Posted on 11/08/2010 9:53:53 AM PST by WebFocus
In the past, House Speakers have treated votes for raising the US debt limit like pirates legendarily treated their loot; they buried it by attaching it to other must-pass legislation. That allowed members to rail against the increase in national debt while explaining that they had no choice but to vote for the increased limits because of the other issues involved in the bill. In an attempt to reform the process and create accountability for national debt, new Speaker-to-be John Boehner will force Representatives to vote on a limit increase with no fig leaf at all:
For the first time in years, House lawmakers will soon have the chance to vote on a standalone measure to increase the federal debt limit next year under the new Republican majority — a vote that’s shaping up as the first early test of the GOP’s commitment to spending restraint.
The House Republican leader, Rep. John A. Boehner of Ohio, will give lawmakers a chance for a direct vote on raising the debt limit, spokesman Michael Steel told the Washington Times.
That would be a break with the recent tactic of burying the debt limit increase in parliamentary maneuvers — a way to shield vulnerable lawmakers from having to take the unpopular vote — and would instantly give leverage to those in Congress hoping to impose immediate spending cuts.
The move forces Congress to cut spending if the debt limit stays in place. That puts Democrats and Republicans alike in a very uncomfortable position when it comes time to cast this vote, as the cuts will almost certainly have to come immediately, regardless of whatever budget Nancy Pelosi gets passed in the lame-duck session. That will probably mean an end to whatever remains of Porkulus spending, and then some cuts in actual programs — especially anything to do with ObamaCare.
That leaves Pelosi with a card to play in the lame-duck session. Will she attach a debt-limit increase to the budget in an attempt to pre-empt Boehner’s gauntlet on federal spending? If she does, Pelosi will have given the GOP yet another talking point for the 2012 election, especially if Democrats insist on electoral suicide and keep her as Minority Leader in the 112th Session.
Ok, Bohner, now walk the talk.
We are watching.
This really does put the dead-duck Democrats on the hot seat.
The ONLY way Obamacare can be funded is with massive spending increases.
So far, so good.
I've always said that I want to see 10% cuts in the federal budget, every year, for at least 5 years. Cut the federal budger in half and then look around to see if we need to cut more.
I want drastic cuts, and I think we need to embrace pain. Is refusing to raise the debt ceiling a viable path?
we are headed for rough times folks. stand firm
“This really does put the dead-duck Democrats on the hot seat.”
YEP!
good move if its true. Vote NO in increasing debt limit. This is the quickest way of shrinking government
If Pelosi is “really” smart, she will leave this bomb for the new Republican majority. That way the newbies will have the fun of figuring out whether to attack the farmers, the military, the sick, the elderly, etc. I suspect a number of the newbies have no idea how little discretion there is in the budget for significant cuts. For instance “pork” has generally represented 1/2 of 1% of the overall budget. Although the Sec. Def. has indicated there is probably 10% that could be saved, it is not going to happen overnight even if the waste is vigorously attacked.
If he does run Congress like a Conservative, will his 2012 Presidential slogan be: “I Gotta Boner for Boehner”?
There’s about $ 250 billion in unspent TARP funds left..give or take..OK..so raise the debt ceiling..buy the bare minimum needed just to cover the interest payments due ..in exchange for taking back the unspent TARP, the $100 billion spending cuts..and extention fo the current tax rates..I can live with that..
Good move. Good start. Hope this is the attitude of whoever takes that seat.
Try 50 percent in a year. Worked for 1946, and it will work again.
CUT SPENDING!!! It’s a very neat way to ensure the debt celing doesn’t have to be raised :)
IF Boehner sticks to his guns- we’re in for some serious drama in D.C. over this issue.
I am glad Boehner is taking this position on the debt ceiling however......EVERY single bill should be a stand alone bill.
I’d rather pay the piper now not just pass it on to my kids. Whatever it costs. I am also tired of the world economy sucking off the US. Wouldn’t that be something force not just ourselves to grow up but the world too. A global crash could cause alot of bad things but in my mind it cause alot of good things too. There are just as many bad things caused by excess wealth as deficit when veiwed on a global scale. I think of it as a market correction long overdue. The good news might be I’m not in charge.
The budget must originate in the House.
Without a debt limit increase, there is NOTHING the Senate and Obama can do, short of forcing a government shutdown.
And WE have to make sure we are ahead of the Democrat memes on that, or we risk what happened the last time.
We have to make it CRYSTAL CLEAR it’s not Republicans shutting down the gov, but DEMOCRATS.
The Federal Government is unique in that it can raise its debt limit. State governments, private sector businesses and individuals can’t. You can keep piling up on the national credit card but in reality future generations pay for it down the road.
Let’s hope the practice is stopped.
I don’t think cutting the budget in half over 5 years is remotely possible. If I recall correctly, most of the budget is spent in servicing the debt, paying Social Security, veterans benefits and other fixed obligations. The military (much loved by Conservatives) has the lions share of discretionary funding.
The bounce back in unemployment that happened in 1937 was because Congress thought they could cut costs too quickly. Seventeen % unemployment I think was the increased level in 1937, and it was not significantly reduced until we put our industry on a war footing, and the 1/2 million dead that resulted from WWII. Is this what we want?
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