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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Congressional Reforms

The Republicans promised eight major reforms of Congress in the “Contract With America” and they passed all eight, most on the first day of the session.

Require all laws that apply to rest of country apply to Congress

Select an auditing firm to look at waste, fraud or abuse in Congress

Cut the number of House committees and cut committee staff by one-third

Limit the terms of committee chairs and the speaker

Ban casting of proxy votes

Open committee meetings to the public

Require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase

Implement zero base-line federal budgeting SOURCE: Congressional Quarterly