The Contract From America

Every new law must be constitutional: Require each bill to identify the specific provision of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to do what the bill does.

No emissions trading schemes: Stop the "cap and trade" administrative approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants.

Mandatory balanced federal budget: Begin the Constitutional amendment process to require a balanced budget with a two-thirds majority needed for any tax modification.

A radically simplified tax system: Adopt a single-rate tax system; eliminate the internal revenue code and replace it with one that is no longer than 4,543 words.

Audit federal government agencies for constitutional compliance: Create a Blue Ribbon taskforce that engages in an audit of federal agencies and programs, assessing their Constitutionality, and identifying duplication, waste, ineffectiveness, and agencies and programs better left for the states or local authorities.

Federal spending limits: Impose a statutory cap limiting the annual growth in total federal spending to the sum of the inflation rate plus the percentage of population growth.

Repeal ObamaCare: Repeal the health care legislation passed on March 23, 2010: Defund, repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Energy Independence: Authorize the exploration of additional energy reserves to reduce American dependence on foreign energy sources and reduce regulatory barriers to all other forms of energy creation.

Earmark Reform: Place a moratorium on all earmarks until the budget is balanced, and then require a 2/3 majority to pass any earmark.

Permanent Tax Cuts: Permanently repeal all recent tax increases, including those to the income tax, capital gains tax and estate taxes, currently scheduled to begin in 2011.