nearly half a cenNry, the opporserves on House Committees tunity to recapture the White on Commerce, Education, and the Workforce. H ouse and to remin the majority in Congress is within our grasp. We in the Ri pon Society are proud of the role we are playing in this efron, and ] invite you to take the time to read this magazine and learn more aboul us. Wishing you a safe, exciting and successful Convention.
- ReprtSl!ntativtJim Greenwood
l azio
Uniting the Republican Party Representative Rick Lazio (R-NY) discusses his bid for the U.S. Senate
T
he Ripon Forum was able to catch Congressman Rick Lazio bet'oveen votes to discuss his goals for the state of New York. Lazio, who is running against First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, entered the race after New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani withdrew.
'~ .. voters
can look at my record during the last eight years and see that I have been out there working hardfor New v.L v/It.. . . ~~l.
,
)J
RF: Lets start with the infamous
~Roger
question ~ /o
Mudd
Ted Kennedy
- Congressman Lazio, just why areyou running
nomic ladder and enabling them to help themselves. I bel.ieve in providing opportunity and instilling a sense of responsibility in people. In all of the work that I have done in the H ouse, I have tried to have the principle of empowerment reflected in my legislation. I don't believe our state of New York should be a means to further a personal agenda. The reason I am running is to represent the citizens of New York and their agenda as their United States Senator. I want to represent and protect New York. I want to focus on economic growth and personal empowerment for all, and to serve with a sense of compassion.
for the U.S. Senate?
R E P. LAZIO : I've spent eight years in the H ouse. I love legislative work.. Working with the people of New York, we have made a difference. Moving over to the Senate would
RF: If! am a N ew York li/iun, why should! votefor Ri(k Lazio as opposed to Hillary Clinton?
enable me to continue that partnership and have morc influence over the issues New Yorkers really care about: economic growth, affordable housing, the environ-
REP. LAZIO: First of all, voters can look at my record during the last eight years and see that I have been out there working hard for New York. My opponent simply does not have a record of accomplishment for the people of New York. Second, I have a mainstream record that reflects
ment, qual.ity health care, and empowerment. I really believe in the concept of empowerment. 1 believe in helping people up that first rung of the eco-
New York values. 1 have fought for lower taxes and a balanced budget. 1 have worked hard to protect the environment, help the d isabled and ensure that we Ripon Forum' Summer 2000
lazia
don't have gun violence in our schools or in Qurcommunities. In Washington, people might say it's a political anomaly when somebody supports the assault weapons ban and supports a balanced budget and lower taxes. Some might think that's a strange Republican thing. In New York, people consider that very mainstream, very reflective of who they are. Third, think that if yOll look at me and who I am, you'll have confidence in my character and my work ethic. I believe in personal responsibility, but I also believe in having a heart and help-
people achieve home ownership and making sure people's children get a quality education. I talk about pro\~dingchild care and making sure that people have opportunities for decent jobs. These things are uni\ll!l'Slll Poople want to k.n(Av ifthey can gain :u:cess to capital to start their 0''IIIl business. People want to make sure that their children don't have to be exported to another sratt: SO tht:y can afford to livt: in a high-cost statt: Iikt: New York. Those arc real issues in all communitit:s. I think some of me battle is just
j getting into the o communi ty and ~ showing that )'ou t care about people
Ri(k uzi!) talh with Ripon Forum Edit!)r Arhltigh Rrmtrl$.
ing those in need without demeaning them or the folks who are paying the taxes. I try to keep in mind that there is somebody au[ there for every program that we're creating. There are a great many who are paying the taxes to fin:tnce that program; a family mat crumar do something that they should do or like to do because their tax burden is too high. That means we need to make sure we are getting value for our tax dollars when we make investments in worthy programs.
RF: You'w hun on a non-slop whirlwind lour ofyour stalt, what are you lNaringftom Ihewlers in N~ York7
REP. LAZIO: People are incredibly enthusiastic. In the first 72 hours of our campaign, we made 20 different SlOpS and the crowds just kept getting bigger. We've acrually been in communities that have not seen a Republican candidate in 30 years. We've been in low-income neighborhoods, in Latino communities and African-American communities. One of the encouraging things for Republicans is that when I am campaigning, I am listening and I speak on the issues New Yorkers really care about. I talk about helping Ripon Forum ' Summer 1000
from all different backgrounds. It is
shO\ving people that ),OU are willing to listen and worhvith them to tJy to make their lives better.
RF: N~ York is knfYWn for having 'Wry uparale polilical conslituencies, how do you plan to appeal to the entire po/ilica/ speclrum'
RE P. LAZ IO:
I think
'1 have a mainstream record that reflects New York values. "
the greatness of New York resides in its diversity. We're a state of immigrants and dozens of different backgrounds. Th e new immigrants bring energy and a pace
that helps keep New York lively, upbeat and on the cu tting edge. They are folks who believe in working hard. They are people who want to live by the rules. They are people who don't have any tolerance for criminal activity, bad schools or waste. Thost: are issues that we all believe in. People just want to know that they can relate ,vith ),ou on a human level. They want to know that when it comes time for them to get a little bit ofhclp, that you'll be there to try and do that. 7
lazio
Everywhere we visit, I have several people who come up to me and say something like, "Hey Can· gressman, I'm a life·long Democrat, I have never voted for a Republican in my whole life. I'm voting for you.~ And many of these people are writing checks to help fund the campaign. J know part of it has to do with the fact that folks are not comfortable with Mrs. Climon. However, a [at of it has to do with our message of reaching out to people, giVing people a sense of hope and inspiring them.
'1 think the message to the Party is to reach out to every community, not get on the deftnsive, and to be proud of our record and our heritage. "
RF: Your opponent has already trid to idrnJifj you in negative terms, how is your campaign rtSponding'
REP. LAZJO: I think New Yorkers deserve better. l don't think they want a nast}; negative c:unpaign. They can run a campaign about tearing people down if they want, but we're going to run a campaign about building people up.
RF: Whilt your energy, youth ant/ charm have allTacltd enthusiasJic supporJ, how is your campaign goillg to ar'icu/ale a strious and solid agtnda '
bring as a Senator. I look at programs, and I ask how we can fix them. H ow do we make them better? H ow do we make su re t hat you take a program, like the housing programs I have been working on through t he years, and make a strong statemen t that we will no t tolerate failure year after year? We are going to demand competence and excellence. We are going to demand that these programs show results that we can measure. If they do, we will suppo rt them. But if they don't, we are goi ng to look in ot her directions so we can accompli sh the same goals through better means. I will be out there speaking from the heart. I will be talking about things New Yorkers care about, quality of life issues. I kn ow in my heart that people in New York want the same things. They want to make sure their children get a good educa tion. People want to know that when they leave the ir kids at the Street corner thar they can get to school safely. Pe ople want to know that when their kids graduate from sc hool they will have the skills to be employed at a job that pays them enough money so they ca n afford to stay in-s tate. They want to know that there is an af· fordable place for their parents to live and their children to live when they're ready to start their own family. It's amazing how much commona lity we have, even in a state as ethnically and racially diverse as New York. The re is enormous common ground, and I think people respond to that.
RF; Whal do you Jhinkyour compaig" ca" hring REP. LAZ lO: One of the strengths of my campaign is that 1 have a record to stand on. I have eiglu years of service with strong positions on the issues I care about: lowering Rick A. LDzio wos ejected to taxes, increasing the stock of afthe United States House of fordable housing, enabling ecoRepresentatives in November nomic growth, helping the dis1992. He represents the 2nd District of New \tIrk. He serves abled, and helping people facon the House Committee on ing life-threatening diseases. I Commerce. have a strong record of making sure that we get value for our money and that we don't tolerate fraud. We will go out in this campaign and talk about my record, what I have done and what I would
•
10 Ih~ Rtpuh/ica" ParJy '
REP. LAZ IO: I think the message to the Party is to reach out to eve ry community, to not get on the defensive and to be proud of our reco rd and our heri tage. W e're the Party builr on the moral leade rship of Abraham Lincoln, the optim ism of T heodo re Roosevelt and the can-do determination of Ronald Reagan. We have an incredibly powerful message of hope and opportunity for people. We ensure that all people can stan their own business, save more money, become investors, plan for their fam ilies and have control over their own lives.
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Ripon Forum' Summer 2000
Roman
The Primary Problem Proposed presidential election calendar shifts power to state party organizations.
