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With frustration mounting at the Senate’s failure to pass a long-term federal budget bill, House Republicans are planning another symbolic vote this week in the attempt to force the upper chamber to propose a viable plan to keep the government open beyond an April 8th funding deadline.
AP
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and others look on as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill today.
The House is expected to pass their newly-touted “Government Shutdown Prevention Act” - essentially a repackaging of H.R.1, the $61-billion in spending cuts already passed by the House - this week. The new bill would also add a provision that would prevent members of Congress from being paid during a federal shutdown, a proposal originally made and passed by Senate Democrats.
Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) said passing this new version of the bill "will say to the American people [that] the Senate's got to act prior to the expiration of the [current continuing resolution.] If it does not act, H.R. 1 becomes the law of the land ... it reiterates, again, the deadline."
(During the announcement of the new/old bill, the circling press questioned how this could become "law of the land" if the Senate already rejected H.R.1 and is sure to do so again. Cantor's office put out a statement that read in part, "We are hopeful that this proposal will urge the Senate to act instead of play politics with a shutdown. Funding the government at the levels passed by House Republicans might not be what Senator Reid wants, but surely even he would agree that it's a better alternative than shutting down the government.")
Symbolic votes aside, the GOP’s exasperation with the Democratically-controlled Senate's lack of momentum appears to be at a boiling point with just over a week left to cut a deal.
“Pass the damn thing, alright?” House Speaker John Boehner urged Senate leaders in a press conference Wednesday. “And send it over here and let's have real negotiations.”
Boehner accused President Barack Obama, who has largely deferred to Congress in the budget negotiations, of abdicating a leadership role in the erratic budget talks.
Asked if he had an idea of what kind of bill the president would agree to sign, Boehner said, "No. No way. I have no clue."
Cantor added, "The President is M.I.A. on this issue."
Off camera, the Boehner's office has confirmed that GOP leaders and the White House have been in discussions but hs not provided any concrete numerical cuts that are being discussed or the status of the controversial policy riders that are contained in H.R. 1.
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All you libs know is tax and spend. We have to stop the bleeding now or there will not be anything left to tax or spend. The Tea Party is tackling the unpopular issues that we as Americans must face so that our children of tomorrow will have a strong future.
Yeah, Talon, and I remember you saying exactly this same thing during all eight years of Don't-Tax-and-Spend Bush.
Of course, he was keeping his two wars off the books, so I guess those don't really count as spending.
Don't-Tax-and-Spend Bush created an enormous problem. The best way to fix it is to massively cut spending on "hard" issues politicians don't want to deal with. This of course should have worked hand in hand with allowing the tax cuts for the top 2% to expire but Obama made a big mistake by not sticking to his guns when he promised to let those expire. The way things are heading now its going to be exactly the same----big tax cuts and continued spending
Not so much, CPL. Obama traded those temporary cut extensions for a number of other bills getting passed in the lame duck session that were otherwise slated to be held hostage by the Republicans. It was a trade-off, not a cave.
Moreover, I still can't see that we are in any economic position to cut much spending at all. That needs to wait until employment and revenue are up, not down, or we run the risk of undermining the recovery we've got going now.
And, yes, deficit spending sucks, and it will lead to inflation. We just don't have another option to keep things going until the private sector starts turning loose with more of the couple of trillion they've been sitting on in what is looking more and more like a good, ol' fashioned capital strike by those same wealthy individuals that the hostage-takers were defending just last fall.
JC
I see your point but what did Obama get in the trade-off? I honestly don't remember so at this point its hard for me not to think that it would've been more important to let the cuts expire than whatever he got in return. Again though, I don't know what he got so its hard for me to really say. I understand the risk of undermining the recovery but there are big spending chunks that could be taken out without adverse effects like defense
Uh, he got the rest of the tax cut for everyone else, for starters. There were a few other things, too, but that one is probably the most pertinent to the discussion. Otherwise, taxes would have gone up for everyone which was also a big potential recovery-killer.
"All you libs know is tax and spend."
