Frank Pallone: “2 years ago at approximately this time the Republicans held their signing ceremony for their Contract with America and…”

“2 years ago at approximately this time the Republicans held their signing ceremony for their Contract with America and its centerpiece, the crown jewel, the tax break, that would have primarily benefited wealthy Americans. Shortly thereafter, the Gingrich-Dole revolution began, and attempts were made to make the largest Medicare cuts in history and the healthy care guarantees for children, families, and seniors, and the disabled under the Medicaid Program, turn back the clock on environmental protection, cut student loans, and eliminate the 100,000 Cops on the Beat Program and other effective tools for fighting crime. The net results of these extreme Gingrich-Dole proposals was the Government shutdown of 1995, and it was the Democrats that ultimately stopped these extremist Republican measures. One would think that the Gingrich-Dole team learned their lesson, but now we hear a repeat, if my colleagues will, on an even grander scale, with Dole's new economic plan that would usher in more extremism and draconian cuts to vital programs. Again the Democrats will be there stopping this Republican extremism.”