T
he way Republicans nominate future Presidents is going to change, according to Bill Brock, Chairman of the Republican National Committee's (RNC) Commission on Presidential Nomination Process. T he only question, he says, is how. The Commission has proposed, and the RNC rules comminee has voted in favor of a plan to impose an election ca!endaron states which now have the right to set their own primary, caucus and convention schedules. T he Commission proposal would allow [he smallest states to hold their primaries fi rst, followed by 1'\\10 groups of successively larger states and force the largest states 10 hold their primaries last. In order to facilitate the implementation of the new schedule, the plan would shift the power to determine how a state selects its presidential delegates from state legislatures to state parry o rganizations. States whose partyorgani7.ation refused to comply with the RNC's schedule would lose most of their representation at the convention. States whose legislature refused to pay for a party primary on a date approved by the RNC would be forced to select their delegates by convention or caucus system. T he plan is subject to the debate amendment and approval first by the RNC, then by rhe National Convention's Rules Comminee and finally by all delegates to the Convention. Already it has stirred opposition from party leaders in large states who fear their influence \viU be unfairly diluted and others who believe that states' rights should not be infringed. Ripon Forum ' Summer 2000
T his year, key early presidential primary contests in New H ampshire, South Carolina, Michigan, Californ ia and New York played the major role in shaping rhe outcome ofche presidential campaign. McCain's primary victories in New H ampshire and Michigan gave him momentum which made the race competitive. Bush's South Carolina win kept him in the arena until his decisive victories in the so-called "Super T uesdal March 7 primaries virtually ended the presidential nomination contest. The trend in recent pn:sidential elections has been for major states such as Michigan, California and New York to set their primary voting dates earlier in the nomination cycle in the belief that early primaries have more influence. Some party activists believe that this trend will continue, resulting in what could look very much like a national primary instead of the current four-month long series of state contests. T here is a concern that a compressed primary schedule would give too much of an advantage to nationally-known figure s, who have the stature and fundraising ability necessary to compete in a large number of virtually simultaneous contests. There is also concern rhal a national primary-like process would give too much influence to the media and to media-friendly candidates as opposed to lesser-known candida tes with strong grassroots support among party activists. To prevent a national primary from evolving, the Commission plan would allow the smallest 25 per-
•
Roman ganizations, newly empowered to replace primaries that attract a broad base of voters and party activists 4'" Group 1" Group 2"" Group 3'"" Group through conventions or caucuses, Population: Population: Population: Population: 160.6 million would eliminate primaries for ideo'4.1 million 33.5 million 64.9 million Vote Vote: Vote: Vote: logical reasons. , ,, Tuesday in 1st Tuesday in I " Tuesday in I " Tuesday in Still others fear that the influM.y April February March ence of key large battleground states Alabama California Alaska Arkansas such as Ohio, Michigan,Illinois and Florida Arizona Connecticut American Samoa Pennsylvania, that often determine Iowa Colorado Georgia Delaware the outcome of the general election minois Indiana District 01 Columbia Kansas contests, will have less influence on Mississippi Kentucky Michigan Guam Hawaii Nebraska Louisiana New Jersey the nomination process. Thus causNew York Idaho Nevada Maryland ing the nomination ofless-electable North Carolina Maine New MexiCO Massachusetts candidates in the furure. Oklahoma Ohio Minnesota Montana Some small state representaNew Hampshire Oregon Pennsy!vania Missouri tives, however, argue that placing the North Dakota South Carolina Texas Tennessee 12 largest states with 57 percent of Washington Virginia Puerto Rico Utah the U.S. population and 43 percent Rhode Island Wisconsin West Virginia South Dakota of this year's convention delegates, Vermont at the end of the calendar will en Virgin Islands sure that no candidate can win the Wyoming nomination until the end of the process. Source: Republican National Comminee Some large state leaders observe that their states are already disproportionally penalized by the delegaTe allocation cent of states to hold their primaries in February and the second smallest 25 percent to hold their formulas that give small states proportionally more primaries in March. T he next largest 25 percent convention delegates. Why, they ask, should they be of states would hold their primaries in April and further penalized by being forced to the end of the the largest 25 percent would hold their primaries primary schedule? However, many Republicans in the large and in M ay. States could hold primaries later, but not small states that had their primaries after M arch 7 ea rli er th an permitted by the schedule. The issue of whether Iowa or New H ampshire could hold and saw their rurnout fall dramatically, believe that some kind of alternative to the current system would earlier contests was not decided in the draft plan submitbe desirable. One possibility is the ~ R o t at in g Regional Prited to the RNC. Angie Russell is a reporter mary~proposed by California Secretary of State Bill T he power to implement (or the Ripon Forum. and interpret the process would Jones. States would be grouped into four regions, be shifted from the full ConvenNortheast, Midwest, South and West. Each region would take its turn goi ng first, second, third tion, where states are represented and last in successive presidential years. These roughly according to their size, to the 165 Member and other proposals may re-surface at the convenRNC where each state has three votes. Some opponents of the Commission plan are concerned that givtion. ing the RNC the final say in implementing the plan Only one thing is certain. Few if any issues defor individual states would transfer too much power cided at this year's Republican National Convemion from the Convention to the RNC. will have as much impact on the process and on • the outcome of presidential contests. Others are concerned that some state party orPROPOSED PRIMARY SCHEDULE UNDER COMMISION PLAN
10
Ripon Forum ¡ Summer 2000
A Smaller and Smarter Government Representative Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio) sets high standards for the next century.
O
ften the best way to understand a nation is to look aT irs leaders. We are at a pivotal point in the hiSTOry of our country. T he candidates we select in November will lead us into the next century, and how we seck to address the nation's most important issues such as education, health care, taxes, the economy and foreign policy will tell the world much about the United States. One hundred years ago in June of 1900, our beloved Theodore Roosevelt, whose leadership ushered America into the last great century, stood up in the city of brotherly love at the twelfth Republican National Convemion to second the nomination of Ohio's William M cKinley for President. Roosevelt, the Republican nominee for VicePresident, said, "We stand on the threshold of a new century big with fate of mighty nations. It rests with us now to decide whether in the opening years of that century we shall march forward to fresh triumphs or whether at the outset we shall cripple ourseh'es for the contest." We find ourselves at a Republican National Convention again in P hiladelphia at the turn of the Century in a world very different from that of Pres idem M cKi nley and President Roosevelt. Their inherit'ance was a young nation energized by the successes of the Spanish-American War.
Our nation has known relative peace in recent years and is more integrated as a result of mili tary lcadership, diplomacy, technology and trade. We have new challenges domestically and internationally to conquer that just ten or t""enry years ago could not have been amicipated. &prumlali= Debomh Pryce Looking to the future, it is valuable to take note ofhov" Congress has poised our country to confront the next century and to take pride in the accomplishments of the last several years. Through our legislative agenda, we have sparked the engine of reform. We are changing for the better the way our federa l government functions and how millions of Americans live. The United States will face the new millennium from a position of strength due greatly to many of the initiatives championed by my colleagues. When I first arrived in Washington as an elected official in 1992, balancing the
"Everyone benefits when more citizens have access to better jobs, better homes and better communities. "
P ce
fedcraJ budget seemed very unlikely. However, the calls
Educating our children is another top priority for
fo r fi scal discipline were strong, and in 1997, Con+
the nation and this Co ngress. We have debated the
gress achieved 11 balanced budget and the first tax cut
federal role in education, 2nd Members of Congress
in 16 years. Now the issue is not whether to balance
have worked together to provide resources with fewe r
the budget, but how to utilize a surpl us and how soon
federal strings attached. We have
we can eliminate rhe public debt. On the economic front, we h ave cominued to re-
championed more
d uce taxes on families and employers. As a result of
flexibility for par-
tax and regulato ry relief, investment rates have soared
ents, teachers and
and the unemployment rate has decreased. Through
local o ffi cials so
recent initiatives, such as the Community Renewal
that our children
and New Markets Agreemem rcached by the U.S.
receive the highest
H ouse Republican Leadershi p and the White H ouse,
quality education .
we are making efforts to see that America's neediest
The E duca-
communities enjoy the same growth and prosperi ty
ti o n Flexib ility
as the rest of the nation . Everyone benefits when more citizens have ac-
Partne rsh ip A c t ( Ed - Flex),which
cess to better jobs, bener homes and better communi-
beeame law last
ties. A major accomplishment, which both Republicans and Democrats in Congress ultimately embraced,
yea r, gives eve ry state in the coun -
was the long over-due reform of the welfare system.
t ry the flexibility
W e replaced a system ofentidement with one that urges personal responsibility and self- sufficieocythrough time
to design local education programs that meet the ind ividual needs of com munitie s. Schoo ls are
limits and work requirements. By moving over six mil-
challenged to meet high academic standards in ex-
lion people off welfure and imo work, millions of people
change for greater fl exibility. T his is a good sta rr,
have the opportunity to achieve self-reliance.
but we must do mo re to ensure th at every studem
Republicans encourage self-reliance and personal responsibility. but we adrnowl-
"We replaced a system of entitlement with one that urges personal responsibilty and self-sufficiency through time limits and work requirements. "
12
"We have championedmore flexibility for parents, teachers and local rjJicials so that our children receive the highest quality education. "
is receiving the education he or she deserves. A guiding force behind all proposals offered
edge that the fede ral govern-
by the Re publican Congress has been the creation
mem has made a commitment
of a smaller and smarter govern ment. Add ition-
to help provide for today's and tomorrow's seniors in retire-
ally, t hrough diligent efforts to weed out waste,
memo For more than 30 rears, American workers sent Social
fraud and abuse in the federal government, we have made strides in making government less wasteful and more efficient.
