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It looks like it could be another day before House Republicans comes out with their actual cuts to this year's budget, and those cuts could be bigger than previously announced. The House Appropriations Committee was supposed to have posted the continuing resolution (CR) language on its Web site today, but in its place is a statement from Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) reaffirming the GOP’s promise to cut “$100 billion from the continuing resolution.”
The statement reads, “After meeting with my subcommittee chairs, we have determined that the CR can and will reach a total of $100 billion in cuts compared to the President’s request immediately -- fully meeting the goal outlined in the Republican ‘Pledge to America’ in one fell swoop. Our intent is to make deep but manageable cuts in nearly every area of government, leaving no stone unturned and allowing no agency or program to be held sacred.”
However, the $100 billion number could become smaller when the cuts are compared to the government current actual spending levels.
Any way it goes, this is a sign that the GOP is working hard to come up with a much bigger number than what had already been announced. Apparently, everything is on the table now with multiple aides confirming that even “security” spending is on the chopping block. “We will make $100 billion in discretionary cuts, while making common sense exceptions for our troops and veterans -- just as the Pledge promises.” The aide continued, “Yes, some cuts will come from “security” categories.”
As for the new timing of the CR language, a leadership aide said, "Our goal is for it to come out on Friday." Rogers statement noted that more information will be made available “when the bill is formally introduced.” It did not specify a date.
Speaker John Boehner, when asked about the CR’s progress earlier today, answered calmly, "We're working with our members and our committee chairman to achieve the largest cut possible." When pressed he proceeded to repeat a similar line but seemed confident that the CR would come to the floor next week.
Boehner was also asked whether this was the right time to cut funding to programs like WIC, the Women, Infants and Children program that provides nutrition “at no charge to low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women; and infants and children." His response, "Everything is on the table. We're broke. Let's be honest with ourselves. It's time for Washington to get serious and that's exactly what the American people expect of us."
Based on the numbers provided yesterday, it looks like WIC could take about a 10% hit to their budget.
(Crunching the numbers: WIC's budget in FY2010 was $7.3 billion and $6.9 billion in FY2009. The president asked for $7.6 billion for 2011, so the proposed cut of $758 million would be about 10%.)
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also was asked about the delay, and she pointed to Republican infighting as a possible cause. "We had hoped to receive the numbers this morning so that we could make some comment." She continued, "Now because of the disarray in the Republican party, and this is only one manifestation of it, they will be taking another day. I think they're finding out is that it's easier to talk about cutting then it is to actually do it."
Pelosi also said that eliminating $100 billion, "really cuts to the heart of who we are as a county. Unless they're putting everything on the table."
And with security spending not being sacred anymore, that begs the question what will be cut from that category. Boehner was asked specifically about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Extra Engine that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he doesn't want funded. The reporter asked if it was a “no brainer” to defund that as well as some ethanol programs. Boehner responded, "Some of the things that you're mentioning are not in the discretionary spending pot... I remind you that we've been in the majority now five weeks. We're going to have a long year. You are going to see more spending cuts come out of this Congress than any Congress in the history of this country."
And some of those large cuts may become very visible tomorrow. But will that be large enough to appease Tea Party and Republican Study Committee members who have publicly complained for the last few weeks that leadership hasn’t been serious about getting the budget under control?
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What a despicable excuse for a human being this creep is!!!
We were NOT that 'broke' enough for him and his cronies to hold this country hostage until he got the Bush tax cuts extended for the flithy rich 2% that RULE this country!
To the tune of borrowing almost another TRILLION dollars to cover them!
To those less fortunate he says: GFY!
EVERYTHING is on the table.
Again, if you have hitched your wagon to the government tit, these are not going to be fun times. But see, having HUGE debt is never fun. Eventually the creditors come. Looks like that time starts now.
Fiesty, you do want the country to be financially solvent, don't you? Does wanting fiscal sanity make anyone a creep?
Or is the creep Obama because those are his tax cuts, right old girl. So is it not Obama who is saying GFY to the less fortunate?
Come on say it with me "Obama is a creep for extending the tax cuts."
SAY IT!
