Voinovich Stands Firm Vs. Bush Tax Cuts

AP via Yahoo! ^ | 4/27/03

[So Cal Rocket]

WASHINGTON - One of the Senate's moderate Republicans who is blocking President Bush's tax cut plan said Sunday he will stand his ground and resist White House pressure to vote more than a $350 billion reduction.

Asked if he would not go even a penny higher, Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio replied: "You got it. And anybody that knows George Voinovich knows that when I say something I mean it."

Bush had asked Congress for $726 billion in cuts over 10 years. The House capped new tax relief at $550 billion, while the Senate agreed to cuts of no more than $350 billion. The White House has scaled back its expectations, saying at least $550 billion is now the president's goal.

That amount, Voinovich said, would be fiscally irresponsible.

"Instead of dillying around between $350 billion and $550 billion, let's do the $350 billion and let's get it done," Voinovich told NBC's "Meet the Press."

Voinovich and Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, reached a deal with Senate leaders on the $350 billion limit to the cuts.

Bush, in his radio address Saturday, took on lawmakers who are refusing to accept the amount the president says is necessary to revive the economy.

"Since they already agree that tax relief creates jobs, it doesn't make sense to provide less tax relief and, therefore, create fewer jobs," Bush said.

During a visit last week to Ohio, Bush renewed his campaign for the bigger tax cuts. Voinovich said Bush's trip could backfire with Ohio voters, who support the lower tax cut.

"I think the timing of it made it look bad, in terms of his trying to put some pressure on me," Voinovich said. "I don't believe that's what he had in mind, but it certainly has been interpreted that way in our state."

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, nailed down the crucial votes from Voinovich and Snowe before the budget's passage by promising to hold the final tax cut compromise to $350 billion.

The deal, also backed by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., infuriated House Republicans, who said they were blindsided.

Grassley said Sunday that Republicans are still looking for ways to offset the cost of additional tax cuts, such as closing down corporate tax shelters and extending customs fees. But he said it would be difficult to reach $550 billion.

"We've got a divided government, and we have to operate within the realities of a Senate that is divided 51-49," he said on "Fox News Sunday."

Senate rules make passage of major legislation virtually impossible without 60 votes because of parliamentary delays or the filibuster, nonstop debate that can be stopped only by three-fifths of the 100 senators.

Grassley said perhaps Bush and GOP congressional leaders "will be able to convince Voinovich and Snowe and other people, even hopefully some Democrats, that the economy can really be helped by a much more mammoth tax cut. And it may be much easier and with the president convincing them to go beyond 350, we might really be able to do something really big and good."

[So Cal Rocket]

When is Voinovich up for re-election... does Ohio have any conservative Republicans that can run against him in the primary?

[TLBSHOW]

The people need to hold republicans feet to the fire.

Big meeting Tuesday with the GOP from what I heard.

[onedoug]

Just intimidate all of these so-called Republicans. I doubt that when push comes to shove whether any of them will really fight for a damned thing. Estrada has evidently been hung out to dry. And I wouldn't be surprised if there's already a conspiracy underfoot to soon show Santorum the door.

It's sickening.

[smith288]

Everyone should email this bonehead.

senator_voinovich@exchange.senate.gov

[katze]

I sure hope so, but the problem is we have a good old boy system here, and too often Conservatives need not apply. We lost a good conservative candidate in the primary last year for US rep, in favor of a liberal Repub.

[dts32041]

No I think it is time to move the Lima plant that makes M1A2's in Lima to say Idaho, maybe Nebraska, Move all work that is at BIW in Maine to Mississippi, just to lose the last high paying jobs in Maine.

BTW it looks like OLY studied at the George Mitchell school of econonmics.

Tax you high revenue industries out of existance.

Of course, he and billy cohen are still hailed as great leaders in Maine, just ask Baldi.

[WhiteGuy]

I sure hope so, but the problem is we have a good old boy system here, and too often Conservatives need not apply. We lost a good conservative candidate in the primary last year for US rep, in favor of a liberal Repub.

