DeMint wants 'big showdown' with Democrats over raising debt ceiling

The Hill ^ | 01/03/11 | Michael O'Brien

[SharpRightTurn]

Republicans should prepare for a "showdown" with President Obama and congressional Democrats over raising the debt ceiling, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) said Monday.

DeMint, a de-facto leader of Senate conservatives and many Tea Party senators, called for an all-out battle early this year, when Congress will face a tough vote to legally authorize the government to take on more debt.

"I think we should resist that. We need to have a showdown, at this point, that we're not going to increase our debt ceiling anymore. We are going to cut things necessary to stay within the current levels, which is over $14 trillion," DeMint told the conservative magazine Human Events in an interview released Monday. "So this needs to be a big showdown."

Republicans have pointed to that impending vote as a major flashpoint in the debate over spending and deficits this year. The new GOP House that will be sworn in Wednesday is eager to make spending cuts, and budget hawks hope to use the vote on the debt ceiling as a bargaining chip to extract agreements from the White House to cut spending.

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) has said he's trying to build a bipartisan bloc to accomplish just that, while Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the incoming chairman of the House Budget Committee, has wondered what Republicans would "get in exchange" for raising the debt ceiling.

The Obama administration has already begun to try to frame the debate over raising the debt ceiling by warning of the seriousness of the economic situation that would result if Congress failed to authorized the increased borrowing.

"If we get to the point where you've damaged the full faith and credit of the United States, that would be the first default in history caused purely by insanity," Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Austan Goolsbee said on Sunday on ABC.

DeMint has exhibited a willingness in the past to use the Senate's procedural rules and his privileges as a lawmaker to accomplish his aims. When he threatened to force a reading of a $1.1 trillion omnibus bill during the closing days of the lame-duck Congress, Democrats withdrew the bill and replaced it with a more modest continuing resolution.

That continuing resolution is set to expire in March, setting up a major fight over spending in the first few months of this year. DeMint said he'd favor institutional reforms at that point that would constrain Congress's ability to spend.

"The first thing we have to do is put in place a balanced budget amendment or something very similar that will force us to make the hard decisions," he said. "No one is willing to say we need to cut this, this and that. If you do, you might get 10 votes in the Senate. So we have to have an institutional discipline that forces us to say, okay, this is what we've got to do."

[SharpRightTurn]

Let's see how many elephants sign on.

[goldstategop]

The RINOs might go along with raising the debt ceiling if the Democrats promise offset spending cuts.

I have my doubts such a deal is in the works.

[stockpirate]

The esteemed senate republican leader (republican socialist) will give Obama and his socialist pals everything they want, just like in the tax bill. Which had almost 200 billion in new spending. BTW- tea party wants to cut 100 billion this year, so there you go.

[napscoordinator]

This will be a big test. Isn’t DeMint the one who claimed that he was going to read an entire bill but decided it would take too much time. I still want DeMint as a possible Presidential candidate, but that was telling. Hopefully he will stick to his guns on this one.

[katiedidit1]

The govt wants MORE money to mishandle? they cannot account for the massive spending via earmarks, epa, UN, bailouts, Obamacare etc now. You don’t give more money to be tossed to the winds and inane programs that are killing this country.

[PubliusMM]

“...while Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the incoming chairman of the House Budget Committee, has wondered what Republicans would “get in exchange” for raising the debt ceiling.”

How about...booted out? That’s what they need to ‘get in exchange’ for raising the debt ceiling.

These gasbags didn’t hear a thing in November.

[screaminsunshine]

If they do not raise the debt limit it will force spending cuts. Do not raise it. Lower it.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Jim DeMint—one of the very few politicians with spine, guts, cajones, and love for his country. Too bad we don’t have 500 more just like him.

[NC28203]

To avoid raising the debt ceiling, you have to balance the budget by March. Going back to 2008 spending levels as has been proposed still leaves the government spending more than it takes in, thus requiring more borrowing and a higher debt ceiling.

When you consider the budget deficit for this year will be about $1.3T, you pretty much have to go after everything that is not defense, social security, medicare or medicaid.

Discretionary spending in FY 2010 was $1.39 trillion, or 38% of total spending. More than half ($844 billion) was security spending, which includes the Department of Defense, overseas contingency programs and Homeland Security.

Non-security spending was $553 billion. So if you close down all the discretionary gov agencies (USDA, Energy, Commerce, Education, etc) immediately you find about $500B in savings. There is $135B in stimulus spending for FY11 that could be cut. We can find an additional $619B in savings from non-discretionary programs if we immediately cut these programs: Food Stamps, Unemployment Compensation, Child Nutrition and Tax Credits, Supplemental Security for the Disabled and Student Loans. That gets you close to balancing the budget.

Again, this has to all be achieved by March.

[screaminsunshine]

Most Republican establishment types have contracted “Rhinesia” a rare disease that strikes Elephants. Usually 1 to 3 months after elections. There is no known antidote other than a trip to the Elephants Graveyard. It takes 2 to 6 years to cure the problem. The symptoms become apparent once exposed to bright TV studio lights and are exacerbated by close contact with Socialist Journalists.

[RexBeach]

“Junior” DeMint is on the loose! Get the popcorn ready.

The Dems will say that the Pubbies want to kill the economy.

Hah! And they don’t? Meatheads.

[Truth29]

It won’t happen by March, but how about adding to the list the reversal of the ever increasing Federal ownership of public lands and selling off much of the West’s Federal holding to private hands?

[onyx]

RIGHT ON!

GO SENATOR DEMINT!

[FromLori]

Why for the entertainment value? Some have already said they would sign up for a raise in the debt ceiling they’ll just tie it to conditions. They should just outright say NO.

[Cobra64]

The RINOs might go along with raising the debt ceiling if the Democrats promise offset spending cuts.

Reagan tried this. Debt ceiling increased, so did spending.

[Twinkie]

That’s it. If the hole you’re already in is big, and you’re grousing about how DEEP the hole is, KEEP ON DIGGING the hole until it’s several times bigger than it was initially. That’s the Obama Plan. DUH! Makes perfect sense to me. s/

[bwc2221]

You have to admire the courage of DeMint especially compared to Richard Lugar, who always wears white Depends - just in case he needs a surrender flag.

[Dr. Sivana]

The RINOs might go along with raising the debt ceiling if the Democrats promise offset spending cuts.

Legend:
RINOs = Charlie Brown
Spending Cuts = Kicked football
Democrats = Lucy Van Pelt

[NonValueAdded]

go, Jim, GO!!!

[mrsmith]

“go after everything that is not defense, social security, medicare or medicaid. “

The context of holding the debt ceiling is the best opportunity to go after entitlement spending.

Not that I believe we’ll see anything but Kabuki.

But the new House may surprise me.