When Dems. had Congress and the WH (1993-4), what did they accomplish?

[begin_within]

Just wanting a quick review - after Clinton was first inaugurated, and before the GOP takeover of Congress (in the Nov. 1994 elections), what exactly did the Democrats accomplish? I remember Bill and Hillary tried to get a national health care plan through, but it was beaten down. Can we please list what was achieved during that time?

[redqueen]

1. My favorite is the Family & Medical Leave Act.

:)

[WI_DEM]

2. NAFTA

on a more postive note the economic recovery bill which led to millions of new jobs and balanced the budget.

[aquart]

3. Thank you for your concern.

[gfnrob]

4. 93-2000

Surplus SUrplus SURplus SURPlus SURPLus SURPLUs SURPLUS!!!!!!!

[Bubba Zanetti]

5. gun control

which laid the foundation for the repugs to take over.

[Redbear]

6. Brady Bill

They also reversed much of the damage the Republicans had done to environmental laws.

[Bubba Zanetti]

7. (meant to reply to this post) Gun Control

which laid the foundation for the repugs to take over. Where I hail, gun control single handedly creates more repugs than any other issue.

Let's not go there again.

[benEzra]

13. You got that right.

Gun Control, which laid the foundation for the repugs to take over. Where I hail, gun control single handedly creates more repugs than any other issue.

Let's not go there again.

You got that right.

IMO, the 1994 Feinstein Ban was the single greatest factor behind the loss of the House and Senate in the '90s, and cost Gore the presidency in '00 via the loss of TN and WV (and don't think the Feinstein Ban wasn't in play in pro-gun Florida, either).

The ban-more-guns agenda the DLC pushed in the early '90s through '04 was an unmitigated disaster. I agree, let's not go there again.

Dems and the Gun Issue - Now What?

[Toots]

8. Not much really

One of the first things that kind of got things off on the wrong foot was the gays in the military issue. Democrats did not want to touch the issue. It was a hot potato so to speak. Clinton pushed for removing the ban but had to settle for "don't ask, don't tell" Then came along National Health Care. Clinton was just sure it would fly right through Congress but the GOP really put up a fight and ran numerous commercials against it. The Harry and Louise ads really hurt. The Democrats were running scared and would not back Clinton. IMO that is the number one reason they were all thrown out on their butts in '94. They would not come together and pass legislation that would really benefit America. I hope they have learned that they are there only at the behest of the people and if they don't work for the good they can (and will) be removed. I am hoping this election will be every bit as much about accountability...

[Justitia]

9. Balanced the budget for the first time in 40 yrs!!! -eom

[greeneyedboy]

10. it's the economy, stupid. not perfect, but compared to now, heaven.

[begin_within]

11. Yes it was good, but not being shared well - most of the money still going to

the top, even then.

[Big Sky Boy]

12. Don't Ask Don't Tell

Passed in 1993. Was supposed to be a compromise.

Clinton promised during the campaign that he would sign an executive order allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. When he actually started talking about doing just that (after a little pressure from some activist groups), his joint chiefs (including Colin Powell) threw a little hissy fit and threatened to resign if he followed through.

The most bitter pill to swallow was Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA). With presidential aspirations of his own and rumored to be a bit sour about the fact that he wasn't tapped for Secretary of Defense, he took it upon himself to humiliate the new president, threatening to introduce legislation to make any such executive order illegal.

I do not like Republicans, but I do admire their party discipline. That never would have happened to a Republican president.

The resulting "Don't Ask Don't Tell" compromise was a disaster. It basically codified what was already in effect and killed a lot of cases that were winding their way through the courts that might have actually repealed the old policy. After "Don't Ask Don't Tell," the military was able to wiggle out of most of the unconstitutional rulings by saying, "Oh, you're right. That 'OLD' policy was really unfair. But we have a 'NEW' policy now, so this case just doesn't apply."

It paved the way for DOMA and a host of other anti-gay measures that conservatives love to use to whip their base up to go to the polls.

[seabeyond]

14. your point????? on election day to oust the most corrupt repug

adm??? as fbi are sending people in undercover like never before?

[NewJeffCT]

15. Raised taxes on the wealthiest

To help control the deficits. The budget passed without 1 vote from a Republic... and the economy & stock market took off after the budget went into effect.