Wellisn't that special? The GOP hasn't met a social program that it does want cut. Nothing new there Feisty. Business as usual.
Social programs bad.
Military spending and tax cuts for the rich good.
Ain't that right Spanky?
Sorry Spanky but would could substitute McConnell or Boehner if you would like.
Wasnt it President OBAMA that signed the .. Obama TAX extentions. I mean Really. Boehner wans't even speaker when the Obama Tax extensions were passed.. That would be Nancy Pelosi that brought that bill to the Floor
I think it's funny that the democrats had two years in which they controlled the Congress, senate, and white house, to make cuts and actually run the govt. They chose not to, they chose to do whatever they wanted and increase spending without thinking about it.
And that the Republicans are planning to cut spending they are "despicable excuses for human beings". Seriously is moving spending back to 2008 levels going to be that dramatic that low income women with children are going to be out on the street? Maybe the WIC program needs to evaluate it's own spending and find out where their waste is and figure out how to remove that, maybe they should look toward their inflated bureaucracy and see where they can make cuts internally, without compromising benefits to those low income women.
But F*** that would be too hard, and prove that they can operate for less wouldn't it?
It's the social programs that are sucking the nations economy dry. Nothing but Ponzi schemes designed to make segments of our society dependent on the government and to buy their votes.
Some loon on another thread said that "of course the wealthy pay more in taxes, that's how it's supposed to be . . . ". Well guess what, we've got more and more people taking government benefits and less and less people paying for them. So how is that supposed to work? And you Libs think that the tax rates for the rich aren't skewed enough, so now you want to soak the rich even more. You see where the Libs welfare state gets us though, chronic high unemployment, low to non-existent growth, and huge deficits.
You Libs will never figure it out.
So devie Obama was against the tax "cuts" just enacted? Did he veto them?
What you got devie? Are the existing tax rates not Obamas?
I know it's hard - christ Fiesty appears to be at loss for words, but facts ore facts my man. Fiesty framed the issue. I applied the facts of the tax cuts. Life is hard sometimes. But it ok, because my tax rates did not go up.
Just sit back and watch devie - the caring compassionate 'christians' have arrived to show real Americans who they really are and what they stand for...
Notice - NO mention of reduction of defense spending or getting out of Afghanistan?
Of course not! It's much easier to take food out of someones mouths than tackle REAL issues!
Care for some popcorn?
Feisty Redhead must be one of those Needy Women on WIC the reason she is so pissed about it.
But she is Here everyday posting on this Site instead of out Looking for a JOB to support her and her Kids..
Does WIC know you are Getting Paid to post on these sites Fiesty. Or do you get that Money under the table.
Spanky: Obama extended the tax program enacted during the previous administration. He did it in order to compromise with the Republicans who otherwise would have allowed middle class taxes to increase.
Brutus: Your argument has been debunked many times in many ways.
JoAnna: Social programs may be expensive but that's part of being compassionate to your fellow man and helping those who don't have as much as you do.
Don't you guys EVER get tired of repeating the same lies? Especially when they are so easily refuted? Are you really as selfish and uncompassionate as you appear to be?
"It's the social programs that are sucking the nations economy dry"
Would that include the programs to the oil companies? R U willing to cut the money going to the oil companites? Or R U saying, f*#k the indivuduals, the companies are more important? Could the wars be sucking the country dry. If I remember correctly, We had social programs under Clinton and had a SURPLUS!. 2 the tea-party crowd who claims they are over-taxed. What is a fair tax for U
Fielden,
The democrats held Majority in both the Senate and the House when the Obama Tax Entensions were Passed . they clearly could have Passed whatever they wanted. but choose not too. After the Shellacking they got in Nov just a few short weeks before this bill was brought to the Floor of the HOUSE and the Floor of the Senate ... They knew the American People didnt Support the Democrats on this one,.
They can cut their salaries, and quit and go home. They hate the idea of government employees, right?
MillerNation
The only REason that Clinton had a surplus is because the Republicans Held Both Houses of Congress and Didnt spend us into Oblivion like The Democrats and Obama in the Past 2 years..