And the only things you cons know is borrow and spend. You proved that when you controlled Congress and the White House in the Bush era.
Boehner has proven to be a poor "leader". I'm sure his suspected alcoholism is a big problem for the GOP. Cantor is just...well...creepy...standing behind Boehner's shoulder, smiling, every so often chiming in like a patsy standing behind a bully. I'm sure the GOP is just thrilled with all his weepy, teary-eyed rants. And the kicker? This is the future of the Republican/Conservative movement in the United States.
And talk about buyers remorse...the teabaggers are fuming and the GOP can't seem to decide just WHO is in control, and are fumbling all over themselves.
Maybe, just maybe, you'd get more respect if you actually tried to help this country, instead of continually trying to usurp a sitting American president. It seems the GOPTeabaggers have their priorities in disarray.
America, try not to get your hopes up too high. Politics are the only priority of Congress and they could care less, as a whole whether they do the right things for the country, as long as they get paid and we stay in war rather than taking care of our domestic mess. Both sides are at fault and we have a non-leader as a president with no future light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. You-all get to see now how politics is played in Crook County Illinois. ---what's right for you and not right for me is not all right so we'll play my way only! Congrats america as we voted Obama in, Reid in, Boehner and Mcconnel in and McCain and McCaskill and the rest of these career deep pocket politicians to make decisions best for the lobbyists and not the american people - hopefully we in 2012 will vote them all out cause we cannot do any worse with these multi-term egotistical gerbals in charge
They can't touch medicare, defense, social security or entitlements, according to all the big news outlets, because these issues are HARD ISSUES to deal with. So, by definition, the other issues are the EASY ISSUES, and it turns out they can't deal with them either. The two main parties, are both the same. The TEA PARTY has the correct answer. Hang on, it's going to be a bumpy ride, but still the only way to solvency.
The teabaggers are not the solution to our problems, they are the problem. Get rid of these anti-American -parasites ASAP!
Thermen
It seems to me that the 'parasites' are the 47% of the population who pay no taxes and/or collect up to $5036 in EIC.
You mean corporations like GE, slodon? The ones that pay no taxes but still get a fat check at the end of the year?
Is that who you are referring to? Because I'm thinking they might account for a bit more of the problem than some poor-ass individuals who are still paying taxes in their states, municipalities, and, indirectly in the price of the goods that they buy to survive.
Hey if you don't make the money in the States you don't pay taxes on that money. If one the companies that you own LOOSES money then you don't pay taxes on the lose. Get yourself a tax attorney or a CPA and take advantage of the Tax Laws yourself. If you don't like the Tax Laws you should be mad at the Democrats. They were in complete control for about 2 years and didn't change the Corporate Tax Laws.
Wow, you are really off the deep end, aren't you?
Say, I have an idea! How about, just for a change, you try to actually defend your argument?
You know, the one you made just two posts up? Before going off on another drooling rant-o-rama, I mean.
GE made $5 Billion of its $14 Billion in profits right here in the USA. US tax bill? ZERO Dollars........
It seems to me that the 'parasites' are the 47% of the population who pay no taxes
Man -- please, please, PLEASE explain to me how to pay no taxes!! How do you avoid sales taxes, energy taxes, taxes on your phone bills, property taxes, all those hidden taxes on just about everything?? What's your secret?? And 47% of the polulation figured this out???
ronpal,
Your blog entry did NOT mention inflation. As such, you would seem to be the person playing games with your statement. Now, after the fact, you insert inflation into the converstaion. If so, your inflationary example of late contradicts your own point regarding opposition to blog entry #31 being true because examples you cited were from 1943 and 1945 in comparison to blog entry #31 from the Regan to Bush 2 era. In any event, your little game of words lack any real validity regarding spending and our deficit sent out of control as mathematically proven in blog entry #31. We are talking fact....not fiction. In addition, I'll insert a shrinking GDP with the irrelevant inflationary spending that cannot defend Republican Presidents have far out spent Democratic President's since 1980.....