Security and M edicare money
A Repub lican Congress and a Republi can
to Washington and that money
president will offer an o ppo rtunity for the nvo
was borrowed to pay for other
branches to seriously evaluate the efficacy of gov-
government programs.
ernment programs through increased overs ight.
Today, honest budgeting and an eye on the long-term
T he outcome will be more accountability and bet te r resu lts for the American taxpayer.
preservation of these programs
Th is list of accomplishments is key because it
has stopped the mid on Social
has helped lay the foundation fo r the work that lies
Security and M edicare fun ds.
ahead. While finding common ground has not al -
Budgets that do no t spend
ways been w hat has characterized Congress withi n
money out of those funds fo r
the last decade, the last few years have taug ht us
unrelated programs were passed, and Social Security
that we can get mo re accomplished when we work
and M edicare surpluses were reserved solely for re-
as a team and are united in our efforts to find prac-
tirement security.
tical solutions th at solve real problems. The act o f Ripon Forum ¡ Summer 2000
P ce
compromise must no longer be viewed as losing the banlc, but rather as a means of finding the very best ideas and legislation to move our country forward. As Republicans and Democrats convene this summer to solidify the top of their party's ticket, we have the opportunity to harness the power of
teamwork within the various branches of the federal government . Republicans in Congre ss look forward to growing the majority and working with the next president. Together, we will work to con tinue our progress by improving education, increasing access to affordable health care, e xpanding homcowncrship, opening markets, su pporting high-tech innovation and encouraging tax relief and savings for families . T he word s of P resident Roosevelt in h is 1905 inaugural address still hold true today. ~Our re lations with the other powers of the world are important; but still more important are our rclations among ourselves. Such growth
in wealth, in population, and in power as thi s nation has seen ... is inevitably accompanied by a like growth in the problems which are ever before every nation that rises to greatness. Power invariably means both responsibility and danger." Much of the responsibility of Roosevelt's time was Deboroh Pryce was elected linked to the success of our to the United States House of Representatives in November democratic form of govern1992. She represents the ment. We have proven that 15th District of Ohio and our se lf-government is the serves on the House Committee on Rules. best in the world. Today, our responsibility as leaders rests in staying united in the common goal of finding answers to the problem s of this ever-changing world. The danger lies in forgetting that o nly through collective and coope rative actions within the pol itical and legis lative realms will we succeed in improving the well-being of America and her people. •
A Special Tribute ... Although the Ripon Forum has experie nced editOrial and design changes throughout the years, one fun damental e1ementofthe magazine remained the same : the political cartoons created by Pulitzer Prize winner J effMacNelly. MacNelly died J une 8 from lymphoma at the J oh ns H opkins University in Baltimore at the age of 52. H e had been treated for lymphoma as an outpatient at the hospital since late last year. MacNelly is survived by his wife and two sons, Danny, 25, and Matt, 13. "H e was an exceptional political cartoonist,~ said Ripon Society President Bill Frenzel. "He captured the mood of Washington politics and was as hard o n the Republicans as he was on the Democrats." MacNelly was most commonly known for his illustrations in Dave Barry's syndicated column and his comic srrip, "S hoe," which featured wi.secracking anthropomorphic birds who worked at a newspaper called the Treetops Tattler. At the time of his death, the strip \V1lS among the most popular in the country, running in almost 1,000 newspapers. MacNelly was the winner of many journalism awards, including three Pulitzer prizes. H is work reached millions of Americans, managing to pro'{oke and entertain them. The Ripon Forum thanks him for his humor and honesty. H is work will be missed.
Ripon Forum¡ Summer 2000
IJ
Wilcher
A Fresh Start The Changing Face of the Republican Party Former Democrat activist Vickey Wilcher brings hope and optimism to the GOP.
V
icke y Wilcher spent most of the last decade MLCH ER: This is not something I woke up and said, you know I think this will be a good thing to do running campaigns for Democrat D .C. council today. Anybody who knows me, knows that J am remembers. Locals papers described her as a home-rule stalwart and a proud social ally trying to do something that will bring a whole lot of people Democrat. In May, she became together. a Re publican. Now, as the But basically, I was frus executive director of the D C Republican Com mittee, she trated. It was not just with the offers the most optimism the Democrat party, but with politics and the way that people Republican Party has seen in participate or too often, don't Washington, D.C. in decades. participate. I came to believe While settling into her new office at the Republican Nathat black Americans are not tional Committee, Wilcher disserved well by the party isolation we have now, in terms of cussed with the R ipon Forum the way that we handle our why she changed party affiliations, her vision for the Repubpolitics. If you see a black person lican Party and her hopes for inthat is politically active, the ascreased political participation in the nation's capitol. sumption is that they arc a '----------'"--- - - - - - - - - '. Democrat. By and large that is
RF: Being a lift-long Democrat, and more especially, an active participant in the political process, wha! madeyou change parties or support the Republican phi/osopy? 14
the case. W here that has led us collectively is to a place where one party could be guilty of ignoring you and the other could be guilty of taking you for granted. This docs neither party, the Black American commuRipon Forum¡ Summer 1000
Wilcher
nity, or the community at-large any good at all. TIle world is changing. This country is changing and we have to be ready to change as well, lest woe be left behind. In such a case, who do }'OU blame? Where do you point your finger? All I'm saying is let's not be left behind. Let's have some involvement with regard to what direction and path we take. No more o f this paternalistic relationship that we have been having with these political leaders. We have a voice. Let's t2ke advantage of our godgiven voice and speak. And that is one of the things that anracts me to the Republi can Party. Throughout this party's history, individual right s have been at the
,
WILC H ER: I'm a ver)' hands-on organizer, and the c.\mpaigns that J've participated in have t2ught me how to begin at the grass-roots level. Over the years, r ve learned the best way to galvanize any community is to go and knock on somebody'sdoor, to touch some-
body. It is interesting. I was recently at a friend's funeral, and the pastor said we don't touch each other enough anymore, and I believe that. That may be idealistic, but it's where I am and what I'm going to try to do. Win, lose or draw - I'm going to give it the old college try. I want to grow thi s parry locally so it becomes the national model. I don't expect everyone to race out and change their party, bur I would like to raise Party's thi s
forefront of thi s party. So why should n't every American citizen t2ke advantage of that agenda? It just makes sense. The onus is upon you to step up and say, "-1
,vill not be ignored, I witl not be pa-
visibility and have so me peop le actually say, ~ I never knew that. ]
tronized. ~ Other-
think
wi ll
;- c hange
my
\vise, you may be.
~ regi strati o n and
That's what I think will help us to move forward and bring about respect and parity, I'm nor asking anybody to change their convictions. If you believe in the Democrat platform, I'm not going to disrespect that belief. But I will ask you to look at this difference.
RF: With Ilhout 255,000 rtgistertd Dtmormls and 24,214 rrgistertd Rtpuhlicans in the Diuritl, you art up against Jomt prtttytoughoddJ. f/()'Wart you going to bring the GOP into tht maimtrramr
, be . ::;:: come an active
j
member of the :t R epublican ___________...J { Party. " And I want to see the rest of the country react to that.
RF: In thl past, tht Republican Party haJ Jtmggltd to find rdlva"u in lowl t/lCtionJ and tht rity's prtdominuntfy hlad: population. Do you think thl GOP has larned tht hlark wtt? \ÂĽlLC H ER: No, but I don't think the Black community has earned a place at the Republican table.