Fielden? Which part of my post is a lie? Fiesty said that Boehner is a bad person for cutting taxes. Obama had a big role in that decision. In fact he had the biggest - he was the only one with veto power.
So please refute away.
And please stop with the selfish and uncompassionate crap. Perhaps you are just that compassionate and caring. Say are you going to claim any deductions or exemptions on your taxes this year? If so, why? The government need YOUR money. Stop being so heartless and give it to them.
So how are you going to pay for these programs when more and more people are taking money out of them and less and less people are paying in? Explain that one genius. Or do you propose some kind of money-tree?
Ummm NO! What I said was Boehner had NO issues with borrowing on the Chinese VISA card to cover them!
And you're right - we should stop with all the selfish & uncompassionate crap!
After reading what you and the rest post - anyone who hasn't been lobotomized is more than capable of forming their own opinion... lol
No Feisty what you said was..
What a despicable excuse for a human being this creep is!!!
We feel the same about you. but hey thats just our opinion
How many 'lifelines' did you have to call to come up with THAT one? lol
You demonstrate daily that creative thinking is NOT your strong suit!
Feisty,
But at least i think.
Which is alot more then we can Say about you...
HAHAHAHA, feisty with a unique demonizing strategy - cretive thinking is NOT Steve's strong suit. What an original and uninspiring comment. Another insignificiant moment.
Thank you Bev and Feisty for the funny thoughts.
Fiesty - this one is just too easy.
Come on on baclk tomorrow - it can only get better for you old gal.
Speaker Boehner is right, EVERYTHING must be on the table, this includes all welfare programs. It also includes cuts to defense, and all other government subsidies.
This country has to reexamine how long people can draw welfare. President Clinton cut welfare programs in the 90s, but they must be cut even further as people have obviously found ways to abuse Clinton's programs. People just can't be on welfare forever anymore as they currently are. Every day I see welfare programs being abused. How is it that someone receiving foodstamps (or whatever we call em these days) can afford brand new cars, the most high tech cell phones, and "bling" out the rear end. I can't afford it and I work extremely hard everyday for my paycheck. Heck I'd like to get on welfare so I could have some of those things, but apparently you can't own a house and be on welfare. I propose that anyone who draws a welfare check and is on WIC and/or foodstamps must submit to drug testing EVERY week, if they fail they don't get a check for that week. That would force them to think about their children before they took whatever their drug of choice is. They also must work at least 10 hours a week at a job that the welfare department deems appropriate, heck they can pick up trash along the highway for 10 (40 would be better) hours a week.
We as a society must help "those can not help themselves", the disabled and the elderly. We as a society have NO obligation to help those that won't help themselves. There is no reason to continue to pay women to have children out of wedlock, just to get a bigger welfare check. These women can get out and get a JOB. I understand jobs are hard to find these days, but there are plenty of jobs that these people can do, as I said earlier they can pick up trash along the highways, be dishwashers, etc. The military is always hiring, they can join the military, as long as they meet the age and physical fitness requirements. People must be stopped from drawing welfare for generation after generation. Don't tell me its not allowed anymore, I see it everyday in East St Louis Illiois
Wick MAY be a good thing butto many people take advantage of it. Go to Wal/Mart some night and watch the huge orders of food going out on Wick. I couldn't afford that much myself.Then follow these people out to their nice big pick up trucks and SUVs that they are not supposed to afford. I have a ten year old Buick and have to watch my pennies.Most of those on wick can afford 10% cuts, to help us pay these rediculois debts.
You know, it would be WAY TOO EASY for me to make the argument that this is what happens when you outsource more jobs than you should during the Bush Administration. I could make the argument that this is what happens when the Bush Administration gave out those stimulus check to everyone back in 2001. It's too damn simple to make the argument that this is what happens when you have two wars that are not funded. And as for making the argument on how many businesses would suffer from programs like WIC, Foodstamps, Unemployment, Medicaid/Medicare, HUD/Section 8 and the like from thier shutdown? I won't even discuss the long term effects this will have on them, to say nothing about the short term.
