Elizabeth Dole on Government Reform

Dole withdraws from race; cites campaign finance Elizabeth Dole abandoned her bid for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, citing an inability to raise money. “The bottom line remains money,” she said. Later, she said soft money should be phased out. But she also said the $1,000 per donor contribution limit to presidential campaigns - set in 1974 - needs to be changed. “That doesn’t even reflect the rate of inflation. [It should be] increased, perhaps to as much as $5,000.” Source: CNN.com Oct 20, 1999

Private enterprise spurs prosperity; so privatize. Dole declared that the private sector, not the government, is the key to economic growth. She observed that as Secretary of Transportation, she privatized Conrail and moved National and Dulles airports out from Federal control. “Washington is too big and spends too much money. But if you want to see the people most responsible for our economic health, I suggest you look around this room. It is private enterprise and investment that has driven today’s prosperity.” Source: www.edole2000.org/ “Campaign News” Jul 23, 1999

Judicial appoinments: No legislating from the bench On whether she will appoint only pro-life Supreme Court justices: “Mrs. Dole appoints people who think like she does, who she likes and who will not legislate from the bench,” said a spokesman. Source: Associated Press Jun 14, 1999

Clinton-Gore have set records on new regulations Under Clinton-Gore, there’s also more regulation than ever. Every year since 1996 has brought an increase in major federal rules - and in total rules. In 1998, the grand total for new regulations was nearly 5,000. You can look them up for yourself in the 1998 Federal Register, if you can get through its record 68,571 pages. Picture a stack of paper twice as tall as I am and you’ll get some idea how much that is. Source: Remarks to the Detroit Economic Club, 29 April 1999 Apr 29, 1999

Federal workforce has grown except for Defense Under the Clinton-Gore team, the size, cost and impact of Washington have all grown. The personnel cuts this administration has bragged about? Well. if you remove defense downsizing from the total, the federal workforce is actually bigger, not smaller than it was in 1984. Today’s full-time, permanent, civilian workforce stands at a hefty 1.9 million. Add in. the “shadow” workforce - people who work under federal contracts or mandates - and another 12.7 million more employees are on your payroll. Source: Remarks to the Detroit Economic Club, 29 April 1999 Apr 29, 1999

Roll back the bureaucracy: defend the 10th Amendment The Federal Government has become too big, too complex, too bureaucratic. Decisions once made in state legislatures, in city halls and around kitchen tables are now made in Washington... What we need to do, it seems, is to remember the wisdom of our country’s founders, and the 10th Amendment to the Constitution: those powers not specifically delegated to the federal government or prohibited to the states are reserved for the states and for “we the people” -- you and me! Source: Speech at Iowa State University, 2/15/99 Feb 15, 1999