House Passes Spending Bill That Cuts $61 Billion
- Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:08pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Jolted to action by deficit-conscious newcomers, the Republican-controlled House passed sweeping legislation early Saturday to cut $61 billion from hundreds of federal programs and shelter coal companies, oil refiners and farmers from new government regulations.
The 235-189 vote to send the bill to the Senate was largely along party lines and defied a veto threat from President Barack Obama. It marked the most striking victory to date for the 87-member class of freshmen Republicans elected last fall on a promise to attack the deficit and reduce the reach of government. Three Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure.
“The American people have spoken. They demand that Washington stop its out-of-control spending now, not some time in the future,” declared freshman Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan.
The $1.2 trillion bill covers every Cabinet agency through the Sept. 30 end of the budget year, imposing severe spending cuts aimed at domestic programs and foreign aid, including aid for schools, nutrition programs, environmental protection, and heating and housing subsidies for the poor.
The measure faces a rough ride in the Democratic-controlled Senate, even before the GOP amendments adopted Thursday, Friday and early Saturday morning pushed the bill further and further to the right on health care and environmental policy. Senate Democrats promise higher spending levels and are poised to defend Obama’s health care bill, environmental policies and new efforts to overhaul regulation of the financial services industry.
Changes rammed through the House on Friday and Saturday would shield greenhouse-gas polluters and privately owned colleges from federal regulators, block a plan to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, and bar the government from shutting down mountaintop mines it believes will cause too much water pollution, siding with business groups over environmental activists and federal regulators in almost every instance.
“This is like a Cliff Notes summary of every issue that the Republicans, the Chamber of Commerce, and the (free market) CATO Institute have pushed for 30 years,” said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass. “And they’re just going to run them through here.”
The gulf between the combatants ensures that difference on the measure won’t be resolved soon, requiring a temporary spending bill when a current stopgap measure expires March 4. Senate Democrats and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, are already maneuvering for political advantage in anticipation of talks on a short-term extension that will be needed.
Democrats say Boehner’s insistence that any stopgap measure carry spending cuts amounts to an ultimatum that could threaten a government shutdown like the episodes that played to the advantage of former President Bill Clinton in his battles with Republicans in 1995-1996.
The Obama administration upped the ante on Friday, warning that workers who distribute Social Security benefits might be furloughed if the GOP cuts go through.
Across four long days of freewheeling debate, Republicans left their conservative stamp in other ways.
They took several swipes at the year-old health care law, including voting for a ban on federal funding for its implementation. At the behest of anti-abortion lawmakers, they called for an end to federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
Republicans awarded the Pentagon an increase of less than 2 percent increase, but domestic agencies would bear slashing cuts of about 12 percent. Such reductions would feel almost twice as deep since they would be spread over the final seven months of the budget year.
Republicans recoiled, however, from some of the most politically difficult cuts to grants to local police and fire departments, special education and economic development. Amtrak supporters easily repelled an attempt to slash its budget.
About the only victory scored by Obama during the week came on a vote Wednesday to cancel $450 million for a costly alternative engine for the Pentagon’s next-generation F-35 warplane. It was a top priority of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and passed with the votes of many GOP conservatives who opposed the $3 billion program, more than half of the 87 Republican freshmen elected last fall on promises to cut the budget.
Democrats overwhelmingly oppose the measure and Obama has threatened a veto if it reaches his desk, citing sweeping cuts that he says would endanger the economic recovery.
“The bill will destroy 800,000 American jobs,” said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., citing a study by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. “It will increase class sizes and take teachers out of the classrooms … It will jeopardize homeless veterans, make our communities less secure, threaten America’s innovation.”
The Environmental Protection Agency was singled out by Republicans eager to defend business and industry from numerous agency regulations they say threaten job-creation and the economy. The EPA’s budget was slashed by almost one-third, and then its regulatory powers were handcuffed in a series of floor votes.
Proposed federal regulations would be blocked on emission of greenhouse gases, blamed for climate change, and a proposed regulation on mercury emissions from cement kilns would also be stopped. Additionally, the bill also calls for a halt to proposed regulations affecting Internet service providers and privately-owned colleges, victories for the industries that would be affected.
The 359-page bill was shaped beginning to end by the first-term Republicans, many of them elected with tea party backing.
