Straight arrow: The new Ways and Means chairman, Bill Archer, takes aim at the federal budget

• Published in: Texas monthly (Austin) Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 90
• Main Author: Burka, Paul David
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Austin Texas Monthly, a Division of Emmis Publishing, LP 01.01.1995
• Subjects: Archer, Bill; Campaign contributions; Committees; Federal budget; Federal government; Government spending; Personal profiles; Political parties; Public officials; Southwest; Tax cuts; Tax increases; Taxes; TX; United States > US; Dallas
• ISSN: 0148-7736; 2163-3274

EARLY DECEMBER WAS A rare and treasured moment in Washington, a time--if you were a Republican--when hope prevailed over cynicism, innocence got the better of experience, and all things seemed possible. The Republicans had taken their message of a cleaner, leaner, less meddlesome government to the people, and they had won. For a month, at least, they were free to talk about the need to make hard choices without actually having to do so. If the Republicans are to succeed in their drive to revolutionize American politics, no one will have more hard choices to make than Bill Archer, the Houston congressman who is about to become chairman of the all-important House Ways and Means Committee. Just about everything on the GOP's wish list--cutting taxes, balancing the budget, and reforming welfare--must receive the blessings of Ways and Means, and therefore of Bill Archer. No one will have a greater say in determining whether the Republicans' solution to America's perpetual budget crisis is real or phony. (excerpt)