Senate kills spending freeze measure

Washington Times ^ | March 3, 2009 | S.A. Miller

[Jim Robinson]

The Senate on Tuesday shot down a Republican measure that would have frozen federal spending at 2008 levels for the current fiscal year, preferring to stick with an omnibus package that increases spending by about 8 percent.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, said during the debate that the spending-freeze amendment would have been the same as "looking backward, going in reverse. It doesn't make sense."

Democrats said higher sending was vital to responding to the economic crisis.

The amendment, which Sen. John McCain offered to replace the $410 billion omnibus bill that would fund most of the government until the fiscal year ends Sept. 30, died in a 32-63 vote.

Nine Republicans joined 52 Democrats and two independents in opposing the amendment, while two Democrats broke ranks to support it.

That leaves the Senate debating an omnibus appropriations bill that would replace stopgap funding that expires Friday. The Democrat-led Congress must approve the omnibus or another temporary measure by then or else the federal government will shut down.

Tuesday's vote came a day after Mr. McCain of Arizona, the defeated Republican presidential nominee, railed on the Senate floor against President Obama's support for the pork-laden omnibus, saying Mr. Obama broke his promise to change Washington and settled for "business as usual."

Mr. McCain's amendment also would have killed about 9,000 earmarks costing $12.8 billion for lawmakers' pet projects in the omnibus package

"Americans are having to tighten their belts," Mr. McCain said Tuesday during debate on the amendment. "No time is more important than now to show the American people that we are ready to tighten our belts."

Despite President Obama's oft-stated distaste for earmark pork and the ways of Washington, the White House said it will not take a stand against the projects...

[Danae]

“Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, said during the debate that the spending-freeze amendment would have been the same as “looking backward, going in reverse. It doesn’t make sense.””

It makes perfect sense Babs, if YOU HAVE NO MONEY. Idiot.

[doodad]

These people are criminally insane.

[rjsimmon]

Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, said during the debate that the spending-freeze amendment would have been the same as "looking backward, going in reverse. It doesn't make sense."

Well, hell Babs, lets grow by 8,000% instead of a measley 8%. Why not? Let's not look backward.

When has any fiscal restraint made sense to a liberal?

[WayneS]

Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, said during the debate that the spending-freeze amendment would have been the same as "looking backward, going in reverse. It doesn't make sense."

She's correct about a spending "freeze" (zero increase) being the wrong way to go, of course. Since the CPI has gone DOWN, this year's spending should actually be LESS than in FY2008.

[Anti-Kenyan]

“These people are criminally insane.”

/thread

[DTogo]

What we need along the National Mall...

... at least 650 or so.

[HighlyOpinionated]

Which Nine Republicans? They need an Email from Highly Opinionated (me) Conservative Voter Extraordinaire.

[scottywr]

Which Republicans defected here?

[KansasGirl]

Alexander (R-TN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)

McCaskill and Bayh from the Rat side voted Yea.

[Jim Robinson]

From another post:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2198274/posts

Alexander (R-TN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)

[PubliusMM]

Those nine pubbies need to be drummed out of the party...

[Syncro]

Bump

SSDD

[SunkenCiv]

The Senate on Tuesday shot down a Republican measure that would have frozen federal spending at 2008 levels for the current fiscal year, preferring to stick with an omnibus package that increases spending by about 8 percent.