THE CONTRACT, PARTLY FULFILLED

Editorials Of The Times       [August 20, 1995; p.8  TimesFax edition]

By the most common yardstick -- legislation passed -- the Republican takeover of Congress has not yet amounted to much. Only two parts of the Contract With America have been signed into law. No tax has been cut. Government spending continues to rise. But the impact of Newt Gingrich and friends goes well beyond a litany of votes. They have turned political debate around on nearly every important issue. The Republicans' cramped vision of limited government has won, for now.

The trouble with the G.O.P. is its tendency to steer every reasonable idea toward excess. The Republicans pledge to reform needlessly costly health, safety and environmental rules. But their alternative is destructive legislation that would cripple the Government's ability to enforce prudent rules.

The excesses and hypocrisy subtract from what is perhaps the most important lesson of the last eight months of legislating. A year ago, pundits sat around wondering whether either party could govern and whether Congress was destined to remain an unorganizable collection of 535 political entrepreneurs. In the House, Speaker Newt Gingrich has shown that a majority party, under aggressive and decisive leaders, can execute a disciplined agenda.

Fortunately, the Senate has shown that it can rein in the excesses of the House. It has turned aside the balanced budget amendment and stalled the line item veto and welfare reform. President Clinton has shown that a well-aimed veto can make him relevant. An extreme G.O.P. agenda threatens at every turn. But perhaps the Senate and President can block or fix most of what is bad.