Kerby Anderson

During the election of 1994, leaders in the Republican Party put together something they called the Contract with America. It was written by Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey and included many policy ideas developed at the Heritage Foundation. It included a list of eight reforms the Republicans promised to enact, and ten bills they promised to introduce and vote on if they were made the majority following the election. They were successful. Republicans won 54 House seats and 9 Senate seats.

Last week Donald Trump released his Contract with the American Voter. He has six measures to clean up corruption and special interest. This includes, term limits, a hiring freeze, and a 5-year-ban on government officials becoming lobbyists.

It also has seven actions to protect American workers. The list includes withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an attempt to renegotiate NAFTA, and directing the Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator.

Donald Trump also promised on his first day in office to take a number of actions to restore security and the constitutional rule of law. They include comments he has made in the past about suspending immigration from terror-prone regions until vetting can be done safely. He would also cancel funding to Sanctuary Cities. Finally, he puts forth ten bills that would be introduced into Congress that would address issues like middle class tax relief, Obamacare, and illegal immigration.

The question that went through my mind as I read through all of these proposals was the same question I was asked on air when I explained what was in the Contract with the American Voter. Callers wanted to know why he didn’t bring this up in the debate. Good question. Wouldn’t you have rather hear a discussion about these proposals than all the back and forth about the two candidate’s character? Talking about these issues now a week before the election may be too late.