Paul Simon on Government Reform
Reduce the growth rate of federal government
To his credit, President Bill Clinton took steps to lower the deficit in 1993. His budget consisted of tax increases and spending cuts. While the authors have differing opinions about the use of an income tax increase to reduce the deficit, both authors
agree with the concept of reducing the growth rate of the federal government. And to their credit, under the leadership of Senator Domenici and Representative Kasich, the Republicans in Congress introduced a 7-year plan to balance the budget.
The difficulty with the legislative approach to balancing the budget is that it has been tried before and does some good for about two years, but then it is abandoned. If the legislative approach were fortified by a constitutional amendment, the
chances of actually achieving a balanced budget would be much greater.
Source: The Dollar Crisis, p. 74-75
Jul 2, 1996
Reduce the growth rate of federal government
The difficulty with the legislative approach to balancing the budget is that it has been tried before and does some good for about two years, but then it is abandoned. If the legislative approach were fortified by a constitutional amendment, the
chances of actually achieving a balanced budget would be much greater.
Source: The Dollar Crisis, p. 74-75
Jul 2, 1996
Long-terms solutions instead of polls
The US needs to look for solid, long-term answers, not quick solutions. Unfortunately, our society is geared to look for the latter, both in political life and in business. “How will this play in the next election?” and, “What will this do to next
quarter’s earnings?” seem to be the most important questions in politics and business, respectively. We are less inclined to ask, “If we follow this policy, where will we be in ten years?”The correct, long-term answers will not come from polling or
from focus groups, but from leadership that has carefully studied the experience of the US and other nations through the centuries. Political leaders can become as addicted to polls as junkies become addicted to illegal drugs. The results can be almost
as ruinous.
To solve the dollar problem and get the US back to its position of economic and political leadership, we need well-reasoned solutions that will serve not only the immediate audience but also future generations.
Source: The Dollar Crisis, p.125
Jul 2, 1996
Long-terms solutions instead of polls
from focus groups, but from leadership that has carefully studied the experience of the US and other nations through the centuries. Political leaders can become as addicted to polls as junkies become addicted to illegal drugs. The results can be almost
as ruinous.To solve the dollar problem and get the US back to its position of economic and political leadership, we need well-reasoned solutions that will serve not only the immediate audience but also future generations.
Source: The Dollar Crisis, p.125
Jul 2, 1996
Voted YES on Approving the presidential line-item veto.
Approval of the presidential line-item veto authority.
Status: Conf Rpt Agreed to Y)69; N)31
Reference: Conference Report on S. 4;
Bill S. 4
; vote number 1996-56
on Mar 27, 1996
Voted NO on banning more types of Congressional gifts.
To exclude certain items from the Congressional Gift Ban.
Status: Amdt Failed Y)39; N)60; NV)1
Reference: Murkowski Amdt to S. 1061;
Bill S. 1061
; vote number 1995-339
on Jul 28, 1995