Spendthrift Senate

News Central ^ | 20051123 | Mark Hyman

[Bugbear]

Congress will never get spending under control until its members start acting responsibly.

Two out three Senators are simply spendthrifts who just can't help themselves. Exhibit number one is Senate Amendment 2355. Introduced by Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, the amendment would cap non-defense, non-trust-fund, discretionary spending at the previous fiscal year's spending level. In other words, spending would not automatically increase. And frankly, it never should without proper justification.

Congress often looks at appropriations with pre-set increases, in addition to an inflation rate adjustment, as the baseline in new spending. As bizarre as it sounds, many members see spending levels that keep pace with inflation as a "cut."

Thirty-two Republicans voted for the measure while 23 GOPers joined 43 Democrats and Independent Jim Jeffords in voting against the amendment. You can find voting results on our website.

And that's The Point.

I'm Mark Hyman.

[Bugbear]

I did not see the voting list. Does anyone know who the GOP members are that voted against this bill?

[FreeRep]

We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much.

[Bugbear]

Even if there is a republican magority, that does not help when we have so many tax and spend RINOs!

[Bugbear]

Budget Reconciliation bill

This is another spending bill but this one apparantly passed? Also includes ANWR.

Vote to pass a bill that cuts federal spending by $35 billion over five years through decreasing the amount of funds spent on Medicaid, Medicare, agriculture subsidies and student loans.

[Bugbear]

Search for issues

I will search on this to see if it lists this senate issue.

[Moonman62]

Congress will never get spending under control until its members start acting responsibly.

That won't happen until the president uses the veto.

[Bugbear]

I was not able to find this bill. I did find some interesting areas of the checks and balances. For all the things that Bush could have done to the Democrats (like throw Clinton in Prison and start a real investigation on Hillary) Bush has decided to be nice. Where did it get him?
Well, No Where! The Dems are not afraid of using thier powers to stop his nominees to the courts and they (the press)constantly try to make him out to be the cause of the worst economy in history.In fact all we get about him is Lies.

It just goes to show you it's not worthwhile to be nice to liberals!

[Moonman62]

I'll congratulate the Democrats on one thing (and one thing only), they didn't allow themselves to bought off by the reckless spending under the "new tone in Washington." GWB should have known better. What works in Texas doesn't necessarily work in DC.