They rejected an initial draft advanced by the leadership and produced by Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., chairman of the Appropriations Committee, saying it did not cut deeply enough.
The revised bill added more reductions, and cut $100 billion from Obama’s request for the current year, the amount Republicans had cited in their campaign-season Pledge to America.
But a tea party-backed amendment to slash $22 billion on top of the $60-billion-plus worth of steep cuts already made by the measure failed on Friday almost 2-1.
The heavily subsidized ethanol industry absorbed a pair of defeats Saturday at the hands of it many critics, including Rep. John Sullivan, R-Ohio, who won a vote to block the EPA from approving boosting the amount of ethanol in most gasoline to 15 percent.
On other regulatory issues, foes of the EPA won a 249-176 vote to block the agency from using its regulatory powers to curb greenhouse gases. EPA has already taken steps to regulate global warming pollution from vehicles and the largest factories and industrial plants and is expected to soon roll out rules that target refineries and power plants.
The move to stop the EPA from regulating greenhouse-gas polluters came from Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, who said his congressional district is home to more oil refineries than any other.
“We’re in the midst of a massive economic downturn and the last thing we need to do is shoot ourselves in the foot with unnecessary, expensive new regulations that are on business and industry,” he said.
Republicans also prevailed in more parochial issues, with Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., winning a close vote to block the government from removing hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, while Robert Goodlatte, R-Va., won a 230-195 vote to block an EPA plan for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay that would cut pollution from runoff from farms and municipalities throughout the Chesapeake watershed.
And Florida agricultural interests won a vote to block EPA rules issued last year aimed at controlling fertilizer and other pollutants that stoke the spread of algae in the state’s waters.
On Thursday, the House voted to block regulations governing the emission of mercury from cement plants and to stop the Federal Communications Commission from enforcing proposed regulations opposed by Verizon and other large Internet Service Providers.
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Comments (267)
sawbino
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:30pmI want to know who the 3 republicans are that voted with the democrats!
Report Post »taebaggranny
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:05pm@ SAWBINO Flack of Az, Campbell (don’t know his st), and Jones (don’t know his st either)..
Report Post »Capt_Spalding
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:29pmStill got a loooonnnggg way to go! Keep cutting!
Report Post »wodiej
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:29pmThey have a big fight on their hands.
Report Post »donald_trump's_combover
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:29pmYour Glenn Beck is awaiting moderation.
Report Post »sawbino
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:28pmThis is a start, but it is a measly start. We need to cut this budget down to what the Constitution says that our Federal government is responsible for and NOTHING else! Get rid of everything that has nothing to do with our security.
Report Post »TonyDarrington
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:00pmYes. It is time for the states to demand their rights back! Viva la 10th Amendment!
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:27pmWhat exactly happens next?
Report Post »LAM2
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:26pm“The bill will destroy 800,000 American jobs,” said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Report Post »————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Let’s not forget that Feb. 10, 2011, the Congressional Budget Office director stated that Obamacare will reduce the number of jobs in the labor market by 800,000. There are no coincidences when it comes to these high-stakes game players.
darlenekay
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:26pmI approve, but they can do more. Keep it coming. Can we defund the first lady’s stupid projects?
Report Post »neverending
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:15pmor how about Race to the top which barry boy is wanting to add another 900 million to just to line the administrators pocket while our kids learn nothing!
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:09amI agree, but even more, let’s rent out Air Force One, and if they want to use it for anything but official Government business,( This is not vacations or campaign speeches, bullying businesses, or family vacations.) let them pay to rent it, just like Hertz or AVIS.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:23pm“It is the eternal struggle between two principles, right and wrong, throughout the world. It is the same spirit that says ‘you toil and work and earn bread, and I’ll eat it.’ No matter in what shape it comes, whether from the mouth of a king who seeks to bestride the people of his own nation, and live by the fruit of their labor, or from one race of men as an apology for enslaving another race, it is the same tyrannical principle.”
[Lincoln-Douglas debates, 15 October 1858]
Report Post »stmike
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:23pmIt’s not enough. Plain and simple. They better be willing to shut the government down its the only way the commucrats will get the hint. At this point we would be better off without the Fed, the only job we need them to do they won’t do. That’s defend the border. The states are perfectly capable of everything else and would do a better job.
