Posted on 02/24/2009 6:20:36 AM PST by cc2k
Washington, Feb 23 - Remarkably, as President Obama convenes a fiscal responsibility summit at the White House today, Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill are putting the finishing touches on the largest discretionary spending increase, aside from legislation after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, since the Carter Administration – a nearly half-trillion spending bill that’s due to hit the floor later this week. The dichotomy could not be more striking.
House Republicans agree with President Obama that Washington needs to get a grip on its out-of-control spending habits, and that’s why House Republican leaders today called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) to abandon their latest plans for a half-trillion dollar spending spree and enact a federal spending freeze instead. House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN) noted that the spending freeze would be a signal to American families that both parties are getting serious after President Obama’s call for greater fiscal responsibility:
“Our nation’s hard-working families are hurting and need relief. Out-of-control government spending is not the answer to helping Americans get back to work. Instead, the excessive borrowing only ensures future generations of Americans are burdened with unsustainable debt. It’s time that Washington ends its spending spree and live within its means like American families are forced to do.”
Indeed, Americans are facing significant budget problems of their own during the current economic downturn. Middle-class families are being forced to cut back on their own spending, and likewise, many small businesses are being forced to eliminate jobs or close down altogether. Unfortunately, as Capitol Hill Democrats plan for the largest non-entitlement spending hike since the Carter era, reports indicate that President Obama is poised to release a budget blueprint that will include a tax hike on families and small businesses. When news broke of the tax hike, the Washington Post reported, “Even some nonpartisan observers question the wisdom of announcing a plan to raise taxes in the midst of a recession.”
Back in November 2008, House GOP Leader John Boehner (R-OH) urged then-President-elect Obama to take tax hikes on families and small businesses off the table during the economic downturn, warning that increasing taxes would only deepen the recession and hurt job creation at a time when it is needed most. Boehner underscored his warning in the New York Times’ Caucus Blog today, repeating his call for spending sanity – not raising taxes on families and small businesses – in order to bring about greater fiscal responsibility in Washington:
“‘Stopping out-of-control spending here in Washington, not increasing taxes on families and small businesses or endangering our troops and their mission, is the responsible way to tackle the deficit,’ Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the Republican leader, said Sunday, sounding the party alarm about potential tax increases and Pentagon cuts.”
With today’s White House summit, tomorrow’s speech to a joint session of Congress, and Thursday’s release of his budget blueprint, this is a week President Obama intends to showcase as a new era of fiscal responsibility in our nation’s capital. Will his Democratic colleagues in Congress join him? Or will they press forward with their plans for the largest discretionary spending hike since the Carter Administration? And will the President really seek to saddle families and small businesses with higher taxes just as our nation struggles to emerge from a deep economic recession? Those answers will become clearer to the American people over the next few days.
And stop with the "secret" bills, Madame Speaker!
Having made those points, I am still somewhat disappointed in Republican spending during the Bush years. There's actually a disclaimer in this statement.
It seems like a lot of the post 9-11 spending wasn't terrorism or defense related, and there was a Republican spending binge around that time that was nearly as bad as what we are seeing now.
Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill are putting the finishing touches on the largest discretionary spending increase, aside from legislation after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, since the Carter Administration
But the headline, "Back to the Future: Capitol Hill Dems Call for Largest Discretionary Spending Hike Since Carter Bush Administration" isn't something Boehner and the Republicans want to highlight.
I’m glad Wall Street is closed when the Messiah gives his speech tonight.
This is so irresponsible. If we weren’t running a deficit we could talk about some of this unnecessary spending. But to do it while we depend on inflation or China to pay for it is... well, I think most children would know better.
I’m glad Wall Street is closed when the Messiah gives his speech tonight.
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Yes.The False Prophet of Doom.
Yes, more accurately, as the OP points out, the largest spending increase since TEH NINE ELEVENS!!! (GOP control of Legislative and Executive). "Most expensive market interference since FDR, aside from legislation signed last fall by the White House." The pitiful reaction elicited by the taxpayer in response to yet more trillions in spending is partially a result of such numbers being made to seem almost ordinary by the previous administration's spending habits (700 billion here, 700 billion there, 700 billion to save the camel rapists).
We set ourselves up for this, and are again revealing the fact that the GOP is only the party of small government when it is not in power. Thank goodness for partisanship (seriously), because there are no core convictions which would otherwise promote resistance to government expansion. Stand for the individual over the collective or stand for nothing.
Worth repeating.
It’s intentional
The Dems and Obama are engaged in purposefully destroying the American economy.
It’s not stupidity. It’s calculated imposition of socialism.
The answer is, NO. Talk to the hand, Democrats.
With all due respect, you’re twisting the facts worse than Michael Moore. The legislation right after 9/11 was purely defense and security spending.
“This is so irresponsible.”
Democrats get elected by spending your money.
Watch for the Asian Markets to start dropping like a rock right after 0bama's speech tonight. The Dow will drop another 500 points tommorrow.
Remember that when the 0ne says fiscal responsibility, he means your taxes will go up.
Because they hold majority in Congress and they hold a sizable electorate in the Senate plus the Presidency they are doing what they have been wanting to do for years. SPEND the peoples dollars to further their own ends and agendas.
I just read that only 7% of the stimulus bill was actually stimulus, 93% is all favors and thank you’s.
I am afraid to type what i am thinking for fear of being called a racist or being censored so I’ll just link to what I think
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Nigger%20Rich&defid=1218625
Why? It will just lose all the gains from today in the morning. Our problems are structural and inherent in the system and government. A one day sucker rally (which is what this is) is not going to stop the inevtiable declines later this week when the hopium wears off.
We don’t need any “stimulus” or even tax cuts. The economy is already past its worst.
You are correct ....and let us also remember a few other important facts about post-9/11 spending:
a. Senate - controlled by Democrats (thanks to Jumpin’ Jim Jeffords).
b. The Democrats wanted to lard up all the spending - including trying to “unionize” the new Homeland Security agency manning, lots of pork that the Republicans had to fight to control.
So it might be convenient to blame Pres. Bush ... but the reality is that Congress ran amok, and the Democrats, with their threats of obstruction if they didn’t get some of the pork they wanted helped raise the spending.
Yep. Republicans did this ourselves. It is as if many of us were sleep walking through the last 8 years.
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