Ehrlich on Washington column, November 2, 1998

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of November 2, 1998 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. NEW LEADERSHIP FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM In a letter to John Adams, Thomas Jefferson once wrote, "The generation which commences a revolution rarely complete it.” Jefferson’s quote can be applied to the generation of leaders who orchestrated the political revolution of 1994, which resulted in Republican control of both Houses of Congress for first time in 40 years. Led by the future Speaker, Newt Gingrich, Republican candidates campaigned on a unified, national theme which swept many newcomers, including myself, into office. In the four short years following that historic election, the Republican-controlled Congress has successfully fought for and implemented numerous policies which have benefited all Americans. Specifically, we balanced the federal budget (creating a budget surplus); provided substantial tax relief for all Americans and gave real teeth to serious IRS reforms; passed historic Welfare and Public Housing reform legislation; increased much-needed funding for our national defense; saved Medicare for future generations; and, returned appropriate power and control back to local and state governments and the private sector. In the most recent election, however, these accomplishments and others were overshadowed by the attention given to President Clinton’s disgraceful affair with Monica Lewinsky. Despite the desire of many that the “Lewinsky matter” go away, members of