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Less than three days away from a government shutdown, House Republican leaders stood defiant today laying blame on President Obama and Democrats if the lights go out.
"The president isn't leading," House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) charged, noting first that he liked the president personally and that they "get along well."
He criticized the president for not implementing any of his own fiscal commission's recommendations in his budget.
And he upped the ante, saying House Republicans were prepared to go forward with a bold one-week continuing resolution that would cut a whopping $12 billion in spending but continue to fund the Pentagon through September.
The $12 billion figure is more than the last two continuing resolutions combined -- $6 billion for three weeks, $4 billion for two.
Boehner called it "our troop-funding bill."
This essentially means both sides are at square zero -- and they have two-and-a-half days to figure it out. Republicans set a rule that all bills would have to be reviewed for 72 hours before they are voted on. Congress is now within that window.
So the only ways a shutdown is averted is: (1) the conventional way: if the rule is suspended and both sides come up with a deal that is something less than $61 billion and more than the $10 billion that's already passed, which is possible; (2) if Democrats bite the bullet and vote for the $12 billion, one-week CR -- which seems highly unlikely; (3) if another one-week CR is passed with no changes to the budget or substantially less than $12 billion in cuts -- which isn't something it seems Republicans would agree to; (4) if a two-or-three-day CR is agreed to -- which seems it would be tough to pass in the House unless it, too, had substantial cuts.
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Boehner is leader of the house as speaker. Seems he is being led. To be a leader you have to lead for the most common good. Not just your backers. Please tell them to quit pulling by the nose.
Hey how's obbummer work'in for ya. Flip flop flip flop
Gary K - Learn english and get back to us. Thanks.
What's yer name?
and you guys want to cut education. maybe with can throw in a few bucks for an English class for Gary.
All you Republicans get ready for great big butt whipping.
No kiddin' Cat. The Democrats are a comin',....and they bringin an a$$ kickin' with em'.
Don't forget that this was supposed to be done before October 1, the start of the FY 11, when the DEMS were still in charge of the House. Now that doesn't excuse the GOP from refusing to act in a bi-partisan manner. But these guys are trying to clean up the original mess.
Please people --- Republicans CAMPAIGNED on shutting down the government. Time and tiem again they said they would shut down the government if they had too. You somehow think it is Obama's fault? He agreed to the Republican's original budget cut request only to have the Republicans decide they didn't want that amount any more, they wanted another amount and then another. It's kind of hard to hit a moving target.
Who was in charge in Oct 2010 again? Oh yah the Dumocraps. They did not vote on a budget, that right!
In addition to your barely decipherable english, moron, you don't understand the legislative process at all. Thanks for trying, though.
Actually, he is correct. THe Deomocrats had control of both chambers of Congress in September 2010 which is when the FY2011 budget should have been finished to go into effect 1 OCT 2010. The Republicans did not take control of the HofR until January 2011, 3 months after the budget should have already been passed.
As you leave your house and go out each day, remember that some people you come across have an ulterior motive for every single word that comes out of their mouth and everything that they do. Everything for them is part of a manipulation in an attempt to control reality rather than accept it and live in it. But at some point, we wake up and look across the bed and it hits us like a bus what is going on. And then they become desperate and ridiculous trying to regain control. But they have no platform, just a bunch of rhetoric.
Do you think that at least some conservatives would do everything they could to make sure that the government shuts down just so that they can blame the democrats - and specifically our president? If you don't, you're not paying attention.
The House has passed a budget for FY2011. What has the Senate done? Nothing!!! Who controls the Senate? To not be able to pass a budget with 3 or 4 votes crossing over from the republicans is a sad state for the Senate leadership.
The Senate doesn't have the power. You should re-take your fourth grade civics class and learn how the United States legislature operates.
Anthony Weiner had a great lesson for the GOP, when the House tried to vote a bill into law last week without the Senate. It involved a book from the gift shop, about House Mouse and Senate Mouse.
Look, we all know this is not about the budget. Destroying Planned Parenthood, NPR and college scholarships will do nothing to balance the budget. This is a conservative social engineering experiment. They are trying to eliminate any opinions that don't agree with their own. As for why the GOP would want less educated people in the U.S., I'll let someone else take a stab in the dark.
