Posted on 02/08/2018 10:42:37 AM PST by Hojczyk
Skepticism is always in order on the substance of any agreement between Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats, especially if the subject is spending. When it comes to the spending deal Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer reached, skepticism should probably give way to alarm.
The deal raises spending caps on discretionary spending by nearly $300 billion over two years. According to Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste, this means a 14 percent annual spending increase over current levels.
I agree with Michael Needham of Heritage Action. Such an increase in spending is “fiscally irresponsible and creates serious long-term budget challenges.” Needham also contends that the deal sets the stage for additional policy concessions, including a so-called gentlemen’s agreement to bail out Obamacare.
The Club for Growth is of the same mind. It played on a statement from McConnell in 2011 that the “big government freight train” was slowing down. With this deal, however, the Club says “McConnell and the GOP establishment want to speed up the big government freight train with the help of big spending liberals on the other side of the aisle.” It added:
As if that’s not bad enough, this deal also includes $80+ billion in so-called disaster relief spending, cronyist tax extenders, an expansion of farm subsidies, and another suspension in the debt ceiling, conveniently timed to expire after the mid-term elections.
Nowhere in this deal are the $54 billion in spending cuts outlined in President Trump’s budget. Instead, the big government freight train is running out of control.
So it seems.
(Excerpt) Read more at powerlineblog.com ...
Massive increases in federal government agency spending yet no funding for the wall. McConnell needs to go if he thinks this is a good deal. We should be shrinking the federal beuracracy, not massively growing it. Unreal.
$300 billion over two years ,looks like the Dems will have money for the Elections after all
Spending Bills start in the Senate ?
I was hoping for spending cuts but as usual, there is very little appetite for fiscal responsibility from anyone in the Senate, or the house for that matter.
So we get tax cuts and spending increases.
It’s the same end result as the other guys...just different rates of racking up deficits.
GREAT JOB REPUBLICAN. SPIT.
Is there anyone here operating under the false premise that deficit spending would go down the moment the Tax Cuts went into effect?
It was a given that deficit spending would go up short term, and go down as increased tax receipts swelled.
These articles are self-defeatist. They are pleading the Democrats case for them, and trashing our team.
Folks, please don’t buy into this nonsense.
So you’re saying spend the money today for the promise of increased tax receipts later....mmm ok.
I would not pin this on O’Connell. This is what Trump wanted. Small government is not Trump’s thing.
Not O’Connell... McConnell.
If he’d go to a 51% voting threshold in the Senate he could pass whatever he wants.
What’s worse is that Schumer gets credit for twisting McConnell’s arm.
Trump needs to veto
I expect to see cuts over time too.
We have 4 million fewer people on food programs. That was a one month drop. We should see a better drop over time.
Already we’re talking about something in the neighborhood of $15 billion over two years.
Apple paid in $38 billion dollars to the federal government, a tax on repatriated dollars.
Other companies will be doing the same thing.
If in two years we haven’t cut spending more significantly, I’ll join you. If we haven’t seen tax receipts rebound significantly, I join you in criticizing that as well.
Trump has been in office for 12.5 months now. I didn’t expect everything to be peachy by this point. Reagan had to deal with the Carter mess for about 2-3 years. Trump’s tax cuts will also take time to kick in.
I’m not going to join in the negative perceptions handed down by people who couldn’t get behind Trump in 2016, and now want us to think they are unbiased observers now.
Demoncrats looking to get something back into the winning column.
It helps that his wife, a Bushie favorite, is Sec'y of Transportation
Per Breitbart:
Conservatives Claim the McConnell-Schumer Bipartisan Budget Act Is the Biggest Spending Bill Ever
schmucks.
Can’t Trump just instruct certain departments to cut 10% from their appropriation. It’s hard to understand why certain programs would spend more than last FY. Food stamps would be an example.
I don’t get why Trump would be forced to spend what is appropriated if it’s not needed.
Help me out with this.
That’s a fair position to take.
And you’re right, Trump needs more time and better support. Let’s hope the mid-terms are another step forward.
The progressives in both parties are making sure the gravy train just keeps on increasing the power and money for them.
I appreciate the nice response. I have a very low opinion of McConnell.
He and Ryan have not stepped up to the plate IMO.
We have the majority, and other than the sure Leftist damage if they had control, we’re none the less lagging way behind in the progress that should already have been made.
I’ll bet Trump is fit to be tied with these so-called Republicans.
It is as if the leadership in DC has lost its frickin’ mind.. the swamp remains open for business and donations..
the 2nd Revolution is fast approaching and the reason it will happen is evident. DC is populated by self-absorbed politicos and malcontents who could care less about this country surviving much less prospering without a millstone around its neck called ‘politicians’ . no, make that corrupted politicians.
I also dislike McConnell and Ryan. Don’t trust either of them and both are clearly swamp creatures.
I bet Trump would dump them in heartbeat if he could but that’s not going to happen so he’s got to play nice or his agenda is dead in the water.
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