But instead of cutting down on military spending, as suggested by Robert Gates; and stop giving Big Oil subsidies that are in the billions of taxpayer dollars, as President Obama stated in the SOTU Address; and by having companies that taker their businesses outside CONUS to pay a tariff, OR by ending the tax breaks on the top 2 percent of the nation's wealthiest, you want to attack programs that are geared to help women and children, the elderly, and help those that have suffered in this economy.
Business, not as usual.
How about we bring the troops home and cut on some of the military spending?
and stop "protecting" all those countries like Japan, Germany and such.
Why Hasn't Obama Done that. I mean Afterall he has had 2 Years.........
devie? Isn't Obama the commander in Chief? Did he not promise you al that he'd bring the troops home and end the wars?
Devie, these are the things he said. You want to say it now? The cat apparently has got Fiesty's tongue.
The knuckle-head can't even close Gitmo. How do you expect him to shut down the troops in Germany, Japan and South Korea?
That explains why it was retching.
Joanna,
It amazes me after 2 Years they can'[t see how the Obama has Failed them . and they still try to blame Republicans for his Failures..
Amazing? Hardly. These dim-bulbs are so into their hero worship, they don't even care what the biggest dim-bulb in the White House does. The guys going to tack on over $5 trillion dollars to the debt, the same as Bush did, but in half the time. No jobs. No attempt to curb the run-away deficit. A two-bit real estate lawyer from Arkansas running the State Department. Less people paying into the government, more people taking out. Obama has been nothing but a disaster for the country.
It's understandable that you're familiar with cat's retching - given the amount of hairballs you *cough* up around here! ;o)
Joanna- you are on record, then, for wanting Gitmo closed? Good for you..
So who killed the move to Ill. idea on that?
Get out of Afghanistan! Boom, there's $104 billion/year. Dang, that was easy.
Another original schoolyard retort.......
Keep those hairball comments flying.
Spanky,
You fail to realize that it is not the United States of America's business to protect other countries, it is the other countries business to protect themselves. But isn't that "What would Reagan do"?
I agree that we should bring the troops home from Afganistan, so why isn't Obama doing it? He is the president after all.
Spanky...I have been reading your posts and you don't really believe all that crap do you? I mean you don't want milk and cereal for kids.....milk and cereal for kids....wow. I live in IA and we waste food by the ton and you don't agree to vouchers for milk and cereal for kids. Forget compassion what happen to common sense. I could never be a part of a party or ideaology that does not protect the weakest of us..........think about it
Speaker Boehner said that everything is on the table and I hope that includes defense, government infrastructure, entitlements as well as discretionary spending. I think there will be and should be cuts in some programs that will be painful, but that pain should be felt by all and not just those depending on social welfare programs to survive. I am sure there is waste in these programs as welll as any other, but hope that hard decisions and traditional sacred cows are also subject to ccuts.
Republicans will finally focus on jobs next week with a bill to cut funding for the federal jobs program by half.
Brilliant . . . simply brilliant!
You are just on the wrong side of this. Duck, it's going to get mighty ugly for you folks.
But look on the bright side, maybe there will be some fiscal responsibility and our kids won't have to learn Chinese. Maybe.
Looks like GE will not be getting that $53billion Obama wants to give them for faster choo choos.
Wonder if that will cut down on the campaign contributions?
It’s not going to hurt me – I’m retired and will be just fine. It will hurt people I have been helping to live a decent life and to find and keep jobs.
A dozen years ago we were worried about our children having to learn Japanese – they didn’t but the ones that did were well rewarded.
You know what was really funny about this latest boondoggle from Obama? With all the congestion where they most wanted to build this thing, the northeast, and all regulations, all the environmental impact statements, all the attempting to purchase the land to clear a right of way for the track, it would take most of the $53 billion to pay the lawyers for the decades it would take to maneuver the project through the courts before even one rail would be nailed to the ground.
The Greenie's will never allow it - might kill a turtle or snake or mouse.
Easy, they are just not looking - Bye - Bye Departments of Commerce, EPA, Energy, HUD, Labor, Education, Agriculture, now we getting somewhere. They can do this now or just wait until we go broke. Either way these babies going down!
