Posted on 02/19/2011 2:44:40 AM PST by sunmars
In a rare early morning weekend vote, the House approved an aggressive plan Saturday to eliminate dozens of federal programs and offices while slashing agency budgets by as much as 40 percent, drawing out more than $60 billion in deficit savings.
Setting up a showdown early next month with President Obama and Senate Democrats, House Republicans pushed the legislation through after a marathon debate capped off by an all-night session Friday that spilled into Saturday morning. During the bleary-eyed final roll call at 4:35 a.m., 235 Republicans were joined by no Democrats in support of dramatic spending reductions that they said were needed to address a soaring annual deficit of $1.6 trillion; 189 Democrats -- as well as three Republicans -- opposed it, accusing Republicans of writing the bill with a "double meat ax."
For Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), it marked an early political victory as his newly empowered GOP troops lived up to a 2010 campaign pledge to trim spending levels to those before the 2008 financial crisis caused an unprecedented level of government spending and intervention into the private economy.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Amendment 104: Rep. Jordan (R-OH) The amendment would perform a 5.5 percent across-the-board cut of all accounts in eight non-security divisions of the CR; and an 11 percent across-the-board cut of all accounts in the Legislative Branch bill. The amendment would not cut any funding for Israel.
It looks like the Democrats think that another government shutdown will go their way again. By keeping this at minimum cuts we can win the PR battle or if we can’t there is no hope. Start small and see how it goes over.
Annual deficit of $1.6 Trillion (1,600,000,000,000.00).
They saved $60 Billion (60,000,000,000).
Why am I not impressed?
Not to mention the ATF.
I watched some of the earlier votes on cspan. Campbell, from CA (tea-party freshman?) submitted an amendment to cut even more from Defense and Homeland security and strongly rebuffed by both GOP and Dems.
So, he’s a good guy who wanted more cuts.
Im really sorry to say this but both parties are sickening. The political charades abound. Im pretty sick of tax exemptions for breast feeding, Palin continuing the political discourse, and a bunch of impotent legislators talking about how America needs change.
Both parties are completely polarized resulting in an inability to get anything done for America. I know good people who are both Democrats and Republicans. They dont act like these politicians in DC. They just want what is fair just and honorable for our country without all the drama.
I watched some of the earlier votes on cspan. Campbell, from CA (tea-party freshman?) submitted an amendment to cut even more from Defense and Homeland security and was strongly rebuffed by both GOP and Dems.
So, he’s a good guy who wanted more cuts.
I totally agree. This is a pittance.
We don't actually know what the true deficit is, since Obama and his minions continue to pour money out the windows to their beneficiaries.
I have seen estimates that the deficit will top $4 trillion by the end of the year. If so, $60 billion is only 1.5% of the deficit.
This is a milquetoast effort. The House can do better; they're just afraid for their jobs if they cut more. They should fear them for cutting less.
GREAT!
Mike
What a joke..
It's not a cut, it's just a decrease in the increase!!!
It would be wise to remember that the vote was on a budget for the current year that is almost half over. Very soon there will be a vote for a budget for the entire fiscal year 2012.
It is that budget where the remaking of the government will take place. There will be time for extended debate and consideration
Patience
Thank you for posting this list- lots of disappointments there.
I would like to hear what the congressman has to say about his vote.
Maybe its possible his NO vote is because these cuts are a drop in the bucket and not big enough.
I would agree with that position.
The GOP NO votes could have something to do with people who really want to cut spending as opposed to the more symbolic show cuts that Boehner and Cantor are putting on.
Oh, yes....I forgot those jack-booted thugs. They'd be defunded in a heartbeat as well if I were in charge.
Those liberals should be glad I'm not in charge. :)
Those aren’t cuts, they are tiny reductions in budget increases!
A real cut would be elimination of programs and firing of at least half of the federal employees.
We lost a lotta them blue dogs when Republicans got the seats in those districts.
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