Posted on 03/14/2011 9:11:02 AM PDT by Qbert
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) said Monday that he won't support any new short-term measures to fund the government and keep it running.
Rubio, the freshman conservative senator, ruled out supporting the forthcoming measure by House Republicans to extend funding (at reduced levels) for an additional three weeks past this Friday, when the federal government is set to run out of money.
"I will no longer support short-term budget plans," Rubio wrote on the conservative blog RedState. "While attempts at new spending reductions are commendable, we simply can no longer afford to nickel-and-dime our way out of the dangerous debt America has amassed."
Rubio is seen as part of the bloc of freshman conservatives willing occasionally to buck GOP leadership on key issues, especially those involving spending.
"I commend the efforts of House and Senate Republican leaders to deal with this, but I did not come to the U.S. Senate to be part of some absurd political theater," Rubio wrote.
GOP leaders in the House are expected to bring the short-term spending measure, which would cut $6 billion from spending this year, up for a vote on Tuesday. It is expected to be approved by the House and Senate, barring additional defections like Rubio's.
GOP leaders in the House are expected to bring the short-term spending measure, which would cut $6 billion from spending this year, up for a vote on Tuesday. It is expected to be approved by the House and Senate, barring additional defections like Rubio’s.
WTH??? First of all it looks like the Democratic request. 6 billion? I thought Republicans wanted 63 billion (paltry I know), but this is not the Republican requests. Did they give in to the Democrats again??? Good For Rubio and hopefully others will follow suit. Why are they saying this is expected to pass?
Pray for more defections. This can has been kicked down the road way too long. Hey, Congress: Deal. With. It.
Colonel, USAFR
The so called leaders are Republitards.
The Dems wanted $6 billion on the year. The GOP is cutting that much each time they do a continuing resolution...essentially cutting a percentage of their annual cut based on the period of the extension....a month extension, for example would cut 1/12th of their annual proposal.
“Did they give in to the Democrats again???”
It certainly looks that way. Rubio sees this absurdity for what it is. Republican “leadership” has failed us. I hope there is a massive Tea Party gathering at the Capitol soon.
I was easily able to reach Cantor’s office a few moments ago. Boehner requires a wait but they will eventually answer.
“we simply can no longer afford to nickel-and-dime our way out of the dangerous debt America has amassed.” So I guess the Rs will cave and spend our way out of the dangerous debt America has amassed. Dave Ramsey would say that you have to start somewhere.
Everyone please pay attention to this and don’t fall into dem traps. This is not a cave to dimwits. It is a 6 billion cut for 3 weeks! I do agree with Rubio though in that this needs a resolution for the year. So far pubs are doing just what they said.
“Everyone please pay attention to this and don’t fall into dem traps. This is not a cave to dimwits. It is a 6 billion cut for 3 weeks!”
Voting for the three week extension is worse than “caving in”. It funds Obamacare, which the Republicans said they were going to do everything they could to defund.
We don’t have the majority in the senate nor do we have the POTUS. The pubs are doing what they can but if we want to blame them for everything then we can just go back to the dims controlling it all. The pubs are doing better than ever to hold the line at the state and federal level. You thinking cutting several billion is worse than doing nothing?
“You thinking cutting several billion is worse than doing nothing?”
That’s not what I said.
But the bigger point is, if another entitlement (Obamacare) gets funded now, all of this is going to be moot in the end. Quibbling over a few billion here or there is distracting people from what’s most important.
You’re making excuses. I prefer the government to be shut down than to keep piling on debt. If Obama and the Democrats want to keep it open, they must agree to deep budget cuts. The government can stay shut if they don’t until hell freezes over.
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