A Spending Embarrassment

The Wall Street Journal ^ | June 24, 2018 | WSJ Editorial Board

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Republicans have had a rough week, mostly of their own making, and on Wednesday they added to their self-punishment with a spending fiasco in the Senate. Two GOP Senators blocked the Trump Administration’s rescissions package that would claw back $15 billion, much of which wasn’t even likely to be spent under current policy.

A Senate procedural vote to move the rescissions package failed 48-50 after defections from Susan Collins of Maine and Richard Burr of North Carolina. From what we’ve heard Ms. Collins wanted to keep the money on ice so if it isn’t spent as part of its current program she could spend it later on other things. Finding fake “savings” to spend elsewhere is a bipartisan tradition. Ms. Collins has helped to defeat a health-care bill that reformed Medicaid, death-tax repeal, and now the rescissions package.

Mr. Burr revolted over a line item about the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a rescission he wanted stripped from the package, and so he blocked even a debate. Mr. Burr could have moved to strike the item on the floor and he might have succeeded. The conservation program is largely a slush fund for government land grabs, but it’s politically untouchable because it reminds people of Old Faithful and camping trips.

[loveliberty2]

Burr has become an embarrassment to his Party and his State.

[Mr. K]

North Carolina freepers- where are you??

[Lurkinanloomin]

Flake, Corker, Hatch, Heller, Alexander, Graham, McCain, Murkowsky, Hoeven, Rubio, Tillis, Burr, Lankford, Gardner, Cornyn, Hyde-Smith, Collins, Sasse, Kennedy, Shelby, Ernst, Blunt, McConnell, Wicker, Portman, Isakson, Johnson, Toomey, Rounds, Capito, Thune, Gaines, Barasso and Enzi are all Bush League Republicans hell bent on making America into North Mexico.

Nothing good will come out of Congress until they are replaced.

[BlissinNC]

This makes me absolutely furious! I tried to go on Instagram, where he posted how proud he was of his actions in this case...but “comments on this post have been limited.” He has been a horrible Senator from day one!!

[Vehmgericht]

The Deep State must be fully funded!

[Truthoverpower]

It’s going to take several more election cycles
Assuming trump stays this excellent course
Which I have no doubt he will

[Svartalfiar]

Mr. Burr revolted over a line item about the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a rescission he wanted stripped from the package, and so he blocked even a debate. Mr. Burr could have moved to strike the item on the floor and he might have succeeded. The conservation program is largely a slush fund for government land grabs,

...Why not move to strike the line item? Sigh idiots. And, how does one Senator prevent bringing a bill to debate? That makes no sense...