Judd Gregg: Why the fiscal commission's plan is the way forward (Why I voted for it, Warts and all)

Washington Post ^ | 12/03/2010 | Sen. Judd Gregg

[SeekAndFind]

After months of intense debate, the president's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform has produced a plan to move this country, now lurching toward fiscal disaster, toward firmer economic footing.

As a member of this bipartisan commission and co-author of the Conrad-Gregg Bipartisan Fiscal Task Force legislation the panel is based on, I hope this plan will be supported. It should not be viewed as the ultimate solution. But it is a template for governance, something that has been sorely lacking as the country sinks deeper and deeper into debt.

For the past century, the United States has been the most exceptional engine of economic growth in the world. Little wonder that the world, and many in our own country, ask how America can be on the path to bankruptcy, with an unsustainable debt that threatens our global credit rating, the value of our currency and the well-being of future generations.

What happened? The answer is partly demographics, as the massive baby-boom generation retires and draws on big, open-ended entitlement programs that are already facing shortfalls. The bigger culprit is reckless spending beyond what we can afford. We are experiencing the largest expansion of the federal government in decades, and we are amassing a crushing debt that our children and grandchildren will be responsible for repaying.

As a consequence, the next generation will inherit a less prosperous and less secure nation, something that is antithetical to the American Dream. But there is little utility in continuing to talk about the problem.

This is the point at which we must stop discussing and start acting. The plan released Wednesday represents an opportunity to do what we were sent to Washington to do: keep the nation safe from harm and on sound economic footing.

[November 2010]

They should vote for any cuts in spending. ANY. This plan won’t solve the problem but it’s one step towards solving it.

[Sgt_Schultze]

If the commission didn’t call for stopping implementation of commiecare and the associated added costs, its conclusions are crap.

[84rules]

The tax increases that this RINO is supporting will only harm our children and grandchildren. This plan is nothing more than continuing generational theft. Cut the budget and reign in out of control spending. The government doesn’t need to reach any deeper into our pockets.

[ClearCase_guy]

I agree. I support any cut in any program, of any size. No sacred cows. We need to cut spending, and although it is tempting to say "Not there!", we ought to know that we have 300 million people, all of whom will say "Not there!" about some aspect of the budget. That won't work. We just need to cut and we need to suck up the pain.

There are sections (Education, EPA, Energy, FDA, NPR) that I would defund 100%. Other parts of the government, I would want to see a 10% cut (to start with). You will never find me opposing a budget cut.

[trappedincanuckistan]

The rule of thumb regarding the proposals these “commissions” make is that the tax increases that are called for always happen, and the spending cuts never happen. Been there done that.

[misterrob]

From 2001 to 2010:

Defense up: $366—$894

Pension up: $585-—$985

Health Care: $513——$1,107

Welfare: $290——$762

GDP: $10.2-——$14.6

Debt: ($128) —$1.555

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/

Interest on Debt:

[loveliberty2]

Why must we suspect that buried somewhere in this so-called "plan" is a provision which preserves and perpetuates Obamacare?

"We, the People" must not allow Republicans to be "snookered" by retreads Simpson and Bowles into signing on to some devious device which "tinkers" with Obamacare, but preserves its basic premise.

One must suspect a President who multiplies and escalates spending "the People's" money, and that of future generations, while, at the same time, appointing a "Commission" to reduce deficit and debt.

Is it not more likely that the "Commission" is just another way of diverting attention away from real cuts in spending, creating a flurry of activity for image making, and results in perpetuating more of the same?

Just asking.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Why must we suspect that buried somewhere in this so-called “plan” is a provision which preserves and perpetuates Obamacare?

---

Paul Ryan ( member of the commission ) SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THIS ISSUE.

Although he thought that a lot of the ideas presented by the commission was good, he voted NO because Obamacare ( one of the biggest budget busters ) was never addressed.

HE’s RIGHT !

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Somehow the fad diets always involve more eating.