Ehrlich on Washington column, September 18, 2000

NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Road, Suite 304 3 1 5 Cannon House Office Building Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 Washington, D.C. 205 1 5 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of September 1 8, 2000 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Final Days of the 106”' Workhorse Congress As Congress completes the remaining 1 3 appropriations bills to fund the next fiscal year beginning October 1, the Republican leadership has entered into strategic negotiations with the White House. Republican goals include paying for government operations, paying down the national debt, providing tax relief, and improving education. In addition, we plan to provide seniors affordable prescription drug coverage that does not bankrupt Medicare. The Administration delights in the prospect of spending additional federal money on new programs thanks to the surplus and successful U.S. economy. I disagree. To this end, Republicans targeted the surplus towards debt reduction and tax relief — both of which can be accomplished. Earlier this year, Congress set a course to pay down the national debt by year 2013. Just recently, Speaker Dennis Hastert offered the President a plan to reserve 90% of this year’s surplus for debt reduction. Reducing the national debt means lower interest rates on credit cards and home mortgages. This plan would save the typical American household about $4,000 in lower interest payments on mortgages, credit cards, and car loans over the next ten years. Just in the last two weeks, Congress attempted to override President Clinton’s vetoes of two targeted tax relief bills. Several months earlier, many Democrats joined with Republicans in passing legislation to eliminate both the death and marriage penalty taxes. Unfortunately, under pressure by the Clinton-Gore Administration, some Democrats caved to election year politics and killed the Congressional veto override. Even under the threat of further Clinton-Gore Administration vetoes, however, members of both parties will keep working for meaningful tax relief in the final days of the session. One further point of contention is the education appropriations bill. Many Democrats want more regulations tied to federal education spending. Washington provides 7% of the nation’s education funding, but imposes 40% of the regulations, including many unfunded mandates. Most Republicans and a few moderate Democrats want to give your local schools funding flexibility with less red-tape. Congress’ education appropriations bill provides $43 billion for education programs, $562 million more than the President's request. Whether the money is used to reduce class size, train teachers, or pay for books, computers, or new schools, decisions on