In the usual briefing scene that takes place after the show intro, Douglas Brackman asks Ann Kelsey about a Julius Goldfarb, aka 'Salamander'. Just a second later a "Coordinating Producer: Phillip M. Goldfarb" credit is shown in the screen.
Markowitz bemoans the impact of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, which in real life was introduced by Congress on October 26th, 1987 and was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on December 22, 1987, four months before this episode aired.
The title is the expression of shock or surprise by the comic strip character Little Orphan Annie: "Leapin' Lizards!"
In 1993 an episode of Frasier uses the same episode title. Leaping Lizards