Report Post »Workforit
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:23pm61 little squares.. (I’m referring to the NYT chart) It is a start I guess.
Report Post »Geloh
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:21pmSo does this mean ,as a Canadian, we won’t be levied a tax of 50 dollars to enter your country? Another Obummer tax grab!!
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:28pmNo, but you’ll be levied $500 to get back out.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 2:02pm@Non-sequitur
Hehe, that’s what they do on Prince Edward Island. It’s free to get in across the bridge, but you have to pay to leave… and you WILL want to leave!
Sneaky.
Report Post »TerryDo
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:51pmThat is the thanks Obama‘s political graft is issusing to America’s neighbors.
All Canadians should boycott visiting America and spend their winters in Mexico or Cuba.
And all Mexicans should pay the visition tax and never leave…. LOL
Report Post »Outland9
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:20pmThis is less than 5% of the deficit of the bloated monster budget bill. While it is a good start, I do hope the Republicans have a minimum of 15-20% cut of the TOTAL budget. Anyone who has been in business or run a household knows a 10% cut across the board isn’t that difficult to achieve.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:30pmYep. we should fire a few million Americans to save costs.
Report Post »TonyDarrington
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:57pm@Non-Seq, We have to keep useless federal agencies so American‘s don’t lose their jobs? Why don’t we dial back the federal and union regulation of manufacturing and allow industry to flourish here again? All of those newly unemployed federal workers would have plenty of jobs. And to help things along, why don’t we make an effort to stop buying things made in China. The reason American manufacturing has moved to China is: government and union regulations make it difficult to make a profit on goods manufactured here, and we are willing to buy the crap that is made in China. We are the cause of our own demise.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:26pm@TonyDarrington
Hehe, it wasn’t meant like that. I was actually playing off the comment of the first post here that we should deal with this crisis like a business would: By firing employees more often than not. I meant to imply that a government doesn’t work like a business and cannot be controlled like one, it needs its own set of actions to bring it back on the right track that are only tangentially related to actions you’d have to take to save a failing business. The primary goal of a government is not to turn a profit. (Would be nice for a change, tho)
Report Post »Helldogger
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:20pmAnd my American Express bill is $520,000.00 so I sent them .15 cents. I’m really cutting back!
Report Post »Chicago Ray
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:20pm“CATO Institute have pushed for 30 years,” said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass. “And they’re just going to run them through here.””
Sounds like what they just got through doing only their laundry list was a hundred years worth of liberal wet dreams called a Porkulus, cost a trillion and produced nothing but the final nails in the liberal coffin in America and these teachers are the grave diggers.
Report Post »JoeAmerica
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:54amAmerica “Liberated” herself from England.. “Liberated” the slaves within.. “Liberated Nazi Europe… but man I sure hate those “Liberals”
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:19pmWhat we need to do is let the Demos spend their money to get us out of debt and let the Republicans cut spending on their part of the debt and see with one creates jobs. Besides since the Republicans have the house now and jobs do get created, the Demos would just take credit for it. knowing full well their plan has failed for two straight years.
Report Post »JoeAmerica
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:44amYeah, that sounds like a wonderful “UNITED WE STAND” approach.. This man is truly a great American!
Report Post »mickrussom
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:17pmum. We have 1.5 trillion left to cut Boehner.
Report Post »Stopit
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:46pmExactly! Also the pledge was for 100 billion at least…how does 61 fulfill the pledge? Are we pro-rating now for the amount of the fiscal year left? I rate this an E-.
Report Post »ScienceIsNotEvil
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:04pmDo you realize you just called for the complete and total nuclear disarmament of the United States of America?
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:22pmSciebce is not evil, but Godless science IS.
Report Post »Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 4:22pmWell said Max Jones http://creationmuseum.org/
Report Post »TOPOFTHEGAME
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:01pmWe need to shut this Government down on March 4th. And let our people know we have there back side. That’s the only way we can stop “THE ONE” from spending. The 61T is a start,but we have to cut a lot more that this to save our country.
