American Presidency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Presidency - Essay ExampleAn interrelated program of domestic-policy reforms characterized the Reagan policy agenda. We see this in the administrations work to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, which entailed lowering federal taxation and domestic spending as well as the deregulation and returning of the power to the states.i The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation scrap of 1981 was the first of changes that Reagan launched in his pursuit of his domestic policy. This legislation brought about far-reaching budget cuts and policy shifts and is considered to be one of Reagans major achievements in domestic policymaking. similarly significantly trimming domestic spending and trimming the federal governments role in domestic program areas, the legislation had two early(a) significant effects first, it substantially changed welfare programs, and second, it increased the proportion of federal grant funds that are channeled to the states and reduced the share paid t o local units of government.iiReagans experience as governor of California, prior to his election as President, influenced his attitude toward domestic policy. As governor, Reagan became convinced that the states could play the major role in cartroad domestic programs such as welfare. He saw in this experience that domestic policy choices are best made at the state level and that this philosophy became the foundation of his New Federalism. Reagan emphasized this in his 1982 State of the Union addressOur citizens feel they have lost control of even the most raw material decisions made about the essential services of government, such as schools, welfare, roads, and even garbage collection. They are right. A maze of interlocking jurisdictions and levels of government confronts the average citizen in trying to solve even the simplest of problems. They do not know where to turn to who to hold accountable.iiiFor Reagan