Toomey Says Politics Blocking Debt Deal

MyFoxPhilly.com ^ | July11 ,2011

[Hojczyk]

Toomey says the current administration has “moved the goal posts” in the debt-ceiling talks.

“What they have done is massively expanded the size of government by about 25 percent, relative to GDP, and now they come along and say, 'you guys need to raise taxes to pay for this,’” Toomey said.

Toomey says he proposed a balanced budget pact as part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling.

Toomey also disputed claims by the Democrats and Treasure Secretary Tim Geithner that the nation would default on its debt if talks go beyond August 2nd.

He says it won’t happen because of the amount of incoming revenue.

“That’s not going to happen. The administration wants to intimidate Republicans like me into voting and to continue business as usual,” Toomey said.

Toomey also disputed reports that Obama was moving closer to accepting some Medicare cuts that the GOP proposed recently.

Fox 29 also asked Toomey if than 20 percent of the problem in the current debate is about politics, and he had a frank response.

“It’s probably a lot more than that,” Toomey said.

“This is what maddening to me,” Toomey said. “I wrote my own budget.”

Toomey then said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid won’t introduce a budget on the Senate floor.

[bgill]

“What they have done is massively expanded the size of government by about 25 percent, relative to GDP, and now they come along and say, 'you guys need to raise taxes to pay for this,’” Toomey said.

Throw in a few rounds of golf and globe trotting vacations for friends and family and what have you got?

[SueRae]

Go Pat Toomey. I

‘m seeing more air time for Republicans in this battle than normal...maybe it’s just my perception...but I’m hopeful that Republicans are getting the message out...before the other side is able to hijack the debate.

[ilgipper]

That quote is the money quote of the week. Last week it was the Rubio speech. Hit back, and hit hard. These leftists added trillions of new spending, and now are trying to corner the congress into paying for it with more taxes. Cut the spending...and cut big. No more.

It is good to see these first termers step up big in the media, and good to see McConnell and Boehner follow suit this morning. They hopefully sense that they are winning this, and that Obama is ever more vulnerable in his new tax, tax, tax plan.

[RU88]

This was the manchild’s grand strategy from the start. Massively borrow and spend on “stimulus” and obamacare while he still had a vice like grip on Congress, then go running hat in hand to the Republicans who now control the House to pay for it. Just remember one thing about Obama. Never believe what he says because the man's a habitual liar. Look at what he does.

[SMARTY]

Liberals are expecting the very worst and they want it to appear that Conservatives’ fingerprints are all over it

[Made In The USA]

The Dems didn’t bother to do a budget in the last 2 years, spend an insane amount of taxpayer dollars, sink us all into massive debt... Screw it, hope we do default. Hope it causes enough hell that maybe some of these idiots in DC can wake up to reality.

[Doug Loss]

Ummm, if you have a balanced budget you don't need to increase the debt ceiling. I have a better proposal: Require a balanced budget every year, which will also include (by requirement, and not negotiable) a paydown on the principle of the federal debt of 2% or $80 billion, whichever is higher. The paydown is only forgo-able once the debt is entirely eliminated.

[paul51]

chop off several departments, shut them down and fire 100 of thousands of wasteful bureaucrats. That's how you cut a budget and reduce government.