It seems that the normal Republican response to a bad program proposed by the left is a to offer a 'lite' version of the same thing. Not only does this mean the leftists still get their way, albeit piecemeal, but it doesn't really do ANYTHING good for the Republicans, even short term.
If the Democrats propose spending $10,000,000 on some projects and the Republicans know the proposal will provide far less benefit at far greater cost than claimed, countering with a proposal to spend $5,000,000 is just plain stupid. It makes it nearly impossible to argue that the program is a bad idea and should be cut (since the Republicans, by their counter proposal, agree that the notion of such a program is a good thing), it lets the Democrats paint the Republicans as being 'obstructionists' who are 'beholden to special interests' (if the program is such a good thing--as the Republicans already concede it to be--it's hard to justify less than whole-hearted support), and it puts any blame for the program's failures squarely on the Republicans (overruns and service shortfalls are a consequence of the Republicans' refusal to budget enough money). What would be far better would be for the Republicans to make clear their intention to block the program and reasons for doing so. If they succeed, great; if not--if the Democrats push the program through over the Republicans' objections--any blame for the program's shortcomings will least squarely on the shoulders of the Democrats.
Right. A wonderful example of that is Medicare, which also allows us to view the long term [I wanna be like Common Tator, so I used a little bold ;^)] effects.
Back when Medicare was getting done in the 60s, rather than say 'no, it is a bad idea and an improper area for government' the AMA conceded (with their Republican allies) the notion that the government had a role and offered a 'Medicare lite' called eldercare. The ballgame was over then
We see what we have now....a huge program that costs more than ten times what it was estimated it would cost at this time, proposals for more programs, increased regulations, paperwork, and more difficult access to care.