Posted on 10/25/2005 10:48:17 PM PDT by indianrightwinger
Bills to Cut Social Programs Move Forward in Senate and House By DAVID ROGERS Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL October 26, 2005; Page A6
WASHINGTON -- Deficit-reduction bills advanced in Congress as Senate Republicans completed a $39 billion five-year package and House Republicans began work on a more-ambitious effort demanding bigger cuts in social-service and health programs.
Lawmakers neared agreement last night on legislation that would mandate disclosure by the Food and Drug Administration of any waivers of conflicts-of-interest rules for people selected to serve on its advisory committees. The FDA would be required to publish on its Web site all waivers at least 15 days before an advisory-board meeting. Proponents argued that the measure would lead to more transparency and would discourage such waivers.
Medicaid, food stamps and child-support enforcement funding are three potential flash points as the House and Senate craft their competing deficit-reduction bills. The revised $39 billion estimate for the Senate package came in higher than expected, and if some of the extra spending provisions were dropped, the bill could inch toward the $50 billion five-year savings target set by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R., Ill.).
Mr. Hastert is having trouble finding enough Republican votes to ensure reaching $50 billion. Rather than wait any longer, House committees will begin voting today on their assigned savings numbers so their bills can be assembled into a final package next week by the House Budget Committee.
The Senate expects to complete that task this afternoon. The last major piece -- an estimated $10 billion in savings from the Medicare and Medicaid programs -- was approved by the Senate Finance Committee on an 11-9 vote last night.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
And the mortgage interest tax credit is getting yanked.
Hey SOMEBODY'S gotta pay the bills!
Drop in the bucket!
Big government Republicanism is here to stay.
Sad part is the even the drop-in-the-bucket cannot pass GOP congress. I am going to support Coburn types carefully next time around. Especially in the primaries.
Protect your pocketbook! Vote Gridlock 2006!
Maybe I am naive but if we cut the money we "give" overseas , wouldn't we be a hell of a lot richer? Can we start with the 250 million a year to the terrorist organisation called the P.L.O.?
We have had an effect when we did not donate to the RNC. That is the only reason that they are now "talking" about border control. It works. I helped get Bush elected, and I now refuse to donate any money until the borders are secure. I thought my president from Texas understood the problem, but I was wrong. No money until they get serious.
And the lefties think the WSJ is conservative!
THE USA is giving money to the criminal elements of the world while failing to take care of our own poor and sick.
The USA government is failing to take care of it's own.
This just can not be tolerated. It is insane.
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