Dole Lays Out Legislative Agenda

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, April 15) -- Who says Bob Dole has no ideas? In an interview with the Associated Press, the Kansan laid out a varied legislative program -- from the budget to term limits to health care -- with which he hopes to skewer President Bill Clinton while presenting a preview of a potential Dole administration.

"We need to develop our agenda, the Republican agenda, the Dole agenda and lay it out there for the American people to make judgement," Dole said over the weekend, flying back to Washington from a three-day midwestern campaign trip. Of the various pieces of legislation he described, he said: "I'm not sure all of this is going to happen, but here it is."

More Budget Politics? Dole said aides are researching a six-year-to-balance budget plan, one that entails more modest savings from Medicare and Medicaid savings than previous GOP proposals. But he said he would maintain controversial policy proposals to turn control of Medicaid and welfare to the states, which Dole predicted would draw a veto from Clinton.

Dole acknowledged the GOP base is still fragmented. "Clinton has his base pretty much solidified," Dole said. "Ours? It is coming, but it is going to take a while." His candidacy shouldn't be a turn-off to moderate women voters, Dole said, since "with the exception of abortion, I've got a good record," on the issues important to them.

Tanned and rested from his 11-day Florida vacation, Dole expressed hope that retired general Colin Powell would join him on the stump. Regarding Powell as a possible choice as running mate, Dole quipped, "He called me to congratulate me; I don't think he wanted to hang on the line long."

Dole Lays Out Legislative Agenda

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