Because Republicans on the Super-committee and Republicans in the House refused to compromise on revenue enhancements, and because Republicans blackmailed America and threatened our good faith and credit, by holding hostage our ability to pay for previous spending, we face $1.2 Trillion in spending cuts beginning in January. We need details on specifically what will be cut.
The Pentagon’s powerful Republican friends in Congress are griping about a required $500 billion cut to the military budget over nine years beginning in January. It would “hollow our military,” said Speaker John Boehner. It’s a “national disgrace,” said Representative Howard McKeon, chairman of the Armed Services Committee.
The critics are right that taking an across-the-board cleaver to the Pentagon is bad policy, but that is because across-the-board cuts in general are bad policy. They never seem to mention that the cuts are matched by an equally devastating slash at domestic spending — $500 billion from education, law enforcement, environmental protection, and health and safety programs, among hundreds of others. Both are part of a $1.2 trillion sequester required by the law that ended last year’s debt-ceiling fight.
Democrats seem to be the only ones who care about the domestic side of the cuts, and now they are finally starting to counter the Republican insistence — fueled by heavy pressure and big campaign donations from military contractors — that the defense cuts are the only damaging aspect of the sequester.
Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, who has been worked up about the Pentagon cuts, recently proposed legislation requiring a detailed accounting of which military programs would be affected, and the impact on national security. Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington, proposed a countermeasure that would require an accounting of the entire sequester. The two measures were combined and passed by the Senate on Thursday as an amendment to the farm bill… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <NY Times>
I expect no headway whatsoever, regardless of which programs are to be cut, because Republicans are happy to harm America as long as they think it might harm Obama as well. Nevertheless, identifying the worst cuts will give us a road map to follow to restore funding when we have a better Congress, hopefully in 2012.
10 Responses to “Need Details on Spending Cuts”
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Republicans Plan to Create 0 Jobs and Raise Taxes by 60% on the Poor The concept of a right or immunity granted as a particular benefit, advantage, or favor attached specifically to a position is generally regarded as privilege, and in America there is little argument that the wealthy enjoy special privileges unknown to the poor and middle class. However, the sentiment of a growing number of Republicans is that working Americans and the poor enjoy special privileges, and in a noble gesture to equality, they plan to lift the unfair burden from the wealthiest 2% of Americans and put it where it belongs; on the working class and the poor. It is a continuing effort by Republicans to implement their version of shared sacrifice where the majority of the population sacrifices to maintain the wealthy’s privileged status regardless the cost to the people, economy, and the government.
http://www.politicususa.com/republicans-plan-create-0-jobs-raise-taxes-60-poor.html
Exactly, Mama!
Unless Democrats win majority in November, there won't be any cuts for the military, just cuts helping the worse off in our society.
I agree, Steve.
There are no winners in this game of political chicken! And the big losers are the American people.
The Republican/Teabaggers want to avoid any cuts to defense spending. The Democrats, under Mr Obama, have held spending growth to 1.4%, the lowest of the past 5 presidents, and are loathe to cut domestic programmes such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Education any further.
The only solution I can see is to increase taxes on the wealthy. If the Republican/Teabaggers are adamant about their precious defense budget, then they will have to make the choice to raise taxes on the 1% and corporations, and Norquist's pledge be damned. I know they will try to put a tax increase on the backs of the poor and middle class, but as the saying goes, "you can't get blood from a stone!"
I suppose the Republican/Teabaggers could try to draw out the drama until after the election in hopes of a win and the ability to 'call the shots'.
Whatever happens, all this bickering and political/economic brinkmanship will do nothing but hurt the American reputation and standing. Look what happened last year when the US government debt rating was dropped.
The only solution you can see is the only rational solution that exists.
Just make sure you get out and vote Democrat in November 2012. Urge everyone you know to do the same. Explain the consequences of electing any RepublicanTs. Help us save our country from these treasonous bastards.
Amen, but seditious. 😉
After surviving through 8 years of GWB and 4 of Republican Congress, I only hope that we clean house this election….?
Because of the makeup of the Senate, it will take at least one more after this.