In the 1996 election, Bill Clinton was re-elected as president, defeating Republican Bob Dole and Reform candidate Ross Perot. During Clinton's first term he appointed his wife Hillary to head a task force to create a universal healthcare plan, but it was never brought to a vote due to opposition. Clinton worked with a Republican congress to cut spending and lower taxes, resulting in the first balanced budget in 24 years. He also signed welfare reform legislation and oversaw the implementation of NAFTA on January 1, 1994, which both had positive and negative economic effects.