Posted on 09/14/2005 10:31:09 AM PDT by zek157
DeLay declares 'victory' in war on budget fat By Amy Fagan and Stephen Dinan THE WASHINGTON TIMES September 14, 2005 House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said yesterday that Republicans have done so well in cutting spending that he declared an "ongoing victory," and said there is simply no fat left to cut in the federal budget. Mr. DeLay was defending Republicans' choice to borrow money and add to this year's expected $331 billion deficit to pay for Hurricane Katrina relief. Some Republicans have said Congress should make cuts in other areas, but Mr. DeLay said that doesn't seem possible. "My answer to those that want to offset the spending is sure, bring me the offsets, I'll be glad to do it. But nobody has been able to come up with any yet," the Texas Republican told reporters at his weekly briefing. Asked if that meant the government was running at peak efficiency, Mr. DeLay said, "Yes, after 11 years of Republican majority we've pared it down pretty good." Congress has passed two hurricane relief bills totaling $62.3 billion, all of which will be added to the deficit. Republican leaders have been under pressure from conservative members and outside watchdog groups to find ways to pay for the Katrina relief. Some Republicans wanted to offer an amendment, including cuts, to pay for hurricane spending but were denied the chance under procedural rules. "This is hardly a well-oiled machine," said Rep. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican. "There's a lot of fat to trim. ... I wonder if we've been serving in the same Congress." American Conservative Union Chairman David A. Keene said federal spending already was "spiraling out of control" before Katrina, and conservatives are "increasingly losing faith in the president and the Republican leadership in Congress."
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
American Conservative Union Chairman David A. Keene said federal spending already was "spiraling out of control" before Katrina, and conservatives are "increasingly losing faith in the president and the Republican leadership in Congress."
"Excluding military and homeland security, American taxpayers have witnessed the largest spending increase under any preceding president and Congress since the Great Depression," he said.
Mr. Keene said annual nonmilitary and non-homeland security spending increased $303 billion between fiscal year 2001 and 2005; the acknowledged federal debt increased more than $2 trillion since fiscal year 2000; and the 2003 Medicare prescription drug bill is estimated to increase the government's unfunded obligations by $16 trillion.
Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), said if Mr. DeLay wants to know where to cut, "there are plenty of places to reduce."
His group soon will release a list of $2 trillion in suggested spending cuts over the next five years, and he said Congress also could cut the estimated $20 billion to $25 billion in pet projects that make their way into must-pass spending bills each year.
CAGW and the Heritage Foundation also suggest rescinding the 6,000-plus earmarked projects in the recently passed highway bill.
But Mr. DeLay said those projects are "important infrastructure" and eliminating them could undermine the economy as Congress tries to offer hurricane relief.
"It is right to borrow to pay for it," he said. "But it is not right to attack the very economy that will pay for it."
Mr. Schatz, though, said the highway bill included projects such as flowers for the Ronald Reagan freeway in California, which he said aren't essential spending.
Mr. DeLay said the budget this year was pared down and 100 programs or offices were eliminated in this year's spending bills. "We have been doing that for 11 years," he said. He said it's an "ongoing process" that will be more complete after this year's budget process, which calls for cuts to Medicaid and other entitlement programs.
Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina Republican, agreed that Republicans "have been more fiscally sound than the Democrats were in their decades in the House." He acknowledged that "we're still trying to improve," and noted Mr. DeLay is leading the fight to reform the budget process.
"We've had a good start, but many of us want to see the government be more fiscally sound and conservative in the future," Mr. McHenry said
According to Rush, Delay is being sarcastic. He means there is definitely plenty of "fat" to cut.
Y'all missed RUSH on this?
yes- everyone knows the government workers are the best.
Hence the oft-used phrase "as efficient as a government program"
< / sarcasm off >
Might it be time for Delay to go back into private business?
President Kennedy's first federal budget called for 62-bilion-dollars in federal spending. We propose to spend that much on relief for the hurricane!
Mr. DeLay must be smoking something funny if he thinks that there is no fat left to cut in the budget. He is full of it and I am glad not be to on his staff. I'll bet his staff has a lot of turnover.
Wake up and smell the red ink, Mr. DeLay.
According to Rush, Delay is being sarcastic. He means there is definitely plenty of "fat" to cut.
I suspected as much.
Not that I want any of this money to be dumped into a federal aid package with just as little oversight. It's a forgone conclusion that congress will add pork to these packages as well. Read a piece at NRO here: http://www.nationalreview.com/murdock/murdock200509130834.asp
This government is a mess.
Delay was bwing sarcastic, but anyone who thinks the GOP is for smaller Gov't remains delusional.
I'm sorry but Tom DeLay needs to put down the crack pipe. This is the biggest load of manure ever and DeLay really should know better.
Ok, I didn't know that. The Times makes no mention of the sarcasm. In that case Delay was stupid for not knowing this would be take out of context and printed.
IMO
Here is an example of how spending is cut and politicized and why politicians generally steer clear of "cutting."
If your spouse or financial situation required that spending be reduced to compensate for reduced or lack of income, then most of us would drink less beer, gamble less, rent fewer movies, cut out a vacation, buy cloths at garage sales, etc.
When government asks departments and groups to cut spending here are the responses you get: WE have to fire teachers and do away with music class; we must fire 10% of our police officers; we have to close DMV branches; etc.
See the different in logic? It is the equivelent of us telling our spouse, "Well we are going to have to give away one of the children."
Every company in this economy finds creative ways to reduce overhead costs and spending and increase productivity and efficiency. Why doesn't the school system refrain from spending $4 million on a new public football stadium upgrade, or buy more cost effective cars to teach driver's education in, etc. Poloticians need to specifify to incompetent beneficiaries of these "budgeted" funds and be specific about what to save money on. It needs to trickle down to the local officials and voters need to hold politicians and local officials alike accountable.
Sure there is money to cut. But no polotician has the gonads to call out the drama queens crying about how kids school lunches will no longer include food.
Rush gets it again. Tom Delay is setting a trap. Now when the any Representative complains that there is so "fat" left in the budget, Leader Delay can hit them with "then give me a list of your pork projects so that we can cut them". Brilliant
Unable to recognize a challenge for the rats to come up with spending cuts, aren't we?
Total garbage. DeLay was given a list of pork projects to cut. He declared them "vital infrastructure." Such "vital" projects as the $2 billion "bridge to nowhere" and flowers along the Ronald Reagan Freeway in California.
Rush is full of crap.
I was delusional too.
Nope. DeLay specifically defended the pork-wagon highway bill as economically vital "infrastructure" -- bridge to nowhere and all.
I can only conclude that OxyContin kills brain cells.
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