nope sorry, all the comparative data i mentioned as far as 2009, 2010, 1943, 1944, and 1945 were all adjusted. ---- as to outspending, with that i will agree, and frankly, i wasn't very happy about that either. ---- however, as an independent, i am not happy with much of any spending. ---- there is way too much redundancy in the administrative costs of our federal, state, and local governments.
for instance, in portland oregon, and this has been a story in the oregonian, in case you're interested ---- the portland metro school system has several superintendents. ---- which would be bad enough, but of course, that includes all the administrative personnel who work with each superintendent. ---- it has been suggested to only have one super for the entire metro.
example #2, denver colorado ----- denver is not a very large city, but it is surrounded by several smaller cities, and 3 counties. ---- well.... each one of those cities has city halls, and all the administrative personnel who work in all the city offices ----- why not combine all those administrative services ??
the point is, there are many ways to cut spending by consolidating administrative services, at the city, county, state and federal levels ----- but none of our current leaders are interested in doing so. ---- the plan, therefore, is to find a politician at the local level who has the pull to make that happen, and when the voters see the savings, they will encouarge those consolidations at all levels.
and frankly, if he can make that happen, i don't care about his party affiliation.
I am getting the increasing sense the Boehner and Reid are about to use the moderates of both parties to do an end run around the house freshman and Cantor and actually pass something less damaging to the economy that the existing house plan.
We can only hope.
One of my friend's a centrist in the Republican Party, and he was forced out by Tea Party conservatives that took over the Party of Lincoln, in his part of town..
He had this to say after he read this news article:
-----------------------------------------
"So Tea Partiers...where's these jobs you said you would create if you were elected in? ...Ah, I see, your campaign promises to create JOBS was just a 'SYMBOLIC' proposal !"
RR
The Republicans and Tea Party people are busy doing the job that the Democrats didn't do. Namely pass a 2011 Budget.
Jesus H. Christ, slodon, how many times is this Ru@!$%# talking point going to get used in this discussion alone?
I've got some bad news for you, bucko: The Dems weren't the only party in Congress last year. So, no matter how many times Kapitan Karl has you repeat this drooling drivel, people who actually have their own thoughts are going to see it for what it is.
The Democrats have already proposed 70 billion dollars in cuts, the Republicans nothing. The Republicans stated that they want to create jobs, instead they are taking aim at citizens rights. So to all you Republicans.learn how to Govern instead of whining like spoiled brats.
Tom
What $70 billion?
Actually President Obama proposed over a trillion dollars reduction in the deficit over ten years but the GOP dismissed it out of hand. Now the rhetoric is that the Dems haven't sent anything forward when the President already presented his proposal.
The Teaparty will awaken one day to realize the wool has been pulled over their eyes and they are working totally against not only their own best interest but the best interests of the Nation. Consider the thoughts offered at
"The Republicans stated that they want to create jobs, instead they are taking aim at citizens rights."
Hey -- don't be so hard on the Republicans. Think of all the jobs they created when they passed a bill requiring "IN GOD WE TRUST" to be plastered on every federal building. Why every sign painter in the nation will be employed for years.
The house has not done one vote they know would go through the senate. They voted down health care and NPR. Now they're going to hold their breath until their face turns blue. Cantor doesn't even know what has to happen to make a bill law of the land. "If the house votes it in twice". Reminds me of a child not getting his way.
I'm still waiting for the job creation bill. Any day now....any day
you mean, like the job creation bills that got passed the two preceding years ??
republican'ts didnt filibuster most of the bills the last 2 years??????
Dingy Harry ,Shoe maker , botox pelosi and the rest of the demosucks still have there talking points to blame the tea baggers for the stalemate yet they have not even presented there own proposal. How dumb do the demosucks thing we are we can read between the lines. They are just stalling so the republican can look weak and disorganized. I hope boner doesn't disappoint us the american people. Shut the sucker down if the demosucks don't make a serious effort to cut spending.
.