Ripon Forum' Summer 2000
IS
Wilcher
men - they arc here. But the re are white men who really are very wonderful. And I'm not the o nly black woman in the Republican Party, you know. There are also very kind, ve ry warm , very smart women ... black, white and hispanic. RF: Since the addition ojtwo R ep ublican D. C. Council members and the growing didate George W. Bush, do YOII see a shift in this perception or the opportunity to create one'
They have not been active or voted Republican. II is a double-edged sword. It is an error on the part of the Republican Party and the Black community. And it needs to be corrected. Because of the demographics in the city, my focus has to be directed in a large degree to the African-American commu nity, but it is not my entire focus. It can't be. In order fo r one community to do something, other com munities have to be in volved. RF: The Republican Party has admittedly had a hard time getting its nwsage out to the puhlic. H ow has this impacted Washington D.C. on the localleve" WILCHER : If you don't know what the actual message Ashleigh Roberts is the is, it is easier to dislike it. But editor of The Ripon Forum. if the actual message is a little muddled, which has been the case, then it is more difficult. Take the perception of who is in the Republi can Party, and the message that it sends. The message, however muddled it may be, is that this is a bunch of angry, rich, white men. And it certainly is not the case, not in Washington. It is not to say that there aren't any angry. rich. white
W I LC H ER: I think the Republican Party is starting to come together. I really do believe that. I certai nly believe that we can come together and stop this masochistic behavior of shooting ourselves in the foot. If we allow the mistakes the party has made in the past to become lessons, we will do well. We have new, fresh blood coming into the party, and I think that the push to include the Latino community is a good thing. I hope that it will soon be paralleled by a push for other minority groups so that this big tent, that we have so often talked abou t, will exist in reality and not just in rhetoric. I n additi on, key Republican leade rship is now poi sed to make those kind of cha nges happen . I think we are becoming far more ce ntri st in areas where you need to be in the cen ter. Life to me is just nOt black and white.h's not smart to simplify li fe in those term s. There are t ime s when you need to be co nservative. Fi scally, you certainly need to look at being conse rvative with your finan ces. Socially, there are times, but th ere also times when you need to move a little to the cente r. The key to healthy poli tics is knowing when to be where, so that the people we se rve can be nefit. If we can do that, I think we migh t make for a decent cou ntry.
II
Davis
The Road to Victory Representative Tom Davis (R-VA) predicts key House races.
T
he revolution of 1994 that swept Republicans into power in the H ouse was followed by disappointment in 1996 and 1998. And the predictions last year wefC no better. As little as six months ago, conventional wisdom had us losing the H ouse, with most media pundits and political analysts writing ofT House Republicans. Much has cha nged during the last several months. We're up in the polls and voters are poised to elect a unified Republican government for the first time in decades. While elections are still several months away, some analysts arc predicting a Republican victory. How did we get from there to here? We did it through hard work. We made it our priority to provide real tax relief, restore fiscal responsibility to Washington and stand in resolute opposition against any attempt to raid the Social Security trust fund. The poll numbers show strong support for our agenda. We are also gaining among most demographic groups. According to a poll conducted by Fabrizio
McLaughlin & Associates, the GOP leads by 11 points among Repmenrative Tom Davis men and one point among women. Since January 1999, H ouse Republicans have gained 14 points among women and 19 points among independents. That's not all. T he GOP has also gained 19 points among married women with children and 11 points among African-Americans. It takes more than poll numbers and a record of legislative success to win an election. Simply put, it takes resources, the lifeblood of political campaigns. And this year we plan to break all fund raising records. Not only did we outraise H ouse Democrats in the first quarter of the year, but Republicans actually raised more in the first quarter alone, than we did in all of ] 994 - the year we took the H ouse back from the Democrats. The numbers get better. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) achieved the highest May fundraising levels in its history. We raised 57.2 million, a 41 percent increase over the
Davis
same position held in 1996_ These fundraising totals mean Republican candidates have the necessary resources to win. To furthe r enhance our chances for victory, we have recruited solid candidates that are capable of competing in their districts. To ensure these candidates have the support they need, we are embarking on a large-scale grassroots effort to turn out voters this year. We are hitting the ground in each race with district-specific coordinated efforts that will spread our message to the voters. Our party is confident, united and dedicated.
Key Races California _15 th Disrrict In California, we have a strong candidate running in the 15,b district, J im Cuneen. This is a closelywatched election. Recently, George magazine fearured it as one of the top five races in the nation. This district lies in the hean of Silicon Valley, where many of the major employers are hi-tech companies. The voters in this district demand tech-savvy representation_ That's why J im Cuneen is the perfect candidate to represent this district. Cuneen is a ~new economy" candidate, a former hi-tech company executive who understands the industry'S priorities. The National Federation of Small Business (NFSB) plans to strongly support Cuneen's campaign, recogni'ljng his advocacyoffree market ide-
als that will grow the economy.
California - 27 th Districr Repre sen tative J im Rogan was one of the H ouse managers th at directed the impeachment case against the president. After the impeachment proceedings, polling showed low public support and some worried it would negatively impact Cong ressional races. T he reality has proven far different. Rogan supporters have rallied to his side, propelling his first quarter fundraising total to almost 54 million. First elected in 1996, the former California assemblyman and prosecutor, is see king his third term as the congressman from the 27 th district of California . H e faces Adam Schiff in the November election. It will be a spirited race, but Rogan should prevail.
Florida - 3rd D istricr Jennifer Carroll, an AfriGln-American woman and former Navy Lt. Commander, is a promising Republican challenger in Florida's third congressional district. She is mounting a strong campaign against four - term incumbent, D emocrat Corrine Brown . Brown has been dogged by ethics questions in the past year. If the voters of the third district want a representative they can trust to provide real leadership, they need look no further than Jennifer CarrolL Challenging an incumbent like Brown requires a grcat deal of money. Carroll is a solid fundraiser and the num-
OPEN SEATS Statu. (Inc,)
Candldate{J}
Race
Description
Nov. Outlook
(Cook SIOOI MO-06
Open 0 (Danner)
Teresa loar
8/8 5-way GOP primary
Lean 0
Fl-OS
Open A (McCollum)
Bill Sublette
9/5 3-way GOP primary
Toss Up
AZ-Ol
Open A (Salmon)
Susan Bitter Smith, Sat DiCiccio
9/125 way GOP primary (potentially including 2 mainstream Republicans, 2 conservatives and 1 2nd-tier candidate)
Solid R
CA-15
Open A (Campbell)
Jim Cunneen
General Election vs. 51. Assembly man Mike Honda
Toss Up
Il-IO
Open A (Porter)
Mark Kirk
General Election vs. 51. Rep. lauren Beth Gash
Toss Up
IL-15
Open A (Ewing)
Tim Johnson
General Election vs. ColI. Prof. Mike Kelleher
Likely R
NY-02
Open A (lazio)
Joan Johnson
General Election vs. Winner of 2-way Oem primary
Lean A
WV-Q2
Open 0 (Wise)
Shelley Moore Capito
General Election vs. Fmr. SI. Sen. Jim Humphreys
Lean 0
Graphs cooflesy of Republican MalnSlfeam Commlrroo
18
Ripon Forum ' Summer 2000
Davis
MODERATE CHALLENGERS TO INCUMBENT HOUSE DEMOCRATS I!l>!rl<l
Stltu. (Inc,)
Candidate(s)
R.e. DescrlpUon
H2:t. QIo!II2211. (C2211. 5IOQl
KS.()3
Challenger (Moore)
Greg Musil
8113· way GOP primary
Lean D
CA·l0
Challenger (Tauscher)
Claude Hutchinson
General Election
LeanD
CA·22
Challenger (Capps)
Mike Stoker
General Election
Likely D
CT"()2
Challenger (Gejdenson)
Robert Simmons
Unopposed in GOP primary
Likely 0
CHl5
Challenger (Maloney)
Marl!. Nielsen
Unopposed In GOP primary
Toss Up
ME·Ol
Challenger (Allen)
Jane Armero
Unopposod in GOP primary
Likely D
NJ·12
Challenger (Holl)
Dick Zimmer
General Election
Toss UP
PA·13
Challenger (Hoeffel)
Stu Greenleal, Jr.
General Election
Toss Up
WI"()2
Challenger (Baldwin)
John Sharpless
Unopposed currently In 9/12 primary
Likely D
bers prove it. She out-raised Brown 2-to-1 during t he Apri l filing period. She has a war chest of 5350,000 cash-an-hand. We are encouraged by her campaign and hope to wrest this seat from the Democrats.
Michigan -
8th District
Open sea ts a re t he main crack in t he Democrat's armor this cycle. In what has been described as a bellwether of the GO P's chances this fall, Mike Rogers, a Michigan State Senator and former FB I agent, is running fo r an open seat in M ichigan's eight h congressional district. T he seat is being vacated by Representative Stabenow. Roge rs is an ex perienced candi date wit h a campaign that is rapi dly gaining momentum. According to a recent potl, Roge rs is tied with his Democrat opponent at 40 percent. Last September, the same poll showed his oppone nt ahead 39 perce nt to 34 percen t. The eigh th district is solidly behind GOP cand idates. Geo rge W. Bush leads Vice- Presiden t Al Gore in the same d istrict, 52 percent to 38 percent.
was overwhe lmingly Democra t. Republicans held on ly five of the 23 state represen tative seats and did not hold a si ngle State senate scat. The district is now trendi ng Republican. T he GOP holds 12 state represe ntative seats, an increase of seven scats from 1992. Republican state senators also represen t 17 of the 23 counties in the district. According to CQ~ Politics in Amui((l, "The sixth is the state's (Missouri) most politically marginal district.~
Montana - At Large In j\·l ontana, Denny Rehberg, the fo rme r Lieutenant Governor of jVlontana is running for t he At- Large open scat being vacated by Republican Rick H ill. Republicans have great suppOrt in M ontana. H ill won elections in 1996 and ] 998 by large margi ns and fo rmer Se nator Bob Dole (RKansas) won M ontana in the 1996 presidential election. In the recent l\'lontana primary, Rehberg beat Democrat cand idate Nancy Keenan 54 percen t to 46 percent. Th is represe nts the first headto- head matchup between the two candidates and proves Rehberg's strength as a candidate.
