Rep. Waxman on GOP Congress

Rep. Henry Waxman’s article (Commentary, Sept. 24) decries the Republicans’ dastardly move to establish an imperial Congress.

It may hurt him to do so, but I urge Waxman to take a good long look into the records of his party’s 40-year majority in the Congress. If there is a modicum of objectivity in his appraisal, he might be unpleasantly surprised. One case in point could be the chairmanship of the House Whitewater hearings in last year’s 103rd Congress by his Democrat compatriot, Rep. Henry Gonzales (D-Tex.).

Thanks to C-Span, much of the public can see what really goes on in Washington so we’re less likely to be taken in by this kind of demagogy!

EDWARD FRESCHL JR.

Frazier Park

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Last year, when the President’s wife put together a secret task force of over 500 people to put together a plan to take over one-seventh of the U.S. economy, not one objection, not one complaint about the secrecy of the process was heard from Waxman. In fact, when the plan was announced, Waxman (D-Los Angeles) was one of its most enthusiastic supporters.

During Waxman’s altogether too-long career in Congress prior to Jan. 3, 1995, he never once objected to the authoritarian policies of his Democrat leadership, policies that prevented the submission or discussion of Republican budget alternatives, frequently excluded Republican participation in various Senate-House reconciliation conferences and, in general, treated the Republican minority as if they didn’t exist. Waxman is now a member of a dwindling minority, his failed political philosophy has been discredited and he can’t stand it. After all those years of being a “powerful Democrat,” Waxman is now powerless and ignored by the House leadership so he suddenly becomes a great advocate of openness and fairness. The hypocrisy as well as the irony is spectacular.

DONALD BRIAN WARD

Los Angeles

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Waxman issues a warning about the serious threat to our democracy posed by the Republican majority in Congress. For example, the House has passed a gag rule making it almost impossible for people’s organizations receiving federal funds to petition Congress. There are laws making the use of federal funds for political lobbying illegal. Further, important legislation affecting such programs as Medicare and Medicaid is being written behind closed doors. Requests for hearings by the Democrats have been refused. House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Tex.) had the brazenness to send a letter to 82 corporations protesting their contributions to “liberal advocacy groups.”

We cannot afford to ignore the lessons of history; to me, this smacks of creeping fascism. Those of us who treasure our democracy must unite to fight this threat to our constitutional rights.

SOL LONDE

Northridge

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Waxman complains that Republicans “seek a monopoly on power.” Is this the same imperious Waxman, the self-appointed tobacco czar who sought to destroy the tobacco industry? A Democrat whose party monopolized Congress for so many years and left a mess the Republicans are trying to clean up?

SID REDISH

Hawthorne