Cruz a 'hell no' on spending bill

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) slammed a 2,009-page spending bill on Thursday, saying he will oppose the measure.

"Typically in the Senate you have two votes, you can vote either yes or no. On this particular matter, my vote I intend to be hell no," Cruz, who is running for president, told the John Fredericks show. "This is what's wrong with the Washington Cartel."

The comments come as the Senate is scheduled to vote Friday on the end-of-the-year legislation as well as a separate tax package after leadership got unanimous consent-which requires agreement from every senator-to speed up the votes.

Cruz is the latest Republican to say that he will oppose the spending bill. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been locked in a battle with Cruz over the Republican presidential nomination, also said Thursday that he opposes the spending bill.

Republican Sens. Mike Lee (Utah), Jeff Sessions (Ala.), Richard Shelby (Ala.) and John McCain (Ariz.) have also publicly said they will vote against the legislation.

Cruz took a swing at congressional Republican leadership over concessions made on ObamaCare, the Iran nuclear deal, Planned Parenthood and immigration as part of the omnibus legislation.

"Republican leadership has proven to be the most Democratic leaders we have ever seen," he said on Thursday. "[This] does not honor the promises we made to the men and women who elected us."

Cruz's anti-Washington narrative has been at the heart of his presidential campaign, including raising eyebrows when he called Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) a liar from the Senate floor earlier this year.

Cruz takes some shots at his House and Senate colleges, Trump talks to the American people.

This is what LEADERSHIP looks like.

- December 17, 2015 -
DONALD J. TRUMP STATEMENT ON BUDGET DEAL

(New York, NY) December 17, 2015 ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œIf anyone needed more evidence of why the American people are suffering at the hands of their own government, look no further than the budget deal announced by Speaker Ryan. In order to avoid a government shutdown, a cowardly threat from an incompetent President, the elected Republicans in Congress threw in the towel and showed absolutely no budget discipline.

The American people will have to absorb higher deficits, greater debt, less economic liberty and more corporate welfare. Congress cannot seem to help itself in bending to every whim of special interests. How can they face their constituents when they continue to burden our children and grandchildren with debts they will never be able to repay? Our government is failing us, so we must do something about it. Who knows how bad things will be when the next administration comes in and has to pick up the pieces?

The only special interest not being served by our government is the American people. It is time we imposed budget discipline by holding the line on spending, getting rid of waste, fraud and abuse, and by taking on our debt. To do these things, we need a President who can lead the fight to hold Congress and the rest of government accountable. Together, we can Make America Great Again.

Presidential Candidates Comparison (Cruz vs. Trump)

Please click on the pictures at the top of the columns for more details on the ratings of the candidates.


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Trump supported TARP, auto bailout and Porkulus bill, i.e., Trump is for big government and big businesses. And, of course, he is for Renewable Fuel Standard, so governement can pick winners and losers.

Trump's Record on Free-market Issue: (from the Conservative Review)

Trump has a terrible record on free market issues. The only bright spot is the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing, but this glimmer is countermanded by his repeated support for bailing out Wall Street and the auto industry, and increased stimulus spending. Of particular concern is Trump's belief that the government can use eminent domain powers to seize private property in the name of private economic development. This comes as no surprise, given his support for using eminent domain to profit his own company.

Trump supported the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in Kelo v. City of London, allowing public authorities to seize private land for economic development by private investors; Trump said, “I happen to agree with [the decision] 100 percent.” (National Review) This is no surprise given Trump’s attempt to use eminent domain in his own line of work. (Institute for Justice)

Trump supported President Obama’s 2009 stimulus, saying: “The word stimulus is probably not used in its fullest…you know, certain of the things that were given weren't really stimulus. They were pork, as we call it, or they were gifts to certain people. But overall, I think he's [President Obama] doing very well. You do need stimulus and you do have to keep the banks alive.” (CNN)

Trump supported TARP, saying, "You had to do something to shore up the banks, because ... you would have had a run on every bank." (CNN)

Trump supported the 2008 auto bailout, saying, “I think the government should stand behind them 100 percent. You cannot lose the auto companies. They’re great. They make wonderful products.” He also said that the federal government could “easily save the companies.” (Daily Caller)

Trump criticized the Federal Reserve’s intervention in the debt market, saying quantitative easing creates “phony numbers” that mislead the marketplace and “will not ultimately benefit the economy. The dollar will go down in value and inflation will start rearing its ugly head.” (CNBC)

Donald Trump has a history of using eminent domain to complete business deals. Multiple times Trump has supported the use of government agencies to take possession of homes and businesses for use in his private business plans. Eminent domain seizures are reserved only for public use of property rather than abuse by the government taking property from one individual and giving to another. (Washington Post)

Donald Trump has sought and received crony capitalist tax breaks for his commercial properties in New York. These tax breaks, and even an abatement, force the property taxes of other property owners to rise at the expense of the connected. Special treatment for one business or industry over another with the tax code conflicts with free market principles. (National Review)

In 2009, Trump supported Barack Obama's call for limits on the pay of executives. (CNN)

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