Bush needs to control Congress

Bush needs to control Congress

by Dave Whitaker, TheTwiggs Times

George W. Bush was finally certified as president. He's finally president-elect, and has began the process of selecting his cabinet. He's met with Congressional leaders, President Clinton, and will be meeting with various world leaders. And of course, pundits and analysts are giving him suggestions on what he needs to do as president. Some are suggesting he take a "moderate" tone, and not try to fight for too much since the election was so close, and Congress is so divided.

Well, even though I did not vote for George W. Bush, I have a different suggestion on what he needs to do. He needs to get a reign on Congress. No, I'm not talking about him making the two sides get along, and "work together." When that happens, government grows, and our freedoms, liberties, and wallets usually end up suffering. He needs to get control of Congress, and make them stop spending so much money. He needs to remind them that it's our money, and cease with the pork.

You may gasping and saying ,"Congress spending money? I thought the Congress was Republican-controlled?," Oh yes, they are. But the Congress has been spending money. For example, $5 million for a insect-rearing facility, $4 million for the International Fertilizer Development Center, and $500,00 for the restoration of a carousel in Cleveland, Ohio. As a matter of fact, over the last three years, the Republican-controlled Congress has approved $30 billion more dollars than President Clinton has asked for. Many of the programs targeted for elimination by the GOP "Contract With America" in 1994 have seen their levels of spending increase.

And maybe not-so-surprisingly, some Republicans, including House Speaker Dennis Haster, are calling for Bush to perhaps "moderate" his tax-cut proposal, and not go for it all in one big move. Why? So they can spend more of our money? These Republicans, even when they had bigger majorities in the House and Senate, failed to keep their word about not letting government grow. They are one of the reasons why the GOP has not been as successful, because voters are sick and tired of being taxed.

If Bush falls for the spin, and decides to try to go incrementally with his tax cut proposal, Congress will continue on its path of spending to the point where they send us into a deep recession. Those who are telling Bush to wait only care about one of two things. They are either scared of backlash from the voters, or want to keep the money in Washington so that they can spend it themselves. Well, the first reason may be a non-issue, because polls seem to be indicating that many Americans would support Bush's $460 billion-dollar tax cut. The second reason is just the logic of a typical politician.

The time is right to control spending. With the economy slowing down, and Wall Street in a tizzy, controlling spending and going forward with his tax cut would help Bush gain a lot of support from conservatives who have never trusted him, and would also help to stimulate the economy. But if Bush listens to those who are preaching "bi-partisanship" and continues on the same path we've been on, he may find himself in four years in the same position his father did after the 1992 elections. A one-term president out of work.



	home Bush needs to control Congress by Dave Whitaker, TheTwiggs Times George W. Bush was finally certified as president. He's finally president-elect, and has began the process of selecting his cabinet. He's met with Congressional leaders, President Clinton, and will be meeting with various world leaders. And of course, pundits and analysts are giving him suggestions on what he needs to do as president. Some are suggesting he take a "moderate" tone, and not try to fight for too much since the election was so close, and Congress is so divided. Well, even though I did not vote for George W. Bush, I have a different suggestion on what he needs to do. He needs to get a reign on Congress. No, I'm not talking about him making the two sides get along, and "work together." When that happens, government grows, and our freedoms, liberties, and wallets usually end up suffering. He needs to get control of Congress, and make them stop spending so much money. He needs to remind them that it's our money, and cease with the pork. You may gasping and saying ,"Congress spending money? I thought the Congress was Republican-controlled?," Oh yes, they are. But the Congress has been spending money. For example, $5 million for a insect-rearing facility, $4 million for the International Fertilizer Development Center, and $500,00 for the restoration of a carousel in Cleveland, Ohio. As a matter of fact, over the last three years, the Republican-controlled Congress has approved $30 billion more dollars than President Clinton has asked for. Many of the programs targeted for elimination by the GOP "Contract With America" in 1994 have seen their levels of spending increase. And maybe not-so-surprisingly, some Republicans, including House Speaker Dennis Haster, are calling for Bush to perhaps "moderate" his tax-cut proposal, and not go for it all in one big move. Why? So they can spend more of our money? These Republicans, even when they had bigger majorities in the House and Senate, failed to keep their word about not letting government grow. They are one of the reasons why the GOP has not been as successful, because voters are sick and tired of being taxed. If Bush falls for the spin, and decides to try to go incrementally with his tax cut proposal, Congress will continue on its path of spending to the point where they send us into a deep recession. Those who are telling Bush to wait only care about one of two things. They are either scared of backlash from the voters, or want to keep the money in Washington so that they can spend it themselves. Well, the first reason may be a non-issue, because polls seem to be indicating that many Americans would support Bush's $460 billion-dollar tax cut. The second reason is just the logic of a typical politician. The time is right to control spending. With the economy slowing down, and Wall Street in a tizzy, controlling spending and going forward with his tax cut would help Bush gain a lot of support from conservatives who have never trusted him, and would also help to stimulate the economy. But if Bush listens to those who are preaching "bi-partisanship" and continues on the same path we've been on, he may find himself in four years in the same position his father did after the 1992 elections. A one-term president out of work.