Posted on 03/02/2010 7:50:45 AM PST by SmithL
In January, the Senate joined the House in passing "pay-as-you-go" rules to require Congress to pay for new discretionary spending. On Feb. 12, President Obama signed the bill. "Now Congress will have to pay for what it spends, just like everybody else," Obama crowed.
Less than a month later, Obama and fellow Democrats are busily demonizing a lone senator for pushing Washington to spend responsibly. It seems this administration is all for fiscal restraint - as long as you don't mean it.
The story began last week when Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., blocked Senate passage of a bill to extend for one month unemployment and Cobra health insurance benefits, and other spending, because it did not comply with the paygo rule. As the Baseball Hall of Famer explained, "When 100 senators are for a bill, and we can't find $10 billion to pay for it, there's something the matter, seriously the matter, with this body." For that, he is Satan.
On Sunday, the New York Times ran a story about the Bunning brouhaha without mentioning why Bunning was blocking the bill. A CNN television crawl warned: "Thousands hurt by one senator." Veep Joe Biden lamented the prospect of a single senator filibustering a measure, and wished, as Politico reported, only that the senator would have to explain to the families of the Americans who could lose their benefits "how they're going to get by."
It's a heartbreaking scenario - but it can be avoided if Capitol Hill leaders either find the $10 billion in a government that spends $3.8 trillion annually or the 60 votes needed to bring the bill to the Senate floor.
..."If everyone's serious about paygo, let's act like it."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
But of course it's usually used as a way of pretending you're somehow being responsible - when you are in fact being crazily profligate.
And THIS holder of the office of the Presidency (that’s the only way to say it that is acceptable to me) wants us to “pay before we go” with his health care plan.
Additionally, this fraudulent holder of the office of the Presidency, wants us to “pay before we go” with his idea of a health plan.
I feel bad because he is a Hall of Famer, one of the best pitchers ever, and he is going to be made into a villain by the dirt bag media.
Considering the public and media outrage at Bunning for proposing we actually pay for these questionable benefit extensions, I have decided to run for Senate as an independent on one single issue - ONE MILLION DOLLARS FOR EVERYONE!
That’s right. We’re spending trillions upon trillions upon trillions for as far as the eye can see anyway correct? 10 billion here, 20 billion there, 100 billion over here. Heck, why not just give the people what they really want - ONE MILLION DOLLARS EACH!
As dumb as the American people are, and as stupid as our media has become, I think I have a reasonable chance to win on that platform. Sadly, it may not be all that much less expensive than our currently projected spending over the next couple decades.
Well then, other Repub’s need to take up the argument and hammer it home. I don’t understand why he is standing alone on this one.
CNN this morning even had a report that said Bunning was responsible for all of these people being unemployed. Might have been an honest mistake, but seems like the damage was done just by reporting it.
A million dollars for everyone would clear most middleclass folks debts with some left over for investment...it might actually be a economy booster. Better yet...run on a platform of total cancellation of everone’s debt. All debts...private and public cancelled and whatever wealth any one holds is kept. There is precedent in history for it..even the Hebrews cancelled debts every 7 years.
What makes you think he’s going “nuts?” I didn’t see it...please explain.
We are living in 'unpresidented' times. Can we get the spell-checker updated to allow that word?
Because even the corrupt and inept senate understand they won't get away with taking such good care of themselves and their cronies and telling the people they are suppose to be working for to go screw. Pay go should start with them taking the first cuts
Huh, maybe that’s why the bankruptcy laws state it’s on the books ‘for 7 years’ after it’s discharged.
Interesting...
Perhaps we should try a national version of God’s biblical plan...the alternative is going to be very bleak...!
If they succeed in making Bunning a villian, it will be because the rest of the party let it happen. Plus people hereabouts who constantly piss and moan about do nothing Republicans sat on their asses again. Bunning needs our support, not our critique.
Bunning bttt.
I know he is leaving the Senate, it's a shame because this guy stands up for what he believes in.
“Neither a borrower, or a lender be”? I don’t lend anyone money. I give it. I give money to any of my family, and most of my friends, if I have it to give. If I don’t, I don’t. I don’t seek repayment - I figure they’ll pay me in time, or they won’t.
As for the borrower? It’s possible, but that’s extremely difficult in my generation.
My parents, it was possible. My grandparents, definitely.
Why would a car cost $1,000 dollars, about the same or less than a yearly salary for many. A house would cost $15,000, maybe $20,000. Now? Cars go for $20,000 (that’s apparently the bottom), brand new. Houses go for over $100,000. Salaries haven’t kept up. Why?
And yet, the “pay-as-you-go” idea in Washington appears to be a scorn, an evil.
My issue was why do US Senators need a “U S Senator only” elevator with an elevator operator.
I’m out of a job, I’ll run the US Senator only elevator for them.
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