THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 28, 1995 TAG: 9511280009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
When Gingrich and Co. inundated the halls of power last year, they came with their ``contract'' for which they claimed support from the public. One tenet in this contract was that Congress was to be allowed no special privileges or exemptions. Good idea. What happened to it?
With the current budget crunch, many people's jobs, many people's ability to meet their monthly bills have been put into jeopardy by a Congress whose mandated job was to have a budget completed by the beginning of the new fiscal year - October. Gingrich now maintains that you can't rely on public opinion (polls) as a guide for legislative policy. Public opinion has been against the Republican budget plans.
Bob Dole likes to speak of leadership qualities which, of course, he has in abundance. True, Bill Clinton has earned the nickname ``Waffle Bill,'' but where were Dole's leadership qualities in getting the budget in on time? How come this problem was laid at the president's feet by Dole, and not at Congress' feet? It is Congress' constitutional job; this has not changed.
DIXIE D. DICKINSON
Norfolk, Nov. 15, 1995 by CNB