Only $468 Billion to go. $68B to meet their "Promise to America" and $400B to cover their giveaway to the rich! Any bets of them reaching this figure? Any?
The say one thing and do another crowd is so predictable. Just like Christopher Lee and Speaker Boehner. "I will legislate your uterus, tell you who to share a bed with and marry and what religion to practice. However, those rules don't apply to me. I can do whomever I want, whenever and however I want without consequence."
So AnaB ain't you ever heard of the golden rule?
You know like if you got some gold you can pay for your own health care, abortion, an anything else. Yo are not beholden to the gov. Now if you rely on the government tit, I mean the tax dole, I mean the willingness of those with means to continue to bear ever increasing burdens, well then, not so much.
Well, we know that the current Republicans in office are nothing but a bunch of Heartless Bastards that only care about the rich and no one but themselves.
Thank f'ing god for that.
But it's totally cool Job1 - just work harder and maybe you too can be rich. You live in the US of A for Chhrist's sake. Just think of the billions of people in the world that would trade with you in a hartbeat.
Now why do you suppose that is Job1?
Because they are abused worse by the Plutocracy of their own country and they are ignorant enough of the coming reality here to still think that their lives would get better in the USA. Are we supposed to be racing for the bottom?
Spanky
So you agree that they are Heartless Bastards that only care about the rich and no one but themselves.
For myself, I'm fine with my life, and I have everything I need. However, I care for people who don't have enough. I guess that the difference between Democrats and Republicans.
The greedy,well they have to live with themselves.
Damn Job1 that is just pathetic. I suppose you are a "pure soul" and all that crap. Hoorey for you.
So how come those people don't have enough? Do they bear any responsibility for their situation? Did you get anything handed to you, cause I sure didn't.
And goodness we all know all democrats are kind souls who only look out for the poor and downtrodden. Please!
We got what the republicans promised. Tax cuts for the the richest 2% Cuts in services for the other 98% The Koch brothers got what they paid for.
Amen to that.
Don't you guys ever get tired of just bashing each other?
Both sides hold such extreme views of the other that compromise is impossible.
There are good ideas on both sides of the divide, no one has all the answers, and the only way we are going to get the country on track is to take the best ideas and IMPLEMENT them.
If we all agreed, we would not need elections.
As we don't run our political system by referendum on an issue by issue basis, your point is unclear.
If everyone agreed, there would be no need for compromise, and everyone does not always agree. See above...
It really is hilarious. So many of the ditto heads who post here really seem to believe that they are all going to be dot-com millionaires, or trust fund babies, or are going to win the lotto, or somehow they are going to be part of the 2%. The reality is that most are going to be policeman, or fireman, or plumbers, or electricians, or some other mundane by vital part of our communities. Ordinary people who need to make a living wage, and provide for their families. And they are the people that the republican congress has no interest in, except at election time.
They "bought" the American dream and were willing to sell their souls to engage in the fantasy of competing for a fiat currency, little more than monopoly money.
Reminds me of the financial ad that I have seen on TV, about a lady who's future is secure till she is a 180, because she invested her money wisely.
Aww patrick I take it you are not "part of the 2%?" Sucks for you. I am curious, why is that?
Lack of education, opportunity, bad choices?
Also and FYI have have many clients who are in the blue collar trades - now as owners of small businesses who do very well for themselves.
But you must be right if you are not rich you are just stupid voting republican. Why do you think it is so many seem to disagree with you? What does that super smart parakeet think about that?
Taxpayers: A married couple with two young children and a combined income of $25,000.
2010 tax bill: No bill. Instead, a $7,085 payment from the government.
Taxpayer: A single person making $50,000 who paid $2,500 in interest on a student loan.
2010 tax bill: $5,325.
Taxpayers: A married couple with two children, including one in college, with some modest investments and a combined income of $200,000.
2010 tax bill: $28,496.
Taxpayers: A married couple with two children in college, larger investments and a combined income of $1 million.
2010 tax bill: $277,699.
