THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 24, 1994 TAG: 9412230025
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
``More things change. . .'' (editorial, Dec. 14) says the GOP is backing off of specifics of its Contract With America - waffling on the line-item veto, term limits, supermajority for tax increases and Social Security.
However, the document says only that ``. . . in the first 100 days, we (Congress) will vote on the following bills.'' There is no guarantee that any of the 10 bills listed will be passed, only that they will be debated and voted upon. Under a Democrat-controlled Congress, this has been impossible for the past 40 years.
Further, there is no mention of a three-fifths super-majority as a prerequisite for any tax increase, only a promise to vote on ``Tax cuts for families,'' nor any mention of Social Security.
The GOP is opening a long-suppressed debate on the role, size and limits of the federal government. There is obviously a wide range of opinion on this subject, even within the GOP. However, to be fruitful, the debate must be honest. Deliberate mischaracterizations such as those in your editorial lead only to acrimony and obfuscation.
JAMES C. ROBISON
Edenton, N.C., Dec. 14, 1994 MEMO: Editor's note: The Contract With America says, ``On the first day . .
. the new Republican majority will immediately pass (a law to) require a
three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase.'' by CNB