For your fourth grade civics lesson of the day, the House inititiates budgetary bills. Both the House and Senate must pass them in identical form. Note: For the Senate to do nothing, is shirking their responsibility. Nothing can be signed as law by the President unless both the House and Senate pass the same bill.
In this situation, the House has passed a bill. The Senate has not. Once the Senate passes something, the negotiations between the House and Senate can begin to create an identical bill. All the Senate has done is complain. Talking at press conferences does not count. End of lesson. Quiz tomorrow.
Quit being polititians and be leaders, make policy dont be political and keep Cantor of the air his voice gives me a headache!!
My God Boehner, is that the best you can come up with, "Obama is not leading." Its always the same thing with you. Why dont you start doing what you are good at to get things done. Start kissing sombodys ass. You sir are pathetic. The U.S. is in alot of hurt with a dimwit like you as speaker. Remember Boehner, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life.
Boehner can't lead with obummer's flip floping Boehner can't get in the building.
Flip-flopping , thats another good republicanism saying. Getting tired of the SAME THING from them.
The GOP is the entity that is got a boner for a leader. They don't realize it, but they are about to be branded the party of NO against America.
The Democrats have already agreed to the cuts, except for 0.83%. That's right. 99.17% of the ridiculous, brain dead, quitter Palin demands have been met, yet this constipated rectum Boner still refuses to let the country move on.
For some reason the GOP in congress do not understand what it means to compromise... their objective is aways our way or no way... and then complain that no one wants to compromise on anything. They also seem to be living in a fantasyland when it comes to what to spend money on and what to cut. Lets tax the poor, lets take away from the elderly, lets axe and hack away at the middle class... god forbid we should take one penny from the rich or wealthy corporations... how about waste in the military? Also the GOP said there first priority was jobs.... there has not been one job created by this new order of GOP mandate... however of of the cost cutting proposals will most likely cause hundreds of thousands of jobs to be lost.
And when all is said and done who will they blame that on? Not themselves I assure you.
I think those arguing here for the Republican stand off need to address something. Without tax increases on the wealthiest and slashing the military budget, we won't make up for much. Most Americans want their entitlement programs (Republicans included) but don't want to pay for it. People want good public schools but they don't want to pay for it. If they lose their jobs, they want help and unemployment benefits. They want their social security. They want safe food and water, roads and bridges that are safe to drive on and over, national and public parks to take their kids to, affordable healthcare when they get old and break down, our vets need medical and emotional care when returning from war, if there's a national disaster we want it cleaned up and fast. Most Americans want the government to do more, not less, even though they say they don't. Poll people about what government should do and it proves my point. But they vote the opposite anyway. Let's get real and understand that the Republicans, given the chance, would take away everything from the middle class and poor. Everything except national defense and tax breaks for the top 2% and corporations. All we would have left is a rich few running everything and telling the majority what it is they are willing to give us - you know - the trickle down philosophy. I wish the majority of this country would come to their senses and understand just exactly what is the true desire of the Republican party currently and for future generations. Enslavement to Corporations and the powerful individuals who run them.
CE, you're mostly right, but I need to point out that the dems are just as much at fault as repubs. they refuse to address reform of medicare, for example means testing, because then they'd lose one of their big weapons, the charge that republicans are out to destroy medicare. same with social security. they can't support reform via means testing because they accuse republicans of destroying social security when they propose the same thing. And we both know that without reforming both medicare and social security, all other efforts at deficit reduction are fruitless. The fault clearly belongs to both parties and the president for failing to lead us toward a viable and realistic solution.
I disagree with the comment. Congress has a responsibility...both Democrat and Republicans. If the President (whether Democrat or Republican) has to constantly intervene and make the decisions...why does the Congress even exist?
