The 1994 Earthquake

Presentations today:  Aaron, Mia, Rasam, 

Monday: Ella, Olivia, Violet

For Monday:  Johnson, ch. 11.

Crime

Find more statistics at Statista

The 1994 Crime Bill (Johnson 331)

• Federal Assault Weapons Ban: Prohibited the manufacture, transfer, and possession of certain semi-automatic assault weapons.
• Increased federal death penalty: Expanded the number of crimes eligible for the federal death penalty.
• New federal crimes: Created new federal offenses, including those related to hate crimes, sexual assault, and gang activity.
• Funding for police: Provided funding for 100,000 new police officers across the country.
• Gun restrictions: Expanded the list of people banned from owning firearms, such as those with domestic violence convictions.
• Sex offender registries: Required states to establish registries for sexual offenders by September 1997.
• Increased penalties: Implemented "three-strikes" provisions for repeat offenders and increased penalties for many crimes.

BUT MOST OF THE ANTICRIME ACTION WAS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

• Giuliani time

DID INCREASED INCARCERATION LEAD TO LOWER CRIME RATES?

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Political Upheaval of 1994:

Reaction to the tax increase and failed health bill

Ironically, GOP control of the White House suppressed GOP gains downballot.

The Contract with America (Johnson 327-328)

              Before 1994 Election After               GOP Gain

House          176 R 258 D                 230 R-204D      +54 

Senate            44R-56D                       52R-48D          +8 

Governors      20R-29D                       30R-19D       +10 

Leg. Chamber    14                                 31               +17       

The Contract:

1. Fiscal Responsibility Act (Balanced Budget Amendment & Line-Item Veto) The Balanced Budget Amendment passed the House but failed by one vote in the Senate. The Line-Item Veto Act passed in 1996 but was struck down by the Supreme Court in Clinton v. City of New York (1998). See Johnson 342-343.

2. Taking Back Our Streets Act Contained anti-crime measures like increased prison funding and “truth in sentencing.” Parts were enacted through the 1996 crime legislation, but not as a single comprehensive law.

3. Personal Responsibility Act Aimed to end welfare “as we know it.” After several vetoes, a modified version became the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, replacing AFDC with TANF. (Johnson 334-335)

4. Family Reinforcement Act Promoted tax incentives for families and tougher child support enforcement. Some provisions—.e.g, child support reforms—were enacted, but broader family and adoption measures failed.

5. American Dream Restoration Act Proposed a $500-per-child tax credit and tax cuts for married couples. Versions were  in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, creating the child tax credit.

6. National Security Restoration Act Sought to strengthen defense and restrict U.N. control over U.S. troops. Passed the House but not the Senate; many elements resurfaced in later defense appropriations bills.

7. Senior Citizens Fairness Act Proposed raising the Social Security earnings limit and repealing the 1993 tax on Social Security benefits. Some earnings-limit changes passed in 1996; benefit-tax repeal failed.

8. Job Creation and Wage Enhancement Act Focused on capital gains tax cuts and regulatory reform. Partial capital gains cuts were  in the 1997 tax lawd

9. Common Sense Legal Reform Act Aimed to limit product-liability lawsuits and curb “frivolous” litigation. Passed Congress but vetoed by President Clinton.

10. Citizen Legislature Act (Term Limits) Proposed constitutional amendment to limit congressional terms. Failed in the House (227–204, short of two-thirds).

Shutdown

The budget surplus briefly opened a window for entitlement reform.

How the Clinton scandal slammed it shut.