House GOP, RIP

THIS November, the experts tell us, is shaping up as another “status quo election.” Congressional retirements are down sharply from 1996. America is fat and happy. The 1997 balanced-budget agreement is all anybody needs to campaign on. The approval rating for Congress is higher than it has been in a decade. Even Speaker Newt Gingrich has raised his approval ratings, which had been down around Caligula’s, all the way up to the level of Nero’s. Turnout will be very low, and Republicans win low-turnout elections. Vulnerable Republican incumbents, and many GOP challengers in winnable races, have big financial advantages .

No wonder House Republicans have set themselves a work schedule this session that resembles a featherbed union job. Sure, Newt & Co. will do some scandalmongering to keep their anti-Clinton base happy, and yes, there’s that highway bill and a few other fatty snacks in store to rebut the “do-nothing Congress” charge. But most Republicans are more focused on the 2000 presidential election than on any threat to their control of the House.

EK

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Ed Kilgore

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House of Representatives

THIS November, the experts tell us, is shaping up as another “status quo election.” Congressional retirements are down sharply from 1996. America is fat and happy. The 1997 balanced-budget agreement is all anybody needs to campaign on. The approval rating for Congress is higher than it has been in a decade. Even Speaker Newt Gingrich has raised his approval ratings, which had been down around Caligula’s, all the way up to the level of Nero’s. Turnout will be very low, and Republicans win low-turnout elections. Vulnerable Republican incumbents, and many GOP challengers in winnable races, have big financial advantages .

No wonder House Republicans have set themselves a work schedule this session that resembles a featherbed union job. Sure, Newt & Co. will do some scandalmongering to keep their anti-Clinton base happy, and yes, there’s that highway bill and a few other fatty snacks in store to rebut the “do-nothing Congress” charge. But most Republicans are more focused on the 2000 presidential election than on any threat to their control of the House.