For that 1994 vote, Republicans put forth their "Contract With America, " in which they pledged to clean up congressional ethics, cut the congressional payroll, simplify federal budgeting practices, and make it more difficult to pass tax increases, among other things.
"It's terrible business ethics to be lying and then just get people to sign a contract, especially if English isn't their first language, " says Richard Painter, professor of corporate law at the University of Minnesota.