Report Post »Marcobob69
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:16pmThat is a good start, but many more cut’s to this BLOATED government and budget need to be done to bring us back from the brink of BANKRUPTCY, and make us economically viable again. I think it’s time to bring our troops home from the middle east, or at least transfer them to Israel before the Arabs try to to erase them from the map. We are just wasting our time (and $$$) in Afghanistan trying to fight the Taliban and Al Qaeda while Karzeid is taking their bribe $$$ to keep the opium flowing. 3/4 of the world HATES America, so why should we send any $$$ in aid to them? Get aid from, say CHINA!!! Or Venezuela!
Report Post »ScienceIsNotEvil
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:04pmWhy should we support Israel? They sell weapons systems to China and are building a UAV plant in Russia to sell UAV system to the Russian military.
I fail to see the logic in supporting a country who arms our enemies with advanced weapons system.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:32pmCould we not make this thread about Israel please? There are 2 other articles discussing that topic, and I’d ask you to please take it there. I’ve seen the topic of the Israel/Middle East conflict derail more than one discussion.
Report Post »occaperson
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:39pm…at least transfer them to Israel… I AGREE!!!!!!! move the 5th Fleet to Iseral along with many other U.S. military bases! Close down many non vital military bases in Europe, Middle East, Aferica[sp], India. Totally close ALL military bases in Pakastain[sp], Turkey, & North Aferica[sp].
Why support Iseral? 1) The country holds the same life-values that WE do. 2) The country has basicely the same religion as WE do. 3) The country has been a long time friend-partner-all ie of US. 4) Because it is the RIGHT thing to do! & I’m sorry for you if you can NOT see that.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:58pm3/4 of the world HATES America, so why should we send any $$$ in aid to them? Get aid from, say CHINA!!! Or Venezuela!
Report Post »*********
Like Rush says: “Follow the Money!” The cold hard truth right now that many of our South American neighbors are getting aid from Russia, China, and Venzuela, and if you read articles about the OAS, it’s much closer to being the OCAS or Organization of Communist American States. If we succeed in turning America back to what it was founded as, we’re liable to be fighting in this Hemisphere for our survival. Giving foreign aid does not necessarily mean that other love us, but at least the populations of those countries know we’re not trying to conquer them. That said, perhaps we should limit aid to only those countries we know are not supporting terrorism with it or are not plotting our overthrow!
JoeAmerica
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:39amIts like rush says!! Follow the money!! Straight to the oxycotin dealer…..
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:16pmRep. Edward Markey, D-Mass. “And they’re just going to run them through here.”
Ha! Elections have consequences, Eddy.
Report Post »TheRev1776
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:24pmIsn’t that what they did when they won all three back in 08 ? I recall being told to sit in the back because the teenagers are driving. Hypocrites who can’t take the medicine they prescribe.
Report Post »hifi74
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:13pmKeep chopping fellas, you ain’t done yet!
Report Post »912828Buckeye
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:45pmAgreed, it would have been nice if the Tea Party bunch had gotten
Report Post »another 22 billion lopped off. Crawl, Walk, Run, we’ll get there.
JoeAmerica
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:35amYEAH BABY! Keep chopping! chop chop chop away! and um.. I’d like to take what you chop and put it in my own pocket…. : )
Report Post »Xcori8r
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:13pmIs a thimble the right container to bail water out of the Titanic?
Maybe so.. at least you might feel better on the way down.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:31pmWe may be on the titanic and she is going down quickly indeed, yet here in my part of Phoenix we have one life boat built, the ‘community corner’, to fight the darkess at hand and aid in the storm. The hope is others will join in, and more boats will be ready soon. Hopefully in time.
Report Post »taebaggranny
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:52pm@SNOWLEOPARD Splain Community Corner please…It sounds good..
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:45pmDon’t imagine a thimble, maybe taking off your shoe, but it’s better than the Progressive way: ((( THEY’D DRILL A HOLE TO LET THE WATER OUT !!!!)))
Report Post »JoeAmerica
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:25amUmm, the boat already went down, and just before she slipped under the surface for ever and ever like the lost city of Atlantis, the man who you hate the most some how found a way to plug that hole. Yes, we do have our bailing to complete, but THANKFULLY the most critical parts of the ship have already been bailed out! (if you get it). To answer your question.. I would make a cup shape with my hand and use that rather then the thimble ; )
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:12pmThis should be just the beginning. Allot of the Regulatory agencies need to be discontinued. The TSARS need to be defunded and fired. Obama needs to be Impeached.
