Ehrlich on Washington column, September 17, 1995

Second Congressional District of Maryland MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, 1 407 York Road, Suite 304 315 Cannon House Office Building Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 Washington, D.C. 205 1 5 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of September 17, 1995 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. A BUSY FALL FOR THE 104TH CONGRESS The 104th Congress has amassed a record of legislative accomplishment unmatched by any recent Congress. On the first day of business, my colleagues and I fundamentally changed the way the House does business by enacting a series of sweeping institutional reforms. The House fulfilled its pledge to the American people by voting on all ten items outlined in the Contract With America. In May the House moved to restore fiscal sanity to Washington by adopting a plan to balance the federal budget in seven years. Now we are entering the home stretch of this year’s legislative session. The weeks ahead promise to be just as fast and furious as the past nine months have been for Congress. While much has been accomplished, still more work remains to be done. Let me take this opportunity to update you on some of the issues pending before Congress this fall. What happens in the next few weeks will likely illustrate the philosophical differences between a congressional leadership committed to balancing the federal budget and saving Medicare from imminent bankruptcy and a White House intent on preserving the status quo. Hanging in the balance is the economic well-being and quality of life of our children and grandchildren. Appropriations - The House has adopted 12 of the 13 appropriations bills needed to fund