Missouri - 6th District
New J ersey -
Unexpected retirements are always a concern in a hard-fough t election year, and there have been many surprises this yea r. Democrats received a major blow when Representative Pat Danner unexpectedly chose to ret ire. She represents a district ready fo r a Repub lican takeover. When Danner was fi rst elected in 1992, the sixth district
We have seve ral races in the East that hold prom ising oppo rtun ities. In New Jersey, former three-term congressman, Dic k Z im mer, is runni ng to regain his old seat from Rush Holt. The race for New j ersey's twelft h district offers an excellent chance to gai n a scat from the Democrats. Political analyst Cha rlie Cook rates the race as
Ripon Forum· Summer 2000
12 th District
"
Davis
AZ-oS
-
MAINSTREAM REPUBUCAN INCUMBENTS TO WATCH locumbtnt Jim Kolbe
RICe
DucriQUon
9112 GOP primary rematch lrom '98: n% in '98 GOP
likely R
primary: 52% in '98 general CA-36
Steve Kuykendall
Jane Harman
General Election; 49% In '98 open seat general
Toss Up
CA-38
Steve Hom
Gem Schipske
General Election: 53% in '98 general (no PAC or MC $)
likelyR
CA-49
Brian Bllbray
Susan Davis
General Election; 49% in '98 general
Lean R
FL-22
Clay Shaw
Elaine Bloom
General Election: unopposed in '98 general
Lean R
MD-oa
Connie Morella
Terry Uerman
60% In '98, but 'aces mlilionaire opponent
UkelyR
NH-02
Charles Bass
Barney Brannen
General Election; 53% in '98 general
Lean R
"highly com petitive." Well before the New Jersey
about a fe llow state legislator in the past. Republi-
primary, Cook predicted that "this Republican lean-
cans, on the other hand, have a great candidate in
ing dis trict will be a challenge for H olt to ho ld onto, especially ifhe faces popular former Representative Dick Zimmer."
has Democrats worried. She leads Van H orne 43per-
Pennsylvan ia State Senator M elissa Hart. And H an cent to 28 percent in a poll taken May 30-31. This race
is an excellent opportunity for House Republicans to
ew York - I " District
pick up a seat. Non-partisan analysts Charlie Cook
Party-switcher Mike Forbes is high on the target
and Stuart Rothenberg list this race in the
list this year, and we have a great candidate in Felix
publican~ category.
Grucci. Grucci'sdominance is evident when you con-
divisin~
sider he will have four party"lines" on the ballot this fall
campaign fund.
~Lean
Re-
Whilc the Democrats had a biner,
primary, Hart was able to build a formidable
compared to only onc party "line" for Forbes. Felix Grucci'scampaign to bring !\ry-Ol back into Republican hands is fueled by fundraisi ng totals that double
In Virginia, Ed Schrock represents what is perhaps
Forbes' efforts. In the fi rst quarter of the year, Crucei
the best opportunity for Republicms to pick up an open
raised over S358,000 while the deeply-bruised incum-
Democrats found themselves with a controversial
seat. H e is running for the seat beingVdcatcd by Democrat Owen Picken. In April, Congressional Quarterly ranks Schrock as, "'mvorcd' to win a House seat currently held by a DelllOCnLt. ~ After Pickett's surprise retircmCllt aIUlOUJ'ICement, Democrats had trouble finding a candidate to challenge Schrock. Stlte Senator Schrock's current district represents O\'CJ' 25 percent of the second congressional district. He first \von election in 1995 by beatinga popular 12-year Democrat incumbent senator with 56 percent of the vote. Schrock was urlOpp05OO in his 1999 re-dection bid. We are winning the battles, but elections are sti1I several months away. This is a aucia1 elccrion ycar. lbe winner of this election will detennine who leads America into the n(:w cenrury with a newecooomy. By increasing dte majority and electing a unified government, Republicans can continue to nlCl'lle fonvard ,...,th the corrunon-scnsc legislation aIld principled leadership that Americans value â&#x20AC;˘
candidate who allegedly made racist commentS
llld~~uncnt
bent M ike Forbes ra ised less than half of that (1166,000).
Pennsylvania _ 4 th D istrict National p arty involvement in primary elections is dangerous, especially when
J1tomos DGvis was elected to
one primary candidate is en-
the United Stotes House of Representatives ;n November 1994. He represents the 11 th District of Virginia and serves on the House Committees on Government Reform; Science. He is Ch airman of t he Rep ublican Congressional Campaign Committee.
dorsed over another.
Yet,
D emocrats did just that when Democrat leaders backed Matt Mangino over Terry Van H orne in Penn sylvania's fourth d istrict th is sp ring. The results:The hand-picked candidate Mangino lost, and
20
Virginia _ 2nd District
Ripon Forum ' Summer 2000
M<Connell
Maintaining the Majority Senator Mitch MCConnell (R-KY) highlights opportunities for GOP success
T
hough the battles for the White H ouse and the House have absorbed most political junkies' attention spans, the struggle for the Senate majority could become just as competitive and closelywatched.
Republicans are stepping up to the challenge of keeping the majority for the third straight election - the first time since the 19205 - and the Democrats are pulling out all the stops to take it back. There are 33 races this cycle. Nineteen are scats held by Republicans, nine of whom are running for reelection for the fIrSt time. H alf of the races in Republican hands are likely to get competitive, which means Republicans will be focused on defending their ground. Only two or three of the Dem ocrat incumbents should see weU-funded challenges. Nevertheless, four wild cards stand between the Democrats and their dream of taking back the Senate. They are the open scat races created by the retirements of four safe incumbents in New York, New jersey, Nevada and Nebraska.
N ew York Representative Riek Lazio (NY-2nd) proved immediately that he is a formidable opponent for H illary Clinton. He pulled even in the polls and has already fared well in the critical New York City suburbs. Most pundits agree that he has tremendous potential upstate, as well. We can expect the fabled Clinton attack machine to aim its patented ~politics of personal destruction" at Lazio soon.
New Jersey Republican Representative Bob Franks and Democrat Jon COI"""l:ine won their parties' nods to battle it out in the general election. After squandering 534 million of h is own fortune, COI"""l:ine beat the most unpopular figure in New jersey politics, forme r Governor jim Florio. Now that Corzine has acquired S 34 million worth of identity as a hard-core liberal, one wonders how much he will need to spend to erase that perception.
N ebraska Democrats tapped fonner Governor Ben Nelson to run in this solid Republican srn.re. 1bc GOP currently holds all of the state's congressional seats and constitutional offices, with the lone exception of the Senate seat. In 1996, Nelson lost a huge lead over Senator Chuck Hagel and was soundly defeated by almost 100,000 votes, losing 88 of 93 counties. Attorney General Don Stenberg, who ran away with the Republican nomination despite a crowded field, is a proven statewide vote-getter and will have the backing he needs to make this race highly competitve. The Democrat open seats spcll !:rOUble for their designs on the Senate. Bur Republicans cannot affurd to be complacent. Many of the biggest battles will take plaa: on Republican soil.
McConnell
Florida
Nevada th ),
Representative Bill McCollum (Fla.-8 who is now unopposed on the GOP side, is within striking distance of Democrat I nsurance Commissioner Bill Nelson . State legislator W illie Logan, formerly a Democrat, has launched an aggressive Independent bid and will siphon Democrat and African-American votes away from Nelson, thus bettering the GO P's chances in this open-seat race.
Former Representative John Ensign is bettering his chances of succeeding retiring Senator Richard Bryan every day. T his contest is the GOP's best opportunity to capture a scat currently being occupied by a Democrat. However, millionaire trial lawyer Ed Bernstein has the capability of dipping into his personal fortune at any time and tightening this race.
Montana Missouri and Delaware Two popular and accomplished incumbenr Republicans are facing stiff challenges from aggressive incumbent governors. All of the candidates have strong political and fundraising bases. In the end,Joim Ashcroft will win as a ~unifier" compared to the fractious and mean-spirited Mel Carnahan. And Delaware voters will wisely keep the power and seniority of Senator William Roth.
Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania Freshmen Republicans will be f.'King the voters for the first time since their election to the Senate in 1994. Rod G rams, Spence Abraham and Rick Santorum are each effective Senators whose main challenge is to inform voters of their accomplishments over the past six years. Eaeh is in good shape financially, but will be squaring off against strong Democrats in these Mitch McConnell was swing states. elected to the United States Senate in 1984. He California and Virginia represents the stote of Kentucky and serves on the The Demo cra ts who Senate Committees on survived the 1994 RepubliAgriculture, Nutrition & can wave have proven their Forestry; Appropriations; Rules & Administration/ durability. I n California, Chairman. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein got a scare from a lackluster candidate six years ago and will face a tough competitor in Representative Tom Campbell. In Virgin ia, Chuck Robb, who barely survived in 1994, will be facing popular forme r Republican Governor George Allen . Allen currently leads Rob b in fu ndraising and the polls, and we see this race as the GOP's best opportunity to knock off an incumbent Democrat this year. We expect that Virginia will be a dogfight up until Election Day. 22
Senator Conrad Burns is opposed by Brian Schweiner, who has run an aggressive and resourceful campaign thus far. He too has the option of utilizing his persona! wealth to better his chances. The resilient Burns is currently leading this race, but the national Democrats have already demonstrated their desire to get involved on Schweiner's behalf.
Washington Senator Slade Gorton will benefit from a late and potentially divisive primary between Jnsurance Commissioner Deborah Senn and millio naire fo rmer Representative Maria Can twell. Either candidate would be formid able compe tition for Senator Gorton.
Rhode Island Former Lieutenant Governor Richard Licht and Representative Robert Weygand have been battling in what will be a late primary fo r the Democrat nod to oppose Senator Lincoln Chafee, who is finishing his late father's term. Both Democrats are viable candidates.
North Dakota One race to really watch is North D ako ta. Form er Navy sub marine lieutenant D uane Sand ha s caught the attention of Se n ator Kent Conrad, who has been forced to spend campaign fun ds early. San d is an att ractive an d energetic cand idate, and is the dark horse to wa tch on the Republican side . T his is an extremel y Republi can-friendly state. This election will be one of the most competitive in recent history. There is no question our Senate majority is at stake, but Republicans are well-positioned to â&#x20AC;˘ defend it. Ripon Forum¡ Summer 2000
The Need to Lead Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Neb) discusses American leadership in the 21 st century "The United States ofAmerica has not the option as to whether it will or will not playa great part in the world It must playa great part. All that it can decide is whether to play that part well or badly. " - President Theodore R oosevelt. April 1. 1911
T
en years after the end of the Cold War, America
faces a new global challenge. T he raTe of change in the world is almost incalculable by any measurement. While these changes challenge us, they CVCflnlally will dominate us unless we decide to lead the
force of change for good in the world. As we proceed in this ho peful new century. we should be mindful of the words of President George Bush in his }991 State of the Union address. ~Even in the midst of celebration, we must keep caution as a friend," he said. "For the world is still a dangerous place. Only the dead have seen the end of conflict. And though yesterday's challenges are behind us, tomorrow's are being born .... Strength in the pursuit of peace is no vice; isolationism in the pursuit of security is no virtue."
Going Global History provides valuable lessons, bur it holds no clear blueprint or road map for the future. T he rise of technology and communications has connected the world in every way. Today, our economics are intertwined and interconnected. We live in a global community anchored by a global economy. We also f:'1ce new threats. Unlike the past, these threats do not come from a single enemy or a single state. They are borderless. The scourge of terrorism threatens the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Illegal drug trafficking respects neither
borders nor governmen ts. The convergence of these econom ic and nation.ll security concerns has created mutual threats and munlal self-interests among the nations of the world. D uring this time of uncertaint}" one thing is clear - the United States must continue to lead the world into the 21stcentury. The diffusion of geo-political, economic and military power that will de\'elop over the next few years will form the world's power structure in the next century. America must engage this natural development. Timidity is not our heritage. At the end of 1999, 75 percent of the eanh's people lived in "frce~ or"panly-free ~ countries according to the annual survey compiled by Freedom H ouse. This represents the greatest percentage of human freedom in history. T his is not an accident. It is because of our commitment, and that of our allies, to expanding freedom and democratic ideals. ,rye can continue to expand freedom in the 21st century.
Navigating the Seas of Trade America cannot isolate herself and navig'ate the new global economy. Free, fair and open trade will be the engine of growth in the new century, as it has been for the last
Sma/or ChUfR Hagel
Hagel
half of the 20th ccnrury. All nations must work to break down barriers that inhibit global commerce and
failure and will encourage dictators and world instability. Credibility does matter.
trade. As President Ronald Reagan said, ... .. history
The United States must have a clearly defined American foreign policy that is backed by the might of the U.S. military. Genuine leadership is more than crisis management. The ability to lead rests on other countries' knowledge of where you stand. Foreign policy sh ould also be bipartisan. America's leaders need to speak ,vith one voice to the
demonstrates that time and time again, in place after place, economic growth and human progress make their greatest strides in countries that encourage economic freedom." After World War 11, the United States led the effort to create global and regional institutions to face the challenges of a new world. I nstitutions such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have been vital in helping provide worldwide peace and stability. All arc imperfect institutions and have made mistakes. H owever. if we did not have these multinational institutio ns, would the world be more democratic. ma rc stable and secure? I don't believe so. As we enter this new century, we need to take a clear-eyed and realistic look at each of these instiNtions. We need to ask tough questions. Are (hey relevant to the challenges of the 21st century? Are their objectives still meaningful? Can they adapt to address new challenges? If these questions cannot be answered, then changes need to be made or new institutions need to be created to meet our global economic and security challenges.
Foreign Policy with a Point \"'hile we must work with the other nations of the world, there can be no leadChuck Hagel was elected to ership by committee. History the United Stotes Senate in has taught us thar the world is 1996. He represents the state at its most dangerous and unof Nebraska and serves on the Senate Committees on Banking predictable when there are Housing and Urban Affairs. vacuums of global leadership. Foreign Relations, Hea lth, Leaders and nations lead Education, Labor-Pensions and through the force ofconfidence, the Special Committee on Aging. character. honesty and tru st. The nations of the wo rld must mIst our word and trust our commitment. We must again remember the words oITeddy Roosevelt, ~ The one indispensable requisite for both a nation and an individual is character." Ou r allies must respect us, and our adversaries must fear us. Rhetoric without actions will result in 14
world and should engage the American people. We must stimulate and frame a national debate that will help inform and educate America on the great challenges of our time. Foreign policy is not theory or some abstraction suspended between unive rsity classrooms and State Department corridors. Foreign policy is the framework for America's interests in the world. It representS the complete and integrated policy that affects every dynamic of American life. The guarantor of a nation's foreign policy is its national defense. A nation's word is o nly as strong as the military and the will that stands behind it. A clearly defined foreign policy will ensure that our allies and adve rsaries understand when America will use force. The United States must make strengthening its military one of its immediate priorities. Without a strong military, our threats are hollow.
Making it Happen When h istory records the world's move from the 20th to the 21st century, will it show that America and the wo rld squandered a most precious opportunity at a unique time in the history of man? The answer will be determined by the role o f the United States. The choices we make must fi rst be based on the values and ideals of a JUSt nation. Our foreign policy must be in our national interest, clearl y defined, driven by priorities and objectives and implemented with focused strategies and strength. A random conduct of foreign policy will nOt do. lt is within our grasp [Q help shape a world that has the potential to do more good for more people than man has ever known. This is an awesome responsibility - but one that America is up to if Americans do what wc have always done best - work together.
II
Ripon Forum' Summer 2000
Hof
Shifting Stability in the Middle East Mter the death of his father, Bashar al-Asad inherits border conflict with Israel LEBANON
B
ct\veen late May and mid-June seismic rumbles
that a peace treaty would induce Syria to pacify south-
shook the landscape of the Middle East. On
ern Lebanon and (using Lebanese troops) secure the
May 24, Israeli forces evacuated southern Lebanon,
border.
ending a 22-ycar occupation. On June 10, Hafiz 3.l-
Barak's ap proach suited Damascus well. Syria's
Asad, President of Syria since 1970, died. Shortly
price for helping Israel out of the Lebanese quagmire
thereafter, his son, Dr. Bashar aI-Asad, was designated his successor. Within a very few days some of the basic ~givens" of the longstanding Lebanon-Israel-
rael seized during the June 1967 ,vat: the Golan H eights
would be full Israeli withdrawal from the territory Isand sensitive parts of the Jordan Valley. including the
Syria equation were gone. Yet much stayed the same. Israel 's border with
northeastern shoreline of the Sea of Galilee.
Lebanon remained shaky, Syria was still suzerain in
2000 in Geneva, President Clinton handed Hafiz al-
Yet Israel balked at Syria's price. On March 26,
Lebanon and the Israel-Syria track of the Middle East
Asad an Israeli proposal falling far short of Syrian
peace process remained stalled. Would evacuation,
desires. Asad rejected the offer, and Barak decided
death and succession in the spring of 2000 ever add
to leave Lebanon with or without Syrian help.
up to real change in this troubled region?
