Republicans’ 10-Point Contract

Re Column One, “Gingrich: At Long Last, Power,” Oct. 3:

The article makes one very important error. Republicans promise to bring their 10 items of legislation to a vote within the first 100 days of the new Congress. They do not promise to enact any one of the legislative items. For the first time in decades, each of the 10 items will be completely open to discussion on the House floor, subject to amendment and argument, in full view of C-Span’s audience.

The GOP wants to demonstrate that good laws, supported by a large majority of voters, can result from congressional openness, in stark contrast to the way Democrats have abused power for 40 years in arrogant disregard to the American citizenry. House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) has stated clearly that if Republicans gain the House majority, and if they do not introduce these 10 items within the first 100 days, the electorate is invited to throw them out.

DOUGLAS NESLUND

La Crescenta

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Thank you for bringing us David S. Broder (“GOP’s ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ Is Short on Real Rewards,” Commentary, Sept. 28), which is short on facts. If the Republicans have actually made public a list of things they promise to do, then to the thinking voter it is important news. I wanted to hear about it. But not to be, not in The Times. In less than a full sentence, we are told that the Republicans propose a “balanced budget amendment, a variety of tax cuts, welfare reform, tort reform and term limits.” These words are the only facts offered to describe the GOP proposal, while Broder’s other words tell us why it’s a “snake-oil approach,” and how the Republicans use “high-tech demagoguery.” Broder goes on to pejoratively describe the GOP in general.

Wait, there’s more! I still wanted to know exactly what was included in this 10-point proposal. I must have missed it when I read Section A. Alas, there it was, buried just inside the last page, misleadingly headlined “Republicans Vow Conservative Change.” The article begins by telling us that the “10-point platform, which Democrats denounced as unworkable and a fraud on the public, promises action on a balanced budget amendment, a presidential line-item veto, massive family tax cuts, and other popular issues.” What other popular issues? What was the “10-point platform”?

This article clearly belongs in the Op-Ed section next to Broder’s; it had no business being reported as “news.”

RICHARD B. KECK

Arcadia

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I see Gingrich and his “doom gloomers” are at it again. Their new agenda starts when they get a majority in the House and Senate. Why don’t they start now? The Democrats have been accused of being the big spenders; look what the new GOP agenda proposes--new tax cuts, bigger defense spending to fight an imaginary superpower and a big budget deficit.

Just when the Democrats have got the deficit under control, here come Gingrich and his cronies to get us back to the Reagan years of fiscal irresponsibility. I hope the American people see through this fallacy and vote accordingly.

FRANK J. MARELLA

Glendora