Report Post »QuantumVerp
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 2:46pmYes! Instead of ‘regulatory agencies’ we could have court system where complaints are taken before a jury of peers… yadda yadda yadda
This just in: We’re not smart enough to do that… oh… shucks…
Report Post »JoeAmerica
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:16amObama impeached? Why? Cause he’s a bumbling Idiot who nearly collapsed his Country, Made us the laughing stock of the world, and got us stuck in an unlawful (i.e. illegal) war? YEAH BABY, let’s get and impeach that guy!!!
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:12pmAt least that’s better than nothing. But the Dems are going to shoot it down in the Senate. I hope that all the states that votes the Dems back into office have to pay the most for this budget. After all they are the ones that made it possible.
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:27pmLet the senate shoot it down. Then, as conservatives we can turn the tables on them the way the progressives used the whole “if we don‘t pass the stimulus we’ll go into a depression” rhetoric.
Now WE can use their own rhetorical weapons against THEM. “If we don’t repeal ObamaCare / future stimulus packages / ….whatever…etc. we will collapse as a nation”.
Fight fire with fire. The senate shooting this down will be a political boon for conservatism and the TEA PARTY movement.
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:35pmI am from Cali-for-nia and I hate it here, especially for my business which is in the pooper right now. Actually I love my community,, city, county predominantly conservative with a rep. like Kevin McCarthy (sleeping in his office). But you are right. WE will most likely all pay accordingly. I pray the new folks keep pressing onward in our name and continue to try making changes that will spur our country back to what it needs to be….or better. Just had to tell you, not everyone in liberal states need to suffer, because we are NOT all liberal. Some of us actually have wisdom and values. Other places I would like to live but just can’t get there: Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming…. perhaps Utah or New Mexico.
Report Post »Old Truckers
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:25pmteachermitch32,
Report Post »You can’t run, the whole world is coming apart. There is no security anywhere, even on a south pacific isolated island. Better to stick it out where you have somewhat of a base.
JoeAmerica
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:08amI guess HEAVYDUTY prefers those others guys who left our country with EVERY major aspect (i.e. airlines, automobile industry, housing industry, banks) completely clasped and needing Government bailouts.. Not to mention the crashed Stock Market, and the two endless foreign wars.. YEAH YEAH!! Bring back those guys!!!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:10pmNice to see many of the new house members are actually doing what they said in the elections; I hope this can be gotten through the Senate (right, right) and that the conservatives stick to the job they have been elected to do…do the will of the American people, and do it right on the first shot.
Report Post »QuantumVerp
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:52pmDid they promise they would make an anemic attempt and trim less than 1% from the budget?
No problem, the ‘final solution’ is coming, the eventual dissolution of the dollar (it’ll go up one more time)
Then, everyone is FIRED! You’ll all be fired. Just go home! That’s the end game, be prepared and it will be A-OK! :)
Report Post »dawg of gawd
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 2:21pmCool. Let’s cut government spending on NASCAR. Who’s with me?
Report Post »lylee
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 3:35pmCut government spending on NASCAR? Hey dawg, that’s an “investment”.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:10pmIt’s a start!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:15pmYes it is, now the fun part will be seeing if it can survive the Congress and the inevitable showdown with the President; I hope and pray that the new conservatives will hold true to the promises they have made, and execute the will of the people, and not just for their own agendas.
The war continues, and we will win the nation back to her rightful place one step at a time.
Report Post »npbreakthrough
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:18pmthis should be their full time job…..
digging us out from under the millions of pages of legislation that burden us
Report Post »cutting budgets
and constantly re accessing the merits and faults of all laws
912828Buckeye
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:19pmI agree, not much of one but a start no less.
Report Post »The deficit spending must stop if we are
going to survive as a free republic.
deadmeat
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:21pmIt’s a bit of a punt, if you ask me. 61B is peanuts compared to a 1T+ deficit.
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:21pm@ N37BU6
You took the words right out of my mouth.
It IS a start. Wait until this starts to pick up momentum!
Funding is the blood that sustains the cancer of big government. Cut off the funding and the tumor starts to atrophy.
It’s a beautiful thang, yo? :)
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:21pmIf less than 1/2 of 1% is a start. I suppose so.
