Today Congress passed the Ryan Budget plan for 2012, with zero support from Democrats, even the Blue Dogs. Of course, it is already DOA, because it will not pass the Senate. However, one things that really bugs me is that the MSM is reporting this as though Ryan were truthful. For example, the Ryan plan has nothing to do with reducing the deficit, but look at the deference Ryan receives from the Times.
House Republicans on Friday muscled through a budget plan that pares federal spending by an estimated $5.8 trillion over the next decade while reshaping Medicare in a proposal that immediately touched off a fierce clash with Democrats.
Just one day after Congress concluded its fight over this year’s spending, the House voted 235 to 193 to approve the fiscal blueprint for 2012 drafted by Representative Paul D. Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin and chairman of the Budget Committee. Besides reconfiguring the Medicare program that now serves those 65 and older, the proposal would cut the top corporate and personal income tax rates while also overhauling the Medicaid health program for the poor.
The vote represents the most ambitious effort yet by the new Republican majority in the House to demonstrate that it intends to aggressively rein in spending and shrink government. It doubles as a challenge to President Obama over which party is more determined to force a sharp shift in the handling of federal dollars… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <NY Times>
I highlighted some of the misrepresentations. The Ryan budget increases the deficit. The cuts are spread out over several years, but the super rich get their loot from the start. A $million in income gets them $100,000 or a set of three matching C-class Mercedes. A $billion gets them $100 million or a pair of high end mansions.
The Ryan budget does bot reconfigure Medicare. It destroys it. It saves no money. It just shifts the costs from government to people who have paid their premiums for years.
The Ryan budget does not overhaul Medicaid. It eliminates responsibility at the Federal lever and shifts it, and more of the cost, to the states where Republican governors like Walker, Daniels and Brewer can bleed off the funds, while the poor die.
Chris Hayes and Anthony Weiner break it down even more.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Except for a few excellent but outnumbered folks at MSNBC spreading the news about what Republicans is up to us. I should also mention that we have some ecxcellent comedians.
18 Responses to “Press All Wet on Ryan Budget”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
The New National Anthem One thing for sure is now it proves that Palin is brilliant she was warning of us government death panels two years ago. Her facts were a bit off but what the hell she was spot on, this Ryan Czar wants everyone who may stop him from getting his 25 years from now to be dead long before then.
Mark, isn’t this a case of a broken clock being right twice a day?
Ryan and his plan are abominations that come as a result of lazy voter apathy and unwillingness to PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS! Ryan is the natural end result of the disaster which happens when Democrats stay home and don’t vote.
Jack I fully agree. I hope they don’t teach Obama another lesson. My ass hasn’t recovered from the last one.
The Tea Baggers have better spin doctors than the Dems. I don’t care how many times you explain this to most of them, they stay tuned out to the reality of the situation. They don’t believe in taxes at all. They want it all for free.
I still have hopes that they will wake up before the next election.
Patty it is always more difficult to spin facts that are true than “facts” that are invented. Republicans always have that advantage.
I doubt the senate will be stupid enough to tank the economy while it’s just climbing out of a recession. 2012 can’t get here soon enough.
Blue, as I said, the bill is dead.
The MSM loves Ryan’s plan. They get a tax cut! After all, their first priority is to make a profit. Accurate reporting of the news is down the line a bit.
Exactly. They have their own plutocratic corporate agenda.
From the NYT article: “The vote represents the most ambitious effort yet by the new Republican majority in the House to demonstrate that it intends to aggressively rein in spending and shrink government.”
That’s misrepresentation or spin. It’s more accurate to say the vote represents the GOP’s intent to further punish the poor, reward the rich and make the U.S. a meaner and more selfish society of rugged individualism.
Actually, I think both statements are true. It is “an ambitious effort” (first statement) to “further punish the poor, reward the rich, and make the US a meaner and more selfish society” (second statement).
I just want to add, I hope this is the republican Waterloo!
It’s not even about punishing. Corporations are not people. Corporations have no emotions, no soul. The Republican Party, aka RepubliCorp, is just a vehicle to transfer wealth and power upward.
We have to tax the rich more in order to get out of this recession. Having them pay 25% in taxes while the rest of us are paying 25-30% is wrong. There is no way around this – they must pay; even the middle class has no money because so many of them are unemployed.
And to kill Medicare and Medicaid will be the death panel for Republicans. They will pay dearly for this – I don’t trust IL with that money either – voucher are bullshit and they don’t work. Everyone (except for repubs apparently) knows this. 😡
Actually, Lisa the top 400 families pay about 5% LESS than a median family does.
YIPPEE … I get to be the curmudgeonly contrarian – a role I just LOVE assuming! I get the distinct feeling that you’re trying to find a cloud behind this silver lining, because Paul Ryan’s Financial Fiasco is a gift that’s going to keep on giving … and the MSM will NOT be able to whitewash it!
Ryan’s idea of trying to transition Medicare to private insurers via some voucher plan that will mean less and less healthcare for seniors … well, not only do I (a 63 y/o) understand the clear “You’re Screwed” message from Ryan and the Teapublicans, but even my 94 y/o dyed-in-the-wool Republican Mom gets it!
Couple that with the fact (not much covered yet) that insurance companies are hardly going to be seeking out the chance to provide coverage for a such vulnerable population like the infirmed elderly without pleading for some government is … well, practically ZERO.
And the fact that Teapublicans really don’t give a shit if the elderly, disabled, infirmed, poor (insert your own downtrodden group) have healthcare or not (to use geek language “It’s not a bug – it’s a feature”) … well, that ain’t going to win any votes with us seniors!
PLUS the fact that Ryan want to LOWER the already laughably low income tax rates for the wealthy – even though revenues plummeted in the recession, even though the very un-funny Laffer curve has been proven to be an abysmal, abject failure both by Ronnie Raygun and Dubya “Tax Cuts for the Rich” plans … well, we seniors ain’t buying that “piss-on-my-pants-and-tell-me-it’s-raining” any more!
I realize that Democrats have always been able to make a pig’s ear out of a silk purse – I just don’t think it’ll happen this time.
Even assuming the “very unfunny Laffer curve” is true, we are clearly to the left of the peak, meaning that a tax increase is beneficial.
The problem is that, if there’s a way to screw up a wet dream, the Democratic party will find it.