# Question about Republican legislation **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 11, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014 "2009-08-11T01:36:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/1 "2009-08-11T01:36:02Z")
In, say, the last ten years, have Republicans proposed and passed any legislation that didn’t benefit corporations? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/2 "2009-08-11T01:40:33Z")
Two questions. 1. Do you really mean “any legislation”? If I find you a bill renaming a post office, does that count? 2. How do you define “benefit corporations”? Does it have to benefit them directly, like the “Act to Give Corporations Money”? If it benefits some corporations but hurts others, does that count? If it benefits the entire country, thereby being one of those “rising tides that lifts all boats”, does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/3 "2009-08-11T01:46:52Z")
1. Lets say major legislation. 2. I guess this one will be up to interpretation(hence it’s placement in Great Debates instead of IMHO), but for now, directly benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/4 "2009-08-11T02:02:05Z")
Well, major legislation is hard to define, but there’s this: [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c107:213:./temp/~mdbsS2pkk6::](http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c107:213:./temp/~mdbsS2pkk6::) providing more money for the treatment of Native Americans with diabetes. There’s the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, there’s the Patriot Act. Those were both major pieces of legislation, by any definition, and neither of them directly benefited corporations. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/5 "2009-08-11T02:52:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > In, say, the last ten years, have Republicans proposed and passed any legislation that didn’t benefit corporations? Quick question for you. It was the Democrats that primarily supported the auto bailout, and Republicans that primarily opposed it. And by my count this provided a rather direct benefit to two rather large corporations, plus many suppliers. So how would you characterize this, praytell? And keep in mind that I can find many other examples of such. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/6 "2009-08-11T03:02:51Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Quick question for you. > > It was the Democrats that primarily supported the auto bailout, and Republicans that primarily opposed it. And by my count this provided a rather direct benefit to two rather large corporations, plus many suppliers. > > So how would you characterize this, praytell? And keep in mind that I can find many other examples of such. You might find this hard to believe, but I’m not playing “Gotcha!” I heard on the radio that Republicans hadn’t passed any major legislation that didn’t benefit major corporations, and I thought my fellow Dopers might know the truth of the matter. BTW, legislation that Republicans _opposed_ is off-topic, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/7 "2009-08-11T03:07:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You might find this hard to believe, but I’m not playing “Gotcha!” I heard on the radio that Republicans hadn’t passed any major legislation that didn’t benefit major corporations, and I thought my fellow Dopers might know the truth of the matter. > BTW, legislation that Republicans _opposed_ is off-topic, IMHO. I think that you’ll find that whoever said that was engaged in hyperbole. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/8 "2009-08-11T03:12:01Z")
HIPAA and AEDPA were 1996, so that’s a little too far back for you. 2003 was Do-Not-Call, free credit report, and Medicare Part D. Republicans and Democrats both heavily supported the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act and its 2000 successor. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/9 "2009-08-11T03:18:11Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > I think that you’ll find that whoever said that was engaged in hyperbole. That’s what I’m trying to find out. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/10 "2009-08-11T03:19:10Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > 2003 was Do-Not-Call, free credit report, and Medicare Part D. Did those measures come from the Republican side of the aisle? ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/11 "2009-08-11T04:47:01Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Quick question for you. > > It was the Democrats that primarily supported the auto bailout, and Republicans that primarily opposed it. And by my count this provided a rather direct benefit to two rather large corporations, plus many suppliers. > > So how would you characterize this, praytell? And keep in mind that I can find many other examples of such. This had to do with regional politics. The southern politicians that have foriegn car company plants in their district didn’t care if MIchigan and other blue states lost their jobs as it would benefit their own districts if GM went out of business. Meanwhile the blue staters are not smart enough, or too compassionate, to do things like end the textile and sugar tarrifs, the oil depletion allowance, and the tobacco subsidies that benefit the south and rural states. I think it’s time for a blue-state revolt to start fucking over the red states like they’ve been doing to us. Montana and North Dakota: want some new roads for the few people in your state? Pay for it yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/12 "2009-08-11T05:03:23Z")
I don’t think the so-called “partial-birth abortion” ban particularly benefited corporations (or anybody else really). It was basically a sop to the religious right. I would be hard put to think of any legislation passed by a Republican Congress or President which ever benefited consumers over corporations, or ever sought to limit corporate power. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/13 "2009-08-11T05:08:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Did those measures come from the Republican side of the aisle? The Do Not Call List act was sponsored by Billy Tauzin, a Republican, and John Dingel, a Democrat. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (letting people get a free copy of their credit report) was sponsored by Spencer Bachus, a Republican. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, that set up Medicare Part D, was sponsored by Dennis Hastert, a Republican. And of course, all three bills were passed when Republicans controlled Congress and the White House, so without their approval, the bills wouldn’t have come to a vote. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/14 "2009-08-11T05:13:38Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > The Do Not Call List act was sponsored by Billy Tauzin, a Republican, and John Dingel, a Democrat. > > The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (letting people get a free copy of their credit report) was sponsored by Spencer Bachus, a Republican. > > The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, that set up Medicare Part D, was sponsored by Dennis Hastert, a Republican. > > And of course, all three bills were passed when Republicans controlled Congress and the White House, so without their approval, the bills wouldn’t have come to a vote. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/15 "2009-08-11T07:21:08Z")
I don’t know who sponsored it in congress, but Bush greatly increased aid to Africa. I think that would qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/16 "2009-08-11T11:25:30Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I don’t know who sponsored it in congress, but Bush greatly increased aid to Africa. I think that would qualify. Only if you are answering a different question than that proposed in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/17 "2009-08-11T14:00:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Only if you are answering a different question than that proposed in the OP. How does the AIDS initiative legislation (called PEPFAR) not qualify? ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/18 "2009-08-11T14:11:59Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I don’t know who sponsored it in congress, but Bush greatly increased aid to Africa. I think that would qualify. Again, not a gotcha, but a genuine question - did that money ever actually get paid? I remember driving home listening to NPR one night and them running a story a few years back about how the increased funding had been promsied but not yet delivered. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/19 "2009-08-11T14:22:56Z")
No Child Left Behind ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014/20 "2009-08-11T14:31:07Z")
Some others: Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act Sarbanes-Oxley\_Act\_of\_2002 Pension\_Protection\_Act\_of\_2006 Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 Unborn Victims of Violence Act [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-republican-legislation/506014.md?page=2)