Report Post »npbreakthrough
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:24pm@ snowleapard
i hope it survives also
it is kind of sad how there is so many government ****,
everybody feels as if everyone else should give up theirs , while they should retain their own
its a viscous cycle,
only god can restore Eden,
Report Post »capitalism is economic Darwinism
and communism is absolute corruption
Non-sequitur
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:25pmIt’s 5% Max.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:27pm@Max Jones
It is a start, yes less than 1/2 of 1%, yet the beginning of unravelling the mess the administration has given to us over the last two years.
Report Post »donald_trump's_combover
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:28pmThis is the medicine America needs to swallow if it’s going to get better. Get spending under control http://www.flickr.com/photos/55751455@N02.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:29pmI heard this on the news earlier and Obama is already saying he will veto it. Start slamming your senators now, reminding many of them 2012 is but months away.
Report Post »Enuff Zenuff
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:32pm.
That’s it??? 61B??? Gezundheit!!!
To the old-guard Republicans that may sound like a lot, but to a patient dying of cancer it has about the same benefit as a sneeze!
Let’s get real! – We need a constitutional ammendment that forbids any more budget deficits.
Report Post »Steverino
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:35pm“Who is John Galt?”
http://stephencharles-poppin-off.blogspot.com/
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:36pm@Grandmaof5
Morning, have heard the same thing from the self annointed one as well; maybe someone will get him to change his mind, promise him another vacation overseas and he will sign anything most likely.
Question, based on your earlier post I checked out the pix on my screen name, and the link to my gallery here, all seems to be working well, what was the problem you are having?
I wish to know so if there is a problem on my end, then I can get it fixed, hopefully.
Report Post »TonyDarrington
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:41pm61B off of 1200B -yawn- call me when you have cut 900B and returned the power you have stolen from the states.
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:42pm61 Billion… Is this a joke? You are talking pennies. “Hey I bought a 2,000 sq ft house for $800,000 and wrangled a deal where I will save 15 cents each month.” Hey new congress critters… when we voted you in we were saying cut the budget, we were talking $600 – $800 Billion and up. Stop the red ink.
Report Post »Sinista Mace
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:43pmBurn the tick off.
Excise the Federal Reserve parasite from the body of our government.
Report Post »timeisnow
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:45pmWell the Dems will now have to take the blame for shutting down the government, since they will never be able to swallow this wonderful piece of legislature. Way to Go the New Republican Pary/Tea Party
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:46pmThis is too funny -
“About the only victory scored by Obama during the week came on a vote Wednesday to cancel $450 million for a costly alternative engine for the Pentagon’s next-generation F-35 warplane.”
Obama’s victory is a modest military program cut? $60.5 million us, $0.5 million him. I like the score so far.
Report Post »Enuff Zenuff
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:47pm.
@NPBREAKTHROUGH
I enjoyed your comment:
“only god can restore Eden,
capitalism is economic Darwinism
and communism is absolute corruption
Permit me to offer my own take on it, – paraphrasing P.J. O‘Rourke’s famous analogy:
Only God & Santa Claus can restore Eden…
God’s method is economic Darwinism
Santa Claus’ method is communism… (but I’ll let P.J. O’Rourke tell it – - -)
“On God and Santa Claus
From P.J. O‘Rourke’s book Parliament of Whores
I have only one firm belief about the American political system, and that is this: God is a Republican and Santa Claus is a Democrat.
God is an elderly or, at any rate, middle-aged male, a stern fellow, patriarchal rather than paternal and a great believer in rules and regulations. He holds men strictly accountable for their actions. He has little apparent concern for the material well-being of the disadvantaged. He is politically connected, socially powerful and holds the mortgage on literally everything in the world. God is difficult. God is unsentimental. It is very hard to get into God’s heavenly country club.
Santa Claus is another matter. He’s cute. He’s nonthreatening. He’s always cheerful. And he loves animals. He may know who‘s been naughty and who’s been nice, but he never does anything about it. He gives everyone everything they want without thought of a quid pro quo. He works hard for charities, and he’s famously generous to the poor. Santa Claus is preferable to God in every way but one: There is no such thing as Santa Claus.”
