During his
1992 campaign for President, Clinton's staffers were frequently reminded that "it's the
economy, stupid," a mantra that urged them to focus on this issue as a talking point in the
campaign. He campaigned as a fiscal moderate, offering balanced solutions to the problems caused
by an economic downturn in the early 1990s. One of his first domestic policies was a series of
tax reforms that helped to balance the nation's budget--actually leading to surpluses--by the
late 1990s. In keeping with his moderate stance, Clinton also took aim at the welfare state,
promising to "transform a broken system that traps too many people in a cycle of
dependence" by placing restrictions on welfare eligibility. This policy had much in common
with conservative proposals. He also enjoyed several other legislative victories in his first
term, including raising the minimum wage. But on his signal domestic policy initiative,
healthcare reform, he suffered a humiliating setback. He appointed a panel led by the First
Lady, Hillary Clinton, to assemble a healthcare plan that would provide health insurance for all
while preserving free market principles. The plan presented to Congress was derided as
excessively complex, overly expensive, and ultimately a threat to people who already had
healthcare insurance plans. Conservatives mocked what became known as "Hillarycare,"
capitalizing on the unpopularity of the First Lady among many voters. Not only was this fiasco a
major domestic policy setback, it also helped propel the "Republican revolution" that
saw the GOP gain majorities in both houses of Congress in the midterm elections of 1994.
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
What were the domestic policies of William J. Clintons during his first term as president?
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