Following the 1994 midterm elections, Republicans in Congress BELIEVED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANTED THEM TO MAKE CHANGES.
In the 1994 midterm elections, Republicans had campaigned on the promise of a "Contract with America." Newt Gingrich and Richard Armey wrote the document and spearheaded the campaign to take control of Congress back for the Republican Party. (Republicans had not had a majority in the House of Representatives for 40 years.) The Republicans picked up 54 seats in the House of Representatives in the 1994 midterm election, as well as gaining 9 seats in the Senate, to become the majority party in Congress. So they believed they should carry out their "Contract with America" to make changes.
Following the 1994 midterm election, Republicans in Congress attempted to consolidate power by making it politically advantageous to do so in the Senate.