Report Post »CyberJocky
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:54pmIf you follow this link it will show graphically how $1 Trillion Compares to $ 1 Billion. After looking at the link you’ll probably be able to see that this is a trivial amount.
http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/72DA490F-147D-42B7-8E8C-22D5EBCB8E3E/
Report Post »mcfinch
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:59pmYep a start that needs more done.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Video Website
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:00pmI believe the promise was $100 billion.
Not $61 billion.
The budget is over by amazing amounts and we’re running deficits, not debt but deficits, in the trillions. Even $100 billion is barely a blip on the radar, but by golly, that’s what they promised.
$100 billion or bust. THEN we work on chipping away more.
You said the people have spoken Boehner, so you better be listening. The games of the past are over.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:06pmI agree .. a start …
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:11pmNONSEQUITOR…OK, I guess you are right….the numbers are too big to get my head around anyway.
Report Post »cnsrvtvj
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:20pmI agree, it’s a start. There is still a long way to go. This will be an ugly fight too. Of course the liberals will be painting the Republicans as wanting people to die. It’s just what they do.
http://www.donsmithshow.com – conservative news and political humor
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:21pm@Max Jones
Absolutely. Correcting your math wasn’t meant as an insult (although I see you’re not taking it like that anyway), I just wanted to show that while the $61 billion isn‘t what the politicians promised it’s at least SOME measurable step in the right direction. 1/2 of a % would be more of a slap in the face than anything :)
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:24pmMaybe it’s me,,,but has the United States government always been so……split as it has been in the last several years with the political parties? It has gotten so ‘vicious’ that it now seems like there are two goverments in our capital. It really gives me even greater concern when the POTUS seems to promote this diversion.
Just sayin’…
Report Post »missionarydad
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:26pmIt is a good start, but I guarantee that if they really scrutinized Federal spending that at least another $20 billion could be cut without even touching any sacred cows and wouldn’t even be noticed by the vast majority of Americans. Of course that would leave the Dems and the Obama administration kicking and screaming. We need to get rid of all bridges to nowhere, no more useless sex studies, who cares about the sexual habits of the Georgia blind cave salamander, etc. I would defund the United Nations along with any country who has proven over and over they are our enemy. You know there are billions of dollars being wasted on things like the above mentioned.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:30pm@Silentwatcher
I know what you mean. While vicious partisanship always existed in some way or another (and usually just gets forgotten about after x years when it suddenly becomes the golden age of American politics), I think that the modern media catalyzes this development more. If the behavior of American politicians make the Italian president look good in comparison it’s time for a change of direction.
Report Post »thegrassroots
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:33pmGood Job House! Keep Going!
Report Post »ltb
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:36pmThis isn’t enough and we need to demand more. $61 Billion is just 4.8% of this monstrous $1.2 Trillion bill that only covers 7 months (that extrapolates to over $2 Trillion for 12 months). Get rid of Carter’s Department of Education, get rid of Carter’s Department of Energy, get rid of Nixon’s EPA, defund the National Endowment for the Arts, defund PBS, defund community organizing scams and then implement a flat tax and get rid of the IRS. Republicans need to stop being pansies and get this government under control, and when Obama refuses to sign the bill they need to shut the government down.
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:42pmWake up……if they can’t set proper budget levels,,,,levels within means…..money will either be borrowed to meet the U.S. gov’t standards (not the citizens,,,the gov’t) or our taxes are going to take a BIG jump. Current levels cannot be sustained and China will stop lending. What is left? You will know when you feel the fingers of the gov’t reaching so deep in your pockets that they will be tickling you knees.
Report Post »GreatAmericanBeckFan
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:43pmThis is actually a very good start and the house freshman have at least sent a message they are serious about cutting spending.
I would love to have them start an investigation into where all the money went for the so called Obama stimulus bill. I am sure that Seiu, acorn, and many other far leftist organizations and social activist groups had billions funneled to them. We are talking almost a trillion dollars and much of it has been recorded as being sent to districts and organizations that do not exist.
There is much to be done but lets say they went the first mile on a 3000 mile road trip with heavy leftist resistance every step of the way.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:54pmHave to start somewhere…. better than no start at all. To be honest, I’m surprised even at this. Although I still don’t have much faith in the Republican party.
I wonder how much of their future promises are just posturing.
Report Post »Bob Holland
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 2:12pmI find it insulting
Report Post »proudconservative
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 2:17pmThere