How dumb do the demosucks thing we are we
Well, Marco...I'd say really dumb, I'm not sure how any of you got through the twelveth grade.. Civics must have been a real challenge based on most of the comments from teabaggers
I cannot believe that the GOP has the COJONES to have the house of Representative put before the American people as their leaders the likes of Boehner and Cantor . what a shame that this government has to sink to this level. Boehner a cigar club fixture ,known to have a booze problem and crybaby everytime he thinks the people will fall for it and Cantor the biggest sissy looking assistant that is proposing weird ILLEGAL legislation that evades every constitutional process ever known. The states of OHIO and Virginia should recall these two representatives before their respective states are investigated to see how these IDIOTS got to the level they are at. What a shame that this country has lowered it's standard to this level.
Oh you are rich - we were really blessed with the likes of the three stooges; Barack "Wheres Waldo - Low Profile" Obama, Nancy "Wicked Witch of the West" Pelosi, and Harry "Where's my Pork" Reid - what a group of idiots
The house has only done symbolic votes they know will not pass the senate duping most of their backers. Like the senate is going to vote down health care. Republican'ts just can't seem to compromise. How about this the republican'ts add enough tax to the rich to balance the budget then my kids have a chance to get a descent education.
Shoot if all the House has to do is pass the same bill twice and it becomes the law of the land, who needs the Senate. This is sounding more and more like Wisconsin....rules, who needs rules.
Where's the job bill? I know any day.... hey, .maybe they can pass the same budget bill for the third time, that should be a productive use of time.
It's amazing how all this is Obama's fault. The cost of the wars since 2001 is 1.6 T and the deficit is around 1.5 T. Blaming Obama is the same non-linear thinking that got us into Iraq in the first place and is still costing us 2 B a week to run these money pits.
It's amazing how all this is Obama's fault.
It's typical of these Republicans. They blamed Carter for everything that went wrong from 1976 to 1993. In fact, I've heard some in the right wing noise machine blame Carter for the sub prime mess. They blamed Clinton for everything from 1992 to 2008. Why everybody knows Clinton cause 9/11. Apparently Bush didn't take office until 9/12/2001. But now they have President Obama so he's the cause of everything wrong. Republicans -- the party of "personal responsibility" are not responsible for anything negative -- only the positive.
The President offered a plan to save over 1.2 Trillion over the next ten years in the State of the Union, as I recall.
The GOP wouldn't even consider it. That means to me the Republicans aren't interested in solving the deficit at all unless they get to do it on the backs of the poor and middle class. More likely they are much more interested in power than they are the good of the country.
RTRome...it seems like that's exactly what these new republican governors are trying to do to solve their state's budget deficit, take it off the backs of the middle class and the poor. We all see what's happening in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Florida. Too bad other news organizations are not highlighting the real issue as they're naming this a budget fight when it's really re-distribution of the wealth, union busting and payback to corporations. First you pass massive tax cuts for business under false pretense of job growth and recoup that money with swift legislation in a hope that no one notices. It's bait and switch, it's overreach, it's dictatorship on the repubs part and the electorate did not realize what they really voted in. Where's the teaparty marching in their defense? Well it's time for RECALL!!!
Let me one up you Mr Cantor... why not have the congress lose their pay" totally" while we have a shut down ....now lets see how serious you are !!!
What if we shut down the government and nobody noticed?
You'll be surprised how quickly people notice they can't get a passport, visit a national park, apply for social security etc. They will be pissed!
EXACTLY !
How does Boehner figure that it's Obama's fault that the budget hasn't been passed. It is congress' job to do this. All the president does is sign it or veto it. If the house and the senate doesn't want to do their jobs, they should all be shown to the door. This country has enough problems as it is, and the American people don't need this kind of crap.
.
Boehner needs to put the blame where it belongs instead of fronting and it belongs on himself; he's too scared to fight with the teaparty congress and can't carrel them like he thought. Now they are demanding stupid and reckless budget cuts and a shut down without any understanding of the consequences. Instead of trying to talk reason into this group that he and the other repubs pandered to for over two years, just pretend that it's all the President's and the dems' fault instead of his own leadership. Remember Boehner you wanted this sooo bad to be speaker, well you got it, so lead your party. I don't feel sorry for you at all....ha, ha!!!
