The Republican Revolution 10 Years Later: Smaller Government Or Business As Usual?

THE REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION l0 YEARS LATER Smaller Government or Business as Usual? EDITED BY CHRIS EDWARDS AND JOHN SAMPLES THE REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION l0 YEARS LATER THE REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION l0 YEARS LATER Smaller Government or Business as Usual? EDITED BY CHRIS EDWARDS AND JOHN SAMPLES Washington, D.C. Copyright © 2005 by the Cato Institute. All rights reserved. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The Republican revolution 10 years later: smaller government or business as usual? / edited by Chris Edwards and John Samples p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-930865-69-4 (alk. paper) — ISBN 1-930865-72-4 (pbk.: alk. paper) 1. Republican Party (U.S.: 1854- ) 2. United States. Congress— Elections, 1994. 3. United States—Politics and government—20014. United States—Politics and government—1993-2001. 5. United States—Economic policy—2001- 6. United States—Economic policy—1993-2001. 7. United States—Social policy—1993- I. Title: Republican revolution ten years later. II. Edwards, Chris (Chris R.) III. Samples, John Curtis, 1956JK2356R356 2005 320.6⬘0973—dc22 2004062855 Cover design by Elise Rivera. Printed in the United States of America. CATO INSTITUTE 1000 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001 Contents INTRODUCTION Chris Edwards and John Samples vii 1. THE GOP REVOLUTION HOLDS POWERFUL LESSONS FOR CHANGING WASHINGTON Newt Gingrich 1 2. REFLECTIONS ON THE REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION Richard Armey 5 3. THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT Edward H. Crane 17 4. SAME AS THE OLD BOSS? CONGRESSIONAL REFORMS UNDER THE REPUBLICANS John Samples 23 5. SOCIAL POLICY, SUPPLY-SIDE, AND FUNDAMENTAL REFORM: REPUBLICAN TAX POLICY, 1994–2004 Chris Edwards 37 6. THE FEDERAL BUDGET 10 YEARS LATER: THE TRIUMPH OF BIG GOVERNMENT Stephen Moore 59 7. A DECADE OF REPUBLICAN TRADE POLICY: A MODEST RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT Daniel Griswold 73 8. THE LONG, WINDING ROAD TO SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM Michael Tanner 91 9. WELFARE REFORM: THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE REVOLUTION Ron Haskins 99 v 10. HEALTH CARE: THE REVOLUTION’S MITIGATED DISASTER Michael F. Cannon 141 11. FEDERAL EDUCATION POLICY IN THE GOP CONGRESS David Salisbury 157 12. THE NONREVOLUTION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY Adam D. Thierer 169 13. THE REVOLUTION SPINS TOWARD MORE REGULATION Clyde Wayne Crews Jr. 195 14. THE GOP’S ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD Jerry Taylor 205 15. A SMOOTH TRANSITION: CRIME, FEDERALISM, AND THE GOP Timothy Lynch 213 16. THE ROAD NOT TAKEN: THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY Christopher Preble 223 CONTRIBUTORS 239 INDEX 241 vi Introduction Chris Edwards and John Samples [Washington] is like a sponge. It absorbs waves of change, and it slows them down, and it softens them, and then one morning they cease to exist. —Newt Gingrich, November 14, 1994. The congressional elections of 1994 produced stunning results. For the first time in 40 years, the Republicans attained a majority in the House of Representatives. They gained 54 House seats, the largest party swing since 1948. The Republicans also grabbed control of the Senate by gaining eight seats and added a ninth when Richard Shelby of Alabama switched parties. Although the GOP had held the upper hand in presidential elections for years, th