The Conservative Counterrevolution in the Era of Reagan and Bush and The Policy Uncertainty of the C

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The Conservative Counterrevolution in the Era of
Reagan and BushandThe Policy Uncertainty of the
Clinton Administration

• Text The Reluctant Welfare State
• By Bruce Jansson
• Reporters Chic Gunderson
• Loida ruane

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Reagan Administration1980-1988

• Ascendancy of conservatism
• Promoted the concept that social programs had not
  solved poverty
• Did not favor social programs to aid the poor
• Social spending was incompatible with economic
  growth
• Did not support federal civil rights

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Factors That Contributed to the Ascendancy of
Conservatism

• Declines strengths of Democrats
• White backlash led to widespread opposition to
  affirmative action
• Continuing shift of population to the suburbs
• Maturing of war-baby generation

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Legitimation of Conservatism

• Conservative ideology emerged
• Conservative think-tank established
• National TV show Firing Line presented
  conservative views
• Top positions in government given to
  conservatives
• Criticism of intellectuals to Democratic Party
  and Great Society reform
• Grassroots following within fundamentalist
  religious groups
• Formation of New Religious-Political Right (NRPR)

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The Triumph of Conservatism

• Three themes of obsession of Reagan
• 1. Lower Taxes
• 2. Increase Defense
• 3. Social Spending Reduction

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Lower Taxes

• 1981 Economic Recovery Tax Act (ERTA)
• - Reduced personal and corporate
  taxes
• Tax reform in 1986
• - Drastically reduced the tax rate of
• affluent Americans
• - Encourage economic activity
• Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1981
• - Deep tax cuts in social spending and increase
  in military spending.

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Increase Defense

• Were not building missiles to fight a war.
  Were building missiles to preserve peace.
  Reagan
• OBRA of 1981
• Defense budget 1980 - 142B
• 1986 - 368b

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Social Spending Reduction

• Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) 1981
• - Eliminated 57 social programs and folding them
  into 7 block grants
• - 1983 Social Security amendments increase
  retirement age and reduce some benefits
• - Steward Mckinney Homeless Assistance Act of
  1987 focus was on construction of shelters

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Bush Administration 1988 - 1992

• Maintained defense a priority.
• Modest tax increase in 1990
• Minimal increase in social spending
• Civil Rights Act of 1991 Anti-discrimination Act
• Rodney King case forced Bush to provide
  allocation for inner-city programs

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Legacy of Reagan and Bush

• 4.5 trillion federal debt
• Deficit Reagan 50B/yr while Bush had 352 B
  in 1992
• Economic situation of the poor worsened
• Erosion of real value of paycheck
• Over-all tax rates of the poor and working person
  increased
• Many affluent Americans increased their wealth
• Labor force was gender segregated.

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Social Problems

• Lack of medical insurance
• Homelessness
• AIDS
• Growing economic inequality
• Poor schools
• Poverty in the inner cities
• Family violence
• Feminization of poverty
• Gang warfare

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Outgroups

• People of Color
• Immigrants
• Gay men and lesbians
• People with disabilities
• Women
• Children
• Aging Americans
• Homeless

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Social Work Profession

• Private practice
• Advocacy

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Clinton Administration 1992 2000

• The Clinton Presidency The first two years
• 1992 Clinton won the election without a mandate
• - 3-way race, Perot siphoned votes
• - Tried to institute liberal policies.
• - Social investments
• - Health reforms and others
• - Resurgent Republican minority
• - Aligned with moderate and conservative
  Democrats
• - Americans tired of government gridlock
• - Made many errors in this period

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1993

• Clinton announces tax increases and spending cuts
• Places Hillary in charge of task force to develop
  health reform proposal
• Family and Medical Leave Act enacted
• Signs the Omnibus Reconciliation Bill, which cuts
  the deficit, raises taxes, and increases the EICT
• Clinton presents ambitious plan to reform health
  care
• North America Free Trade Agreement enacted
• Federal policy on gays in the military is modified

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1994

• Congress enacts legislation that makes it a
  federal crime to intimidate abortion clinic
  workers and clients by force or threat of force
• Crime Bill enacted
• Some republican leaders issue contract with
  America
• Republicans obtain control of both Houses of
  Congress

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The Third Year The Newt Gingrich Era

• 1994 victories of both Houses by conservative
  Republicans and their Contract with America
• Clinton gave in to most of Republican budget
  demands
• Spending cuts analogous to Reagan only Congress
  not President
• Clinton successful in slowing down Newts agenda

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1995

• Congress enacts Omnibus Reconciliation Act which
  seeks to eliminate the entitlement status of
  AFDC, Medicaid, and Food Stamps
• Clinton vetoes Omnibus Reconciliation Act as well
  as specific appropriation bills
• Government shuts down
• Citizens blame Congress not President

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1996

• Clinton wins reelection landslide over Dole
• Budget stalemate between Clinton and Congress
  continues
• Enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work
  Opportunities act
• Domestic discretionary spending remained capped
• Reelection helps Democrat regain seats
• Welfare reform predicted to cause millions of
  children to fall deeper into poverty

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1997

• Balanced Budget Act enacted with extension of
  caps on discretionary spending
• Impeachment of Bill Clinton

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1998

• Emergence of federal budget surpluses
• Resignation of Newt Gingrich announced

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Outgroups

• Affirmative action
• Immigrants
• Children
• Women
• Gays and lesbians