All of these morons (Representatives and Senators) need to be fired. I hope they pass the revised bill so these fine lawmakers won't be paid if there is no budget by next Friday. Why should they? All they do - Democrat, Republican, and Teabaggers - is pander to their own special interests. No one wants to take a stand and do the right thing because they don't want to lose votes in the next election.
Guess what?
They might as well pack their bags because they will be laughed out of town in the next election.
Isn't there ONE person in Washington DC with the GUTS to BALANCE, and then talk some sense into the rest of these morons, and get us back on track? Anyone?
The voters will remember you playing solitaire on your laptops while you should be working on the budget.
The voters will remember you pandering to your special interests when you go looking for votes.
The voters will remember who put this country into such outrageous debt, promised (and didn't deliver) more jobs, and got paid the entire time they were pointing fingers at the other party.
Shame on all of you!
Instead of helping the rebels in Libya, we ought to be having our own revolution here in the US because clearly our legislative system is broken.
Talk about wasteful spending... 2 1/2 years of symbollic gestures from the party of (do) No (thing) with no real legislation to show for their time in Congress. The Republicans are just buying time until 2012 which they hope will put them back in power so they can continue to rape the country and line the pockets of the big businesses they represent. Where is the outrage from the right winged supporters for the lack of production from their leaders? Probably too busy holding rallys about the Presidents birth certificate and bi#ching about the 1st lady's spring fashion. I guess Sarah Palin and Donald Trump is just what Amerikkka needs right now... idiots!
Asked if he had an idea of what kind of bill the president would agree to sign, Boehner said, "No. No way. I have no clue."
Symbolic at so many levels.
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The Union Man song
#at=35
I ain’t gonna work till you get me a perk.
I want my medical insurance given to me free.
I got to have a bigger salary.
You got to give me more. C’mon and give me more.
Cause I’m a Union Man. I got the right to get all I can.
I’m a Union Man. I get my power from the working man.
I’m a Union Man. Hell with the budget, just tax the rich man MORE!
I’m a Union Man, Local 213.
Seniority is security.
I get a big fat pension when I’m 55,
so I can suck up all the taxpayers dry.
You got to give me more. C’mon and give me more!
Cause I’m a Union Man. I got the right to get all I can.
I’m a Union Man. I get my power from the working man.
I’m a Union Man. Hell with the taxpayer. Just make him pay more, like this!
Solidarity is democracy.
If I don’t get my collective bargaining right,
I’m gonna shut you down with all of my might.
You got to give me more. C’mon and give me more!
Cause I’m a Union Man. You can’t deny my God given right.
I’m a Union Man. It’s for the children, it’s not for me.
I’m a Union Man. Just don’t go messing with my benefits plan.
I’m a Union Man. Hell with the law, I’ll just take what I deserve. MORE!
Here’s your campaign contribution, Mr. Senator.
I got tenure, just try to get rid of me!
Larry, you should have left writing dittys to Daryl or Daryl; perhaps they have an idea of what unions are really .all about.
Awesome Larry! Priceless and so true!!
Larry2037452,
As a Union man I am pleased to negotiate for America's working class. I am the guardian of America's working class. I am guarantor of workplace Democracy.
If you seriously think you would be better off paying $3,000/MONTH for medical insurance.
If you seriously think that you would be better off making yourself a grovelling, obsequious, submissive toadie to corporations by wearing a ball gag and fishnet hosery for them.
If you seriously think that working 3 jobs with no benefits is an advancement.
If you like 70 hour weeks and placing yourself at the mercy of a heartless company with no soul whose sole mission is profit enhancement.
If you yearn to expose your children to the same corporate exploitation and abuse
Then what is left of your mind has been compromised by forces against your best interests. I feel sorry for you, for America, and for all the tools like you who buy in to your diseased ideology.