For Syria, a unilateral Israeli withdrawal presented a dilemma. On the one hand, Damascus
Evacuation
thought it heard Israel saying, "We can leave Leba-
D uring the Israeli election campaign of1999, can-
non without your help; you have no leverage over us;
didate Ehud Barak promised that Israel would be out
and once we are gone ftom Lebanon, we will have no
of Lebanon by July 2000. Rising Israel Defense Forces (IDF) casualties had convinced a majority of Israelis
reason to give you the G olan H eights." On the other hand, however, the long-suffering
that the cost of maintaining a security zone, flf'St estab-
Lebanon was being handed an opportunity to reclaim
lished in 1978, had outgrown its sup~d benefits.
its land and escape a decades-long cycle of violence.
What Barak wanted, however, was a package deal
In the end, Syria and Lebanon tried to split the
wi th Syria. Mindful that Syrian influence in Leba-
diffe rence by impeding U.N. efforts to verify Israel's
non was decisive, the Israeli Prime Minister hoped
departure. Confirmation of the May 24 withdrawal
Ripon Forum' Summer 1000
15
HoI
would be the first of three U.N. missions designed to pacify the frontier. Yet Lebanon, with Syria's support, insisted that the lDF had not withdrawn completely, citing boundary discrepancies. On June 16 however, the U.N. Secretary General confirmed that the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon had indeed ended, and t hat U.N. forces would deploy to the border.
D eath Much of the commentary about Asad's death has focused on what it may mean for M iddle Eastern peace. The implications of his pass ing for Syria itself arc, howeve r, also important. I t appears that, in terms of stability and national unity, Asad left behind a Syria vastly different from the one he took over in 1970. France proclaimed the creation of the Syrian state in 1920 and governed it through World War II. For the previous 500 years the Ottoman Court in Istanbul had ruled through local religious leaders, bequeathing a tradition of sectarian ism. Asad was born inro a sec! - the Alawis, an offs hoot of Shi'a Islam - unrecognized by the Ottomans and containing the poorest of the poor. Yet the French invited the Alawis to join a nascent Syrian military, laying the basis for an Alawi- dominated officer corps afte r independence in 1946.
The officio/lul/uo/ ojSyrion Pmidml f1ofa, o/-Asod onJunt 13, 2000.
Unti l 1970, independent Syria was wracked by coups d'etat. The military was fragmented, sects and factions competed fo r power, unity with Egypt was tried and rejected and nothing could be found to replace the governi ng legitimacy of the departed Ottoman Empire. Beginning in 1970, Hafiz al-Asad imposed an iron hand on this unruly coumry and brought his once downtrodden A lawi community into the mainstream of Syrian society. In so doi ng, he may have defeated sectarianism and created a nation state. Asad was open to peace with Israel. Yet he had one key condition: all of the territory lost to Israel in June 1967, every last inch would have to be returned. All else was negotiable, but this line - the "line of June 4, 1967" - would have to be restored. Asad thought he had conditional commitments from two of Ehud Barak's predecessors that this line would become the boundary of peace. In Geneva, however, he fou nd out that Israel wanted to retain enough of its 1967 conquests to keep Syrian citizens away from the Sea of Galilee (Israel's national reservoir) and the Jordan River. What Western and Israeli commentators decried as Asad's "stubbornness," Asad himself regarded as essential to state-building legitimacy. H e believed that accepting less than total withdrawal would subject himself and his fellow Alawis to withering domestic criticism , thus placing at risk the whole state-bui lding enterprise and returning Syri a to the dark days of coups and chaos. Asad him self had been the Ministe r of Defense in June 1967 when the land at issue was lost. A cautious, methodical and consensus-seeking authoritarian , Asad was anything bu t the MSphinx of Dam ascus." H e was remarkably steady and consiste nt. His views, particularly with respect to Syria's requirem en ts for peace with Israel, often angered Washington and Jerusalem. His methodology was conspiratorial and often bloody. Yet he was not, by any stretch of the im ag in ation, a purveyo r of riddles.
HoI
Succession Succession in Syria has been the subject
of specula tion for nearly 20 years. D r. Bashar al-Asad, a British-trained ophthalmologist, had been undergoing a crash course in governing Syria ever since the death of h is older brothe r in 1994. I n the days follow ing the passing of H afiz. a1Asad, power seemed to pass seamlessly to the young physician. B ut two questions arose instan tly. Could th is quic t, well-mannered young man rule the mean streets afSyria; and would he be morc flexible than his dad with respect
to Israel? T he answer to the ~can he rule" question depends on several underlyi ng issues. Did his father leave a legacy of stability
An Isradi soldier r~Joius as his JuP dri'IJel out if Southern ubanon May 23, 2{)()().
or the mere facade thereof? D o key members of the national security elite see D r. Bashar as the symbol of stability and modernization from which
~business
they beneftt, or will personal ambitions prevail in self-
as usual" reassert itself, leading perhaps
ishly destructive ways? Can a P resident Bashar al-
to war between Israel and Syria? ~Change for the better" would include a peaceful
Asad successfully govern a country whose hig h birth
Lebanon- Israel fro ntier, the re-e mergence of parlia-
rate places groaning burdens on a corrupt, inefficient and failed socialist ~sys[em?" I n short, does he really
mentary democracy and economic prosperity in Lebanon (both of which requi re the ebbing of Syrian su-
need the skills that brought h is father to power and
zerainty), and the transformation of Syria from a so-
kept him there, or are different skills required?
cialist national security state to a modernizing nation
Few if any Syrians want a return to the bad old days of the 1950s and 1960s. D r. Asad is a transi-
in which economic freedom fosters democracy.
tional figure who may, with skill and luck, transition
peace between Israel and Syria. T hanks to the
into Syria's long-term leader. H e is the patron of
Madrid peace process launched in 1991, what had
information technology in Syria. H e is certainly a to feed itself. H e can, withour doubt, present to is-
been an existential conflict between the two has boiled down to a boundary dispute. The nexus of this dispute is not up on the Golan H cights,
raelis a smiling, friendly face uttering well-chosen
but down in the Jordan Valley,
E nglish words.
alongside key water resources.
Yet he is not at all likely to depart from his father's territorial ~bottom-li ne." If, however, Hafiz al-Asad's
that Syria and Israel fmd the
modernizer who will try to build upon Syria's ability
T he common denominator for positive change is
Its resolution may requi re
relentlessly dour expression contributed to Israel's lack
political will to implement a
of enthusiasm for b ringing Syrian fishermen to the
historic compromise: a line of
Sea of Galilee, Bashar al-Asad's more upbeat, engag-
sovereignty for Syria; water and access for Israel. I f H afiz al-
ing demeanor may, over time, change Israeli minds.
Frederic C. Hof is a partner in the consulting firm Armitage Associates of Arlington, VA He is the outhor of line of Battle, Border of Peace? The Line of June 4, 1967 (December '999) and l ebanon, Israel and the Challenges of Change (June 2000), both published by Middle fost Insight Inc.
Asad helped to frame one side
Change? Will the stunning events of May and J une 2000 lead to real change for the better in the region? Or will
of the required compromise, his passing may, with creative American mediation, facilitate the achievement of the whole.
II
Video
Rewarding Republican Reforms The Ripon Society launches new video highlighting positive legislative accomplishments
A
t last, a message that t ruly reflects the accomplishments of the Republican Party. Responding to the challenge of bringing the Republican message into the mainstream, T he Ripon Society will release its first video highlighting the legislative success stories of the Republican Congress at this year's Convention. Setting the R ecord Straight: Real People, Real Progress is a unique, 15-
minute video underscoring working Americans who have benefited from GOP legislative reforms. Former Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming narrates the video. Real people, talking SrJundman BrJb SilvfflfrJne and FrJrum (dit(Jr about real issues are introAshleigh Robms. duced by U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R- Maine) and Representatives Jim Greenwood (R-Pa.), Clay Shaw (RFla.) and Jennifer D unn (R-Wash.). These issues represent some of Ripon's core values. The organization, which was founded by a group of progressive Republicans in 1962, was created to blend tradition and innovation in the best manner to address the problems facing the nation. The Ripon Society still strives to provide the GOP with pragmatic and relevant solutions to today's crises. The video premiere is July 31, in the Great Hall of the Train Shed at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Breakfast will be served as members of Ri pon's Congressional Advisory Board reflect on past GOP successes and share their visions for the future of the
2.