The CR is a sideshow. It's amateur hour. the REAL issue here is the deficit and the only SERIOUS proposal on the table is the deficit commission's reccomendation. All you foaming-at-the-mouth partisans are as pathetic as congress with your hype and distortion and conspiracy theories and blaming the other side. As loyal minions of your party's leaders, you are helping them duck the real issue, which is the long term deficit. John Boehner would rather have a heart attack than admit that we have to raise revenue. Harry Reid would rather get cancer than admit we have to means test medicare and social security. Both of them would rather drown in a pool of their own snake oil than admit we have to cut defense spending. Why are you people letting these bozos off the hook with your idiotic partisan food fights? Do you really think arguing about funding planned parenthood or NPR is going to help solve a $1.4 trillon deficit problem?
How about the congress pass a bill that says "no riders" on the budget, that would be novel but I am sure that both side would want riders on that as well.
The issue is the budget, Democrates are right to want to protect the public ( the poor and the military ), Republicians have already all but done away with the blue collar worker. So putting the gov workers on the jobless line for a while can't hurt ( can it ).
I could be wrong but I doubt it, the government is the people of the United States, elected officials should be answering to them, that is all of us isn't. We the people should still mean we all the people. The political back stabbing and finger pointing isn't getting the job done. A tea party sounds nice but dismantaling our government while trying to run our government seems a little two faced to me.
settle the budget then let the people decide what to do with those people in washington that are suppose to be looking out for us that aren't
Incorrect as usual with the talking points Repugnants. Tax Credits (naturally for the wealthy) are a program supported by Republicans (who does it benefit - only the richest Americans). Republicans still stupidly believe in the idiotic "trickle down theory" espoused by Reagan, though it's been a failure ever since it was proposed.
I recommend reading newspapers and legitimate news sources instead of getting the news from "news sources" like Limbaugh and Coulter.
Dissapointing to have read that Hispanics have been voting Republican previously... Do they understand that the Republicans are against them? Get with the program people, and the rest of the minorities who know two well what kind of help Republicans are. Don't be an Uncle Tom to your community and vote against the people who will ACTUALLY help you!
Of course the GOP will blame Obama as they don't want to take the blame for anythign. This entire country and the mess we are in is the GOP's fault and has been since they had Bush in office for 8 years. Enjoy yourself because you will all be voted out again in 2012. All you care about are the wealthy and trying to blame President Obama for everything. Grow up already
Oh i forgot. The ultra-rich patron of the gop, birthers, & tea party did need the govt for one thing. Lower income taxes. They are asking their gop, birther, & tea party puppets to lower the income taxes for people making $24B/year another 33% so that the gop, birthers, & tea party can cut even more public broadcasting & education funding. I tell you that the super-rich hardly use public education for their kids anyway. It's too competitive in public schools already.
Hey zero-bama, remember when you said "I won"? Well son, the shoe is on the other foot now, deal with it!
I guess it's time for him to climb in his chopper and hide now. Buh-bye zero!
Toads,
Easily? Maybe - we'll see. But since you say it that way, is it accurate to say that you voted for BO in '08 and will again in '12? Is it also accurate to say that you were sorry that Bush was elected for a 2nd term?
If so, how can you justify voting for Obama in '12 when he (just after 2+ years) has morphed into Bush? I think you would have to agree that the US is currently seeing the 3rd term of GW Bush unfold. Right?
These republicans are doing exactly what the Americans voted them in to do and that is to stop the out of control spending that the libtards enjoy doing. Let me give you a small history lesson here... Last November people voted for change once again. In other words, there were people who voted for Obama and seen what the out come really was and said Oh Crap! This is not exactly what I had in mind. I don't like what the Dems are doing so let me send another clear message. Democratic voters said I will vote for republicans this time! What the majority of republicans took over were the local and state government positions such as Governors and State Attorneys. The other thing they took over was the House. Now, the Senate took some loss but the Dems still maintained control of the senate. Why? Check and Balance! This was a strong rebuke to the white house but the libtards don't see it that way. Boehner is doing exactly what he was called to do and yet you want to put the blame on him? I don't think that people really understand the important of budgeting. Take a look at Greece and Spain and Great Britian and you don't think that can happen to America? American bankcrupt? Is it possible? I'm sorry we are already bankrucpt! I want the spending to stop! I want the budget to be cut! Tell me, why keep spending money we don't have? I'm tired of paying my hard earn dollars on wasted programs! Liberals don't care about budgets, they don't care about balancing the book, they don't care about the idea that our government should be small... No...No...No... They don't! America spoken this past November and it is the Dems that are defiant... There's no argument there! Nada!
