FOR Democratic majority in Congress AGAINST No political mandate (43% of popular vote)
ECONOMY FAMILIES EDUCATION CRIME HEALTH CARE ENVIRONMENT
Led by Newt Gingrich Congressman from Georgia/ Speaker of the House Contract With America a ten point plan by Republicans to solve economic issues
Balanced Budget Stop Violent Criminals Welfare Reform Protect Kids Tax Cuts for Families Strong National Defense Raise Senior Citizens Earning Potential Roll Back Government Regulations Legal Reform Congressional Term Limits
Why?
Deficit reduction/balanced budget Increased taxes on the wealthy, decreased them for middle and lower class Welfare Reform Increased the minimum wage ($3.35 to $4.25) North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
$300 $200 $100 $- $(100) 1990 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 DEFICIT (in billions) $(200) $(300) $(400)
$6.0 $5.0 $4.0 $3.0 $2.0 NATIONAL DEBT (in trillions) $1.0 $-
Welfare reform Limited the amount of time people could be on welfare Gave states more power in creating rules for their welfare systems
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Began by President Bush Passed by Congress Signed by President Clinton Went into effect in 1994 Tariffs (trade taxes) were eliminated between the United States, Canada, and Mexico
ADVANTAGES OF NAFTA U.S. exports to Canada increased Increased employment in Mexico reduced the number of illegal immigrants Unemployment in the U.S. decreased as skilled jobs replaced unskilled jobs Small businesses increased trade with Canada and Mexico DISADVANTAGES OF NAFTA Mexico purchased fewer goods from U.S. Mexico exported more to the U.S. than it imported American industrial jobs (blue collar, family wage jobs) moved to Mexico (lower labor costs, fewer regulations) Family wage jobs replaced by service jobs (minimum wage)
30 year low in unemployment Fastest real wage growth in over 20 years Create more jobs that Reagan-Bush combined (service sector) Decreased number of federal jobs (many military)
1995 and 1996 Clinton and Congress battled over the budget Congress refused to pass Clinton s budget Clinton refused to change it Led to a government shutdown Clinton s approval ratings went up, Congress went down Budgets were eventually approved
What role does technology play in the economy of the 1990 s?
Family Medical Leave Act Allows workers to take up to 60 days leave for family medical emergencies
CLINTON AmeriCorps Domestic version of Peace Corps School-to-work opportunities for students Increased grants for college students Increased funds for Head Start program Increased tax credits for education CONGRESS Wanted school voucher program to allow parents to use tax money for private schools
Passed an anti-crime bill Brady Bill 5 day wait for handgun purchases More money for prisons More money for additional police Violent crimes dropped 27%
Put his wife, Hillary, in charge. Plan created without much input Opposed by insurance companies and small businesses Seen as too much government Defeated by Congress
Rolled back much of the Reagan-Bush regulation cuts Created more roadless areas in national forests Didn t have Congressional support for the Kyoto Protocol
KYOTO PROTOCOL Passed in 1997 Ratifying countries must limit emissions U.S. last major industrial nation to not ratify Some countries ratified (China, India) but don t adhere to standards
Running for reelection Running primarily on his economic record Personal issues still a problem...
Republican Party Senator from Kansas World War II hero Seen as having high moral character Had run as Gerald Ford s Vice- Presidential candidate in 1976
Independent Party Back for more!
BILL CLINTON 47.4 million votes 49% of the popular vote 379 Electoral votes BOB DOLE 39.2 million votes 41% of the popular vote 159 Electoral votes ROSS PEROT 8.1 million votes 8% of the popular vote 0 Electoral votes