Posted on 11/18/2005 3:59:24 AM PST by MNJohnnie
WASHINGTON — House Republicans sweated out a victory on a major budget cut bill in the wee hours Friday, salvaging a major pillar of their agenda despite divisions within the party and nervousness among moderates that the vote could cost them in next year's elections.
The bill, passed 217-215 after a 25-minute-long roll call, makes modest but politically painful cuts across an array of programs for the poor, students and farmers.
The victory on the deficit-control bill came hours after an embarrassing and rare defeat on a $602 billion spending bill for education, health care and job training programs this year. The earlier 224-209 vote halted what had been a steady drive to complete annual appropriations bills freezing many agency budgets.
The broader budget bill would slice almost $50 billion from the deficit by the end of the decade by curbing rapidly growing benefit programs such as Medicaid, food stamps and student loan subsidies. Republicans said reining in such programs whose costs spiral upward each year automatically s the first step to restoring fiscal discipline.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Looking into the historical significance of legislation that has been passed previously for the benefit of the "the poor, students and farmers", very little of this supposed benefit EVER got to the targeted individuals. This lottery has been mostly to create and maintain a level of bureaucracy between the Federal treasury and the designated beneficiaries, and most of the funds are used up there. Of the individuals who do manage to benefit, most of the recipients do not meet the designated standards of "need", but many times, are favored because of the political support they can generate for elected officials in their congressional district.
It was about automatic raises in allocations, needed or not.
We decided to help a family of 4 by buying food to last them a week. We budgeted about $40.00, the actual cost was $13.00. We bought all generic food at Target, large jar peanut butter, large loaf of bread, large grape jelly, large can of beef stew, large can vegetables, large box of spaghetti, large jar of spaghetti sauce with meat. It can be done, it may not be gourmet meals but it keeps everyone from starving.
Excellent Idea.
Still tracking it.
(Republicans in roman; Democrats in italic; Independents underlined)
This is a darn fine victory for us. I am really proud of our leadership right now, especially amid all of the media pressure following DeLay's departure. I am thankful that these men, Roy Blunt especially, are doing their jobs.
I agree! I salute the House Leadership for their victory, and I pray we have many more.
The 14 Republican Reps. Voting Against The Deficit Reduction Act [7 Main St. Republicans/Soros]
House Of Representatives ^ | Nov. 18, 2005 | Clerk Of The House
Posted on 11/18/2005 6:11:22 AM PST by conservativecorner
7 Republicans Voting Against:
Jones [NC]
McHugh
Ney
Paul
Smith [NJ]
Sweeney
Wilson
7 Main Street Republicans. They accept George Sorso's Money:
Gerlach
Johnson [CT]
Johnson [IL]
Leach
Ramstad
Shays
Simmons
Main Street Individual Fund, 2004 Election Cycle
The Main Street Individual Fund (MSIF) is a New York-based group founded to help elect moderate Republican candidates. Among those candidates it supports in the 2004 elections is Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa), who is fending off a tough primary challenge from Rep. Pat Toomey. MSIF raises funds from individual donors and is affiliated with another 527, the Main Street Fund, which solicits contributions from corporations and unions. Both are connected to the Republican Main Street Partnership.
Affiliated Personnel:
Sarah Chamberlain Resnick, executive director Bob Duke, fund-raiser
Donors:
Dinakar Singh, Goldman Sachs, $100,000
George Soros, Soros Fund Management $50,000
Sidney V Weinberg Jr, Goldman Sachs $50,000
John C Whitehead Lower Manhattan Development Corp, $50,000
527 Activity:
Total Receipts: $471,600
Total Expenditures: $258,870
Note: This data is based on records released Monday, October 24, 2005.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.