Let's see...blame Obama for not following your tea bag view of the world? This is coming from the party of NO!!! It's sucks to be the "Boennnneerrr! now, doesn't it? Remember, the majority of us do not support and/or suck on the tea bag teet!
The Republicans control the House but they do not control the Senate or Presidency. Last time I checked, controlling the House is only about about one-third of what is needed to control the government with no compromise. I don't think the framers of the Constitution intended that the country should be lead from the House. If the Republicans want to lead the country with no compromise, it seems like they are at least one election short. Until and if they win that election, they should respect that their political opponents have also been elected and C..C...C...Compromise (or "collaborate" if that's the latest way they are word-gaming it) .
Looks like the tribe that has hijacked the Republican party are looking for the government shut down. Hope that the American people are seeing who they really represent and vote true Republicans in Congress in the future. I would say that the Democrats have negotiated enough with this gangster tribe!
The Tea Partiers remind me of Yassir Arafat in 2000, who was given just about everything he wanted in the 2000 peace accords, but walked away because the Palestinians didn't get the right of return (which would effectively destroy Israel). Like the terrorists that Republicans claim to oppose, the Tea Partiers would rather destroy everything than give even an inch of ground. The Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was the same way, even worse, because he broke state law to pass a bill that would eliminate the right to collectively bargain on most issues, rather than quit while they were ahead.
At this point, Reagan would be ran out of town on a rail by this group, who have turned the Republican party into the party of No, and thus making it impossible for anything to get done. Let's hope that the American Public sees who they really are and turns Republicans out of office in 2012 (if not before through recall elections).
People - The government shutdown is a horrible thing that will have world wide negative implications, however, the implications that I am most concerned about is the implications that it will have on our citizens. Those that are living hand to mouth that will not be getting their checks; soldiers who have families at home that need those checks to pay mortgages, etc..
This is my two cents for whatever it is or is not worth. Boehner, Cantor and their group are in a real pickle. They talk about the prior two years - good strategy but old already. They say they were elected to get things done, and that is true. However, getting things done does not mean you do what I say and if not I will not engage with you. Getting things done does not mean combining one's own moral values and shoving them down people's throats that do not share the same thoughts. Ramifications must be considered - people need to behave like rational adults. The democrats have gone beyond what Boehner originally wanted. Democrats have gone more then half way - now the republicans have to meet half way as well. There is a reason we have a two party system (it might be better with a three party system but that conversation is for another time). To fund the government for another few weeks is just more politicizing, and not reaching a conclusion. If these people in the congress are not up to the task, then our country needs to call for a re-call and another election to get the current people out and put in office those who are willing to negotiate and those who have the intelligence to do so. Nobody gets all that they want - that is just a fact of life. Personally, I believe that the religious right and the lobbyists for big business are who are pulling the republican strings. I use to be a fiscal republican, however, Bush was a huge disappointment, and he put this country where we are today. Under his reign big brother has grown bigger then ever, and he played totally to his base which is a base that worships money instead of God. What has been going on is a killing off of the middle class and of course the poor are now even poorer. The 2012 budget introduced by Ryan is a joke. Words like vouchers have now been change to "softer" and "nicer sounding" words - but it is all still the same - a country that is now run by those who worship money. President Obama? My disappointment with him is that he has been governing as if those on the other side of the aisle are rational and are negotiating in good faith. Enough already - they are not! He needs to go to the people and speak the truth - the entire dirty truth. We cannot ignore the realities that our country is out of control and old people, the mentally disabled and poor are being toilet flushed from our society as though they do not exist or matter. The two percent who are wealthy in this country (I am not talking about wealthy meaning those that have two or four million dollars of worth; I am talking about mega bucks) are being catered to by the republicans (tea party and regular) who are courting them for their own best interests, and these government officials have sold their souls for the almighty dollar. As far as the morality debates? All I can say to these people are those that live in glass houses should not throw stones - hypocrites who are killing our democracy. There is a silent majority. I believe people have watched benignly what has been going on for years, and now they have had enough and the "business as usual" days are ending. We need balances of power - balances.