Party. T he video, which costs 519.99, can be ordered by dialing 1-800-98- RlPO N. The idea originated from what Rep.Jim Greenwood, Chairman of the Ripon Society's Congressional Advisory Board, calls a growing disconnect between voters and politicians. Too often, he says, Republicans get a bad rap. ~ Republicans do not promote [hemselves,~ he says. "They tend to get the job done and think that's enough.~
Greenwood said the GOP message and its accomplishments weren't reaching the public, because the government jumps from one problem to the next and a few controversial issues end up drowning out the work this Congress has accomplished. "Since 1995, the Republican-controlled Congress has initiated and passed significant legi slation, but it has not done a good job of telling either its own consti tuencies or the press, of its successes," he said. Ripon Society Executive Director Lori H arju echoed Greenwood's sentiments and said Republi can reform s have positively impacted people's daily lives. UWe set out to talk to Americans who arc benefiting from some of the changes Republicans have been instrumental in making over the last several years," she said. uBur we used real people. We went out and asked citizens, rather than the media or some spin doctor, what they thought." "T he results arc pretty incredible, ~ H arju said. "People arc responding positively to Republican effo rts and are seeing some real changes in the quality of their lives." Ripon Forum' Summer 2000
Video
Broken down into four segments, the video discusses education reform, tax relief, health care and welfare reform. Anne Smith- Reiser, a parent and president of the PTA at her children's elementary school, participated in the education segment of the video. Smith-Reiser said the program allowed the school principal to use federal dollars in the way he saw beSt fit. In her school, that meant reducing class size. The legislation, known as Ed-Flex, was first tested in 12 states and achieved impressive results by improving srudent performance. AlISO governors wrote Congress urging members to expand the program nationwide. Sen. Susan Collins says the legislation allows local schools, rather than the federal government, to decide what its students need. "In some cases, as little as 65 cenrs of every federal education dollar reaches the classroom, ~ she said. ~ Thi s provision frees school districts from Washington bureaucracy and shows how the Republican Party is truly responding to the needs and wants of Americans regarding education." Collins said Republicans have been working hard to make sure that ev-
historic decrease in the welfare rolls, a huge increase in work by people previously caught in a cycle of welfare dependency and a simultaneous decline in children's poverty," he said. "Nationwide, welfare rolls are down by more than 50 percent. More Americans arc working and passing on a work ethic to their children." Shaw, who refers to the legislation as the achievement of which he is most proud,says that it is a legacy that the Republican Congress will pass on to future generations. "This bill has rurned welfare offices into employment offices," he said. ~lt is widely viewed as the most important social reform of recent decades, and it took three tries before President Clinton finally agreed to sign it." During the fIrst two years in office. the ClintonGore AdminiStration requested over S100 billion in new welfare programs, but did not request funds to expand work programs for welfare recipients, he said. The Administration also wanted to eliminate the minimal work requirements contained in the existing welfare law. Under the 1996 law, the welfare reform bill slowed the growth of wel-
ery child has the opportunity for a good education. ~ Thi s is a wonderful step towards better informing the public about the
fare spending, established work requiremcnls and provided incentives to re-
principles of the Republican Parry," she said. Monica Anderson shares her personal experiences in the welfare reform
MaJ:~up artist Kathy Grun p"fares Rrprmntatiw Grun'fJJOOdfur his s~mmt on FDA riform.
segment. Now a working mother, Anderson first went on welfare when she was 15 -years old to support her son. She said her life was changed dramatically by the oppornmities provided in the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. While she said she still Struggles today, things continue to improve, and she now aspires to attend college. Rep. Clay Shaw said the legislation redefined the concept of the original welfare program. "This ground breaking legislation has led to a Ripon Forum ¡ Summer 2000
duce illegitimacy. Since the enactment of the 1996 welfare refonn law, ffi06t states have met or 0(-
ceeded Washington's employment t:ugt:ts for individuals still rccciv-
ing\...-clfure. In a May 27, 1999 article, The WtlShington POll newspaper said, "Nearly three years after the enactment of federal welfare reform, between 61 percent and 87 percent ofadults leaving public assistance have gotten jobs, a far higher number than previously reported, according to a comprehensive review of welfare research. ~ Rob and Kathy Loughery from Bucks County, Pennsylvania said thc federal government unfairly
2.
Video "Republicans are working hard for families,~ penalized them because they were married. The couple, who recently had a baby gi rl , also supsaid D unn. "We think it is important to eliminate over-taxation and let people decide how to spend their ports the c hild tax credit and the e limination of own money." the estate tax. Carolyn Boyer, a Washington, D.C. cancer victim who Rep. Du nn outli nes Republican tax reform achievements. While Republicans have long been acbelieves her life has been prolonged thanks to Food cused of giving tax breaks to the rich, and Drug AdminisU'ation (FDA) legislative reforms show broad-based reform, participated in the health tax relief that benefit all Americans. care segment. Earlier this year, they passed legBoyer initially was given a prognosis of 18 months to live. Almost islation that repealed the earnings limitation for America's seniors. W hile two years later, she credits the legislation fo r helping her gain access to Clinton initially opposed the legislamedicine that has prevented further tion, he later changed his mind and progression of the disease. signed the bill into law. Rep. Greenwood describes Republicans in the H ouse also voted twice to c:liminate the marriage Republican legislation that estabpenalry fa:\; . It ran into partisan poli lished a "fast-track" approVllI protics in the Senate, but they still are cess for drugs that treat lifetrying to include it in a budget recthreate ning diseases. Th e b ill, known as the Food and Drug Adonciliation measure. Under the current tax code, a ministration M odernization and married couple is pushed into a Rtprrunrafiw Dunn discusseJ Accountability Act, became law in Tax Rdirf 1997. higher tax bracket than an unmarried couple It requires the FDA to devc:lop a plan to eliminate the backlog of products awaiting approval. living together. The marriage penalry taxes t he income of the second wage People are alIO\ved to seek access to drugs waiting FDA earner, typically the wife, at a much approval in order to treat a serious illness if the physihigher rate than if she were taxed only cian determines there is no comparable or satisfactory as an individual. alternative therapy. About 25 million familie s pay an Greenwood said the legislation streamli nes the drug approval process and allows Americans with Lifeaverage 51,400 marriage penalty, according to the Congressional Budget threatening illnesses to gain quicker access to the Office. Most marriage penalties ocmedicines they need. cur when the higher-earning spouse ~This bill has made a difference in the lives of thousands of people who had no other alternative,· makes between 520,000 and 575,000 per year. he said. ~Republicans are trying to th ink o ut of Mtdiamogul While the legislation is currently the box to find solutions that work in people's evRu.s.s Schriiftr. awaiting presidential approva1, President eryday lives. Clinton has threatened a veto if Republicans do nOt D unn said the Ripon project was one of the firs t sign his prescription drug bill. of its kind; educating people about the achievements Marriage penalry reliefis of the Republican Parry. middle-class tax rel ief, said '1t\...-a5 an honor to be included in the Ripon Society's Ashleigh Roberts is the Dunn. Middle-income famiOOoo.tionaI rid",," .ud Dunn. "The Ripon Soci«y cl=1y editor of The Ripon Forum. artirulates a positi\'C, Republican message." lies are hit the hardest by this penalty. D unn also discusses As Simpson says in rhe video, The Ripon Sociery the need to eliminate the estate tax and child-care is setting the record straight and providing common-sense solutions for America. tax credit. H
II
).
Ripon Forum· Summer 2000
Real
The Real Scoop What are your recollections from your first Republican National Convention?
,
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,t'\, Rtpramtatim john]. Duruan,jr.
"The first time I went to a convention, I rode a train 77 hours from Knaxville to San Francisco to be an Honorary Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms. You can't get much lower than an H onorary Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms, but it got me in. That was in between my junior and senior year of high school and I spent my 17" birthday in San Francisco. It was a great thrill."
-RepresentativeJohnJ Duncan.]r., Tennessee ''It was in New Orleans. It was a lot offun. I also served on the platform corrunittee. W e fought really hard for a pro-choice platform. It got ugly, but it didn't ruin the convention experience." -Representative Nancy Johnson, Connecticut
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RtpuJt ntali'Vt Nanty Johnson
''It was in 1960. We put Goldwater on the map at th at convention. I was just out of h igh school and obviously very excited."
- Representative Jim Kolbe, Arizona Rtprtuntatim jim Kolbt
"I will never forget the excitement of my first Republican convention in Kansas City, Missouri in 1976. Gerald Ford was our nominee, and it was a great experience in one of A merica's oldest cities." - Representative Michael G. Oxley, Ohio
''Actually, I've never attended a national convention and for the foreseeable future, I don't plan to attend any." - R epresentative H oward Coble, North Carolina RtprtuntotiVl Howard CaNt
"I went as an aide to Secretary of the Interior Fred Seaton. It was the 2'd Ike Convention in 1956. I was a young attorney and assistant to the secretary at the time. I helped write national territories resource sections, including the platform on Alaska statehood."
-Senator Ted Stevens, Alaska
Smator Ttd SttWns
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