Posted on 11/03/2005 3:32:35 PM PST by HHKrepublican_2
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday narrowly approved the first cuts since 1997 to benefit programs such as Medicare (search), Medicaid (search) and farm subsidies, giving Republicans a symbolic victory against ever-rising government spending.
The bill, passed by a 52-47 vote, would make modest cuts to the health care programs for the elderly, poor and disabled, but leave the food stamp program untouched.
The measure also would permit exploratory oil drilling in an Alaskan wilderness (search) area.
The spending battle now heads to the House, where Republicans are divided over whether to cut more deeply across a broader range of social programs.
The spending battle now heads to the House, where Republicans are divided over whether to cut more deeply across a broader range of social programs
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
why dont we (the conservative movement) take a look at all the bills, and target where WE want cuts, and let our voices be heard, instead of just yelling for more cuts
Conservatives can complain about liberals but their words are hollow when I read some of the replies on this thread.
Maybe FR needs to require the successful completion of a refresher course in conservative principles before posting privileges are granted or renewed.
Our voices would be drowned out by the blithering of Ted Kennedy, the political rhetoric of Shummer, the anti-American mindset of Hitlery, the babble of Pelosi, the wayward talk of Harry Reid, The dribble of Barbara Boxer, and the (drum roll) the compassion we all have achieved via John Kerry, and the subtle but oh so focused words of John Dean, prevents the vision and focus for cut's because of their perpetual hate for ANYTHING that our present POTUS and his accomplishments have achieved.
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00303
Actually Mary Lunatic Landrieu, Dem of Louisiana voted for it too. Not long ago she was threatening to punch out President Bush because he caused Hurricane Katrina.
The other fake Republican Senator from Maine, Susan Collins, also voted against it. She and Olympia Snowe get paid by Howard Dean, the former Mayor of Vermont.
As conservatives, we have learned we must VERIFY and do research. My research shows that this is not a cut, but a REAL INCREASE over last year's budget based on OMB figures. Too many members here are jumping to conclusions and acting like this is great news. As Ronald Reagan said, "Trust, but verify."
First, the budget for Superfunction Human Resources (where the entitlements are) was $1.587 trillion for FY 2005. For FY 2006, the current budget, the original budget was for $1.675 trillion. That means there was an increase of $88 billion from FY 2005 to FY 2006. They just announced a $35 billion "cut" yet we have a $53 billion increase!!! , not a "cut" but an increase of $53 billion over last year.
Second, Frist said we spend about 55% of every dollar for entitlements, but the Human Resource Superfunction at $1.675 trillion represents 65.26% of every dollar, not 55% of every dollar. For those of you who thought this was great news, do some research. It looks like this is a sham. Also, "qam1" pointed out that this is being spread over five years. If so, that -makes this even more pathetic.
Finally, if you crunch the numbers, even after this "false cut" is factored in, we are still increasing this superfunction at a rate greater than the rate of inflation.
SUMMARY: Contrary to what the Republicans are saying, this is not a "cut" but greater expansion of the welfare state. Conservative activists need to verify and check facts before you swallow the White House line or the crap that comes out of the Republican spinmeisters.
SOURCE: The Office of Management and Budget FY 2006 Historical Tables
A billion here, a billion there, before you know it, we'll be talking REAL money!
We'll get to fiscal responsibility the same way we got to the current taxpayer sinkhole.
They heard the grumbling of the base and knew that they were in trouble if they kept being RINOs. Conservatives won't vote for 'Rats, but they WILL try to defeat them in the primaries and if that fails, they will sit home on election day.
Or vote third party.
Why am I not surprised? The feds are never straight about the government's finances.
Cut PBS!!! It serves no purpose at all. Stop waisting tax payer money on garbage like this! Also, cut the Endowment for the Arts for crying out loud! That's nothing but unemployable liberal welfare!
My thoughts.
It can't last.
I don't see these cuts as significant or laudable. It is a drop in the bucket, thrown at us to 'appease' the base, and then they'll go back to spending even more. I believe there was additional spending even in this bill. The only way to shrink the power of government is to donate to a special interest with no special interest:
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/why.php
FY 2006 Historical Budget Tables
If it does not come up to the right page, it is Page #52 on the budget, or it is Page #56 in the PDF file.
As you see, there is $88 billion more in Superfunction "Human Resources" in FY 2006 over FY 2005, so a "$35 billion cut" still gives us a$53 billion increase.
Total sham.
Tom Delay cited the fact that the bloated transporation bill was a few million less than it could have been as example of GOP fiscal restraint. What a joke.
We've got Sen. Tom Coburn, and precious few other fiscal conservatives left in Washington. The Dems are really going to be able, amazingly, to move to the GOP's right in coming elections when it comes to controlling spending.
Never thought I'd see that day come.
Did they get rid of the Alaskan bridges to nowhere?
I don't thinks so because last I heard, ol' Ted Stevens is still there porking out.
I read or heard on TV that there are so few people on the island the one bridge would go to that they could buy each person a Lear Jet with the expense involved!!
What I don't understand is why this has to affect "the poor" or "the elderly". Over the 15 years or so, every major company in the U.S. has gone through at least one major (probably more like 3+) restructurings. Why can't there be a 10% (20%?) across the board layoff of gubmint "workers", er employees? Why has nobody ever even suggested such a thing?
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