I just saw ABC reporter Jonathan Karl on ABC world news questioning John beoner about the randomized budget cuts at a press meeting, Jonathan was pretty tough, cutting off beoner in mid sentence a couple of times lol
$1 million and the tax bill is 277,699.00. That's some serious cash.
Capitol Hill insiders and political bloggers have been buzzing about an upcoming New York Times probe - detailing an alleged affair that the 61-year-old married father of two had with pretty Washington lobbyist LISBETH LYONS. And an ENQUIRER investigation has uncovered a bedroom encounter that Boehner - second in line of succession to the presidency - allegedly had with LEIGH LaMORA, a 46-year-old former press secretary to ex-Colorado Congressman JOEL HEFLEY.
The Ohio native, a congressman for 20 years, and his wife Deborah, 62, have been married for 37 years.
The Enquirer... oh what a reputable source. SO what does any of this have to do with our nation as a whole? Heck, why don't they just set a camera in Barney Frank's home? LoL
Is it really that hard to pick something that does no good for our country and throwing it out. it's a waste of time. If it is something that is going to hurt more than help it should probably go. if you think about it half the stuff that is put into bills are Ear marks and other pensions for something that has to do with nothing that is that bill.
There is NOTHING hard about looking at the taxcuts they just held the unemployed hostage in order get for the top 2% who are making millions off of the rest of us suffering through a depression. That one act added nearly a trillion to the deficit, If you combine that to the nearly 2 trillion Bush hid and Obama brought out into the open the month he went into office you have basically what Republicans are claiming is Obama's deficit spending
Hahahaha,,,,,,,,,,EVERYTHING is on the table (as long as it doesn't touch the rich or the contributions they give Republican campaigns to not touch the rich)
There simply are NOT enough babies, orphans, widows, and unwed Mothers for them to steal $100 bllion dollars from,,,,,,,,,Maybe they could throw all of the old folks in nursinghomes out on the street next?? Will they cut out wheelchairs for the disabled or play Bush and defund the VA Hospitals in the middle of a war?
Pathetic Republican TRASH!!!! Try doing right by the American people for once and quit lining your own pockets
Bo
Would you agree that we need to fix the tax code (personal and corporate) so that rates are fair across the board, loopholes are eliminated, deductions and credits are limited and everyone bottom to top pays the taxes that the code says their income level should pay. That would surely increase revenues.
Also do you agree that waste, fraud and duplication of effort should be eliminated from the government structure at the federal and state levels. This would surely save money and improve effectiveness of support to the American people.
And then the entitlements, surely you agree that reform is needed. We might increase the amount of payroll that is taxed to support social security, we might attach means testing to insure that social security is not given to those who do not need it and those that need it most are not forgotten, MediCare the same way lower co pays and prescription costs for tose that need them most. Surely these cost savings which would help get the programs more fiscally sound would also help the people who need help most.
And the fixing the corporate tax code and adding some incentives to companies that create factories or expand existing factories in the U.s. would ge American back to work. hat can't be all bad can it?
These ar the things I think the President and the Republicans want to find ways to work together on and I hope that all ofour elected representatives can get behind these issues.
Netiher side has all the answers but together they can find the answers best for the American people.
Why ask Nancy Pelosi about any cuts? She was only interested in spending increases to buy Democratic votes, which also resulted in the Federal Agencies across the board increasing their staffs by at least 25% and many over 50%. Yes, the cuts being recommended by the Republicans will cut federal jobs... and they should. The massive growth in governement positons has been posted on this blog many times! The growth in federal positons has been incredible and not very well reported. The Demcorats and the Agencies will bemoan cuts as attacking the core of our nation and taking bread from children and milk from mothers and equivalent horrific impacts in their agencies, but won't acknowledge that the unsubstantiated growth in federal staffs should be the first be eliminated to meet the cuts being identified. What also should be publically voiced is what percentages of each Agency's budgets were not spent last year and you will likely see that there is a lot of budget fluff in their agencies to begin with that don't impact anyone. That is fraud waste and abuse, but is underexecution that should be the first areas to look at. Every Agency has that in their budget. Take a breath folks. The sky is not falling by these cuts!