---

This GOB system in the GOP is THE problem.

It's not just in Ohio, it covers all of DC

[Torie]

A 350 billion tax cut versus a 550 billion one is rounding error. The difference will not have much impact on the economy. Whether running these huge deficits is good or bad, few have much to say that is intelligent, so I really don't know. What I do know is that this is one of those marginal issues that both parties will get in a wad about. Isn't that why we have parties? I am beginning to wonder.

[Lady In Blue]

Big meeting Tuesday with the GOP from what I heard.

More info please.Is the meeting with the President and the House and Senate? Thanks!

[JNB]

Sen Voinovich has nothing to fear. Club for Growth who is running ads against him is rapidly making itself toxic in GOP circles for various reasons, and he is well liked in the state, especially among social conservatives.

I hate to burst peoples bubble here, but a tax cut really does not register as all that big of a issue, for many core conservative groups, who mainly vote for the GOP because of social, not economic issues.

[heyhey]

bump

[PianoMan]

I've never seen any indication Club for Growth has been "making themselves toxic," except for the fact that they stand for something on principle, which eternally irritates politicians. Certianly the NR/WSJ axis all seem to be behind Moore.

[JNB]

The NR/WSJ only represents one point of the conservative view, and Club for Growth has been moronic when it has come to political realities, and has pissed off many in GOP circles for their tactics, especially when one considers how narrow the GOPs grip on the senate is.

I will restate, Sen Voinovich has nothing to fear, and no one of any stature will challenger him in the primary, and if there is any sign of that, Rove wil clear them out of the way.

[meenie]

Keynesian theory maintains that during prosperous times enough taxes should be levied to pay down the debt incurred during periods of recession. We failed to pay down the debt during the last prosperous period.(1992-1999) We failed to honor our obligations to pay down the debt during this period, exactly opposite to Keynesian theory. Now we are talking of expanding debt and deficit during a recessionary period exactly in line with Keynesian theory.

In conclusion, my theory known as the meenie theory, proposes that the government does not know what to do in good times or bad, and has very little effect on the route that the economy takes. My theory also proposes that any politician that takes credit for or claims to know how to shore up an ailing economy is full of it. Bushies, please don't pile on.

[RockBassCreek]

I'm from Ohio and I want more of my money. I want to give the government less of my money.

I think President Bush might be selling this wrong in Ohio. Instead of talking about the economy and the budget, he should be talking about how much money the average Ohio taxpayer will get back if his cut is approved. He should give it in the form of another rebate BIG check.

Call your senator and get a bundle of money if you change his mind.

[jagrmeister]

Speak for yourself. Economic conservatism is just as important as social conservatism amongst the Republican faithful. Both sides stick up for the other even if it's not their primary reason for voting. That compact is what allows us to win elections.

[PianoMan]

What are you, the economics Rip van Winkle? Keynes, um, didn't work. First we had rising unemployment and inflation at the same time, which isn't even possible under the Keynesian paradigm, then the Berlin Wall fell and all the socialist economies went into debt crises. Then Japan tried to stimulate its way out of crisis Keynes-style and failed.

Forgive me if I don't wait for more details on your theory with bated breath.

[JNB]

Maybe for you, but the reason why the GOP gained its majority in the 90s is not because of its economic views, but its social views, such as its stands on guns, affirmative action and abortion. You would be surprised how little social conservatives really care about tax cuts, and how often social conservatives have economic views that would have made them typical Blue Collar Democrats 40 years ago. The Republican Faithful world of Limbaugh really does not exist as he frames it.

[Rudder]

...and he is well liked in the state, especially among social conservatives.

Voinovich, favored by Ohio's social conservatives?--not in this part of Ohio! He was elected because he was the only GOP running and his nomination was because of the GOB system in Ohio politics and its belief that its better to go with a proven winner (Voinovich was Governor just before being elected to the Senate.) A true conservative would never get past the primary--and that's a big problem here. Taft is another one...he'll never get elected to anything again.