Todd Akin for Congress - Legislative Accomplishments

The following is a quick review of some GOP accomplishments when Republicans were in majority, 2001-2006 with President George W Bush. Most of this legislation was passed by a majority of Republicans and opposed by a majority of Democrats. The diversity and substance of the following list argues forcefully that those six years were unusually good ones for conservative Republicans.

Bankruptcy Reform: Congressman Akin supported the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. This legislation protects creditors from those who previously used bankruptcy as a tool to cheat their way out of debt. It also contains new measures that will ensure that bankruptcy protection is available to those who are in real need.

Border Security: With Rep. Akin's strong support, Congress passed and the President signed the "Real ID" Act to improve border security, to better monitor terrorists' attempts to travel within the U.S. and to stop a number of states from issuing drivers' licenses to illegal aliens.

Defense: Over the past four years, the United States Congress has increased defense spending by more than one third and military research and development by 50 percent. Congress is moving forward with development of an effective strategic missile defense and has substantially strengthened pay and benefits for military families and veterans. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Akin has actively supported these important measures. (Top)

Economy Restored: Despite loud protests from the Democrats, the President's tax-cuts have had a very positive effect. The result is that the economy enjoyed a record quarter, is gaining strength and unemployment is at 5.6%, the 50-year average. (Top)

Educational Choice: An educational choice program has been approved for Washington, D.C. This is a trail-blazing step for other states or cities that would like to provide parents the ability to decide where their children can go to school. (Top)

Ergonomics Repealed: Former President Clinton's ergonomics regulations were repealed in the first months of the Bush Presidency, a victory worth billions to the economy, plus hundreds of thousands of jobs. (Top)

"Kyoto Accord" Dumped: The President withdrew our support for the fatally flawed "Kyoto Accord" on climate change which former President Clinton supported. This treaty would have greatly increased energy costs and placed U.S. manufacturing at an extreme competitive disadvantage with Europe, while excluding the world's largest polluters, India and China. (Top)

Legal Reform: Class action and broader lawsuit abuse reform are important for economic vitality and job creation. Congress has enacted a measure that specifically reforms current law related to class action lawsuits. It allows such suits to be moved from state to federal courts, reducing the potential for abuse of settlement awards by juries. (Top)

Missile Defense: The President boldly exercised the escape hatch in the '72 ABM Treaty and proceeded to fund and build missile defense, something the Democrats, Europeans and Russians continue to oppose. (Top)

Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Enacted: The House and Senate passed, and the President signed, legislation making partial-birth abortions illegal. (Top)

Paying off the Deficit: By cutting non-defense discretionary spending we have reduced the 370 billion dollar deficit each year by 70 billion dollars. (Top)

Second Amendment: The ban on various types of semi-automatic rifles was allowed to expire - a top priority for Second Amendment supporters. Federal legislative attacks on the Second Amendment have been stopped. (Top)

Tax Cuts: After inheriting an economy in recession, President G.W. Bush prescribed several healthy doses of tax cuts. Congressman Akin supported all of these measures, including substantial marginal rate reduction. Congress reduced the estate or "death tax," lessened the marriage penalty, increased the child-care deduction and reduced taxes on dividend income and capital gains (the latter two were profoundly helpful to the economy).

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D. Akin on GOP Legislative Accomplishments 2001-2006