Getting government back on track, or another gimmick?
January 21, 2013 at 11:33 am in News by Dustin Siggins 10 Comments
On Friday, a deal was discussed by House Republicans regarding the debt ceiling. According to an e-mail to supporters from Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), it consists of the following details:
Requires the House and Senate to pass a budget, and withholds our pay if we don’t do so (if you recall, it has been over four years since the Senate has passed a budget). It is ridiculous to think you can fix the spending problem in Washington without a blueprint – maybe this will be the kick in the rear Senate Democrats need to do their jobs.
Implements immediate spending cuts – not “promised” spending cuts ten years from now. The cuts we are eyeing will reduce discretionary spending to about 2007 levels and will put us on a path to balance the federal budget in just a few years.
In exchange for real spending cuts and “no budget, no pay”, we conservatives will agree to raise the borrowing authority for three months – enough time for the Senate to pass their budget. Again, though I have been critical of Congress’ lack of discipline on these issues in the past, I am hopeful that our plan will move forward. Stay tuned.
It’s hard to decide which side to take.. On the one hand, real spending cuts are good and necessary. On the other, raising the debt ceiling is something Tea Party Patriots opposes. Additionally, as AllahPundit noted at Hot Air, cutting the pay of Congress in this way is very possibly unconstitutional.
The real victory here would be forcing Senate Democrats to actually create a budget. As Rep. Jordan notes in the e-mail, we can’t fix the spending problem in Washington without a blueprint, without prioritization of spending what the government takes in through tax revenue.
The big concern with forcing a budget is simple: Democrats have not passed a budget for two consecutive election cycles, yet the media refuses to hold them responsible for this illegal and immoral abdication of duty. Republicans are draconian for wanting modest cuts in their House budget, yet Democrats are praised while not even considering a budget. For years, the media has let Democrats do what they want when it comes to spending, which means the public shaming associated with not passing a budget may not take place, and Democrats simply won’t pass a budget again.
If this deal becomes law, Tea Party activists should watch very closely to see if the Senate considers a budget right away. If it does not immediately begin that process, it is up to us to make sure the media and the American people hear from us. The truth must be heard, with or without mainstream media.
Not paying them is NOT enough! If they (Congress) wanted to help this country they would set term limits on THEMSELFs! House of Representives 2 terms of 4 years each, Sentate 2 terms of 6 years each, NO pay after they leave the elected prosition, NO bodyguards after leaving office and ALL people would have to have Obamacare!
House terms are 2 years.
You idiots! The Constitution gives the House the responsibility of creating the budget. NOT THE SENATE!
The republicans in the house have passed several cost cuting budgets that the senate has not even let on the floor for a vote nor made any suggestions for the house to consider or work with. But im sure you can just blame Bush and throw rocks at what you cant understand.
For the house to submit a budget, which they have 32 times in the past 2 years, they must have the integrity to stand by their work when the senate ignores them.
The only way the house can command respect is to first shut down the government, and second, impeach the president for dereliction of duty.
Which the senate will clear him of all charges, but unless the point is driven home, it will be the Christmas Gingrich all over again. A thought Boehner does not have the integrity to deal with, he likes wearing knickers and playing golf with POTUS.
How about NO ONE has to have Obamacare? Thats what I thought….much better. @ Bubba…right on.
In my view it is an unnecessary and unenforcable gimmick.
I support the notion of immediate spending cuts, but that support is contingent on what specifically is cut and how much is actually cut. I am not in favor of a cure that is worse than the disease.
I believe that a “promise” to pass a budget is vastly different than actually passing one. Obama has already comitted to not negotiating for an increase in the debt ceiling. Why in the world are the House Republicans STILL trying to negotiate? There is nothing to negotiate! First and foremost, the debt ceiling WILL be raised regardless of any other factor. House Republicans already have the authority to pass a budget. Their challenge is to draft a budget that gives reasonable hope of Democrat support. Without Democrat support, they are merely wasting time and anything they pass will never reach the Presidents desk.
The Republicans have a simple choice. They can work for a bi-partisan agreement which puts the ownness on Obama to act or they can put up a budget that has no chance of passing and do damage to themselves and to the Country.
Brother Joes Budget
Cut foreign aid to unfriendly countrys- Cut ties with and funding of the counterproductive UN- Sell the NY property the UN is occupying in NY to pay down the debt. Condense federal agencies as layers of onions cost more and move slower. IE. disolve DHS and refocus the FBI CIA and other Agencies the 9-11 comission said failed. Reveive the 9-11 commission document and restructure pre-existing Agencies to achieve the desired sharing of information.Cut one of the education department, Cut subsidies of anything.(Welfare and social programs can use cuts but they come out of a trust that fails due to missmanagement) Clean up the missmanagement in our social programs by removing planned expansion through media advertisement of benefits and look at ways to vet recipients and minimize cases. look at tort reform)I like the penny plan too. Obviously there isnt enough space to give a budget but it can be cut and it will hurt some people when it is.
Our ship is sinking gentlemen so its time to cast off weight and bail the flood of debt or sink to the conseqences
Good start Joe, now, to get some public servants to SERVE?
@ Bubba. You use the term idiot pretty loosely for someone who is obviously ill informed of the national budget process. Please do just a little research before making inane assertions. Look up the National Budget Act of 1974 just for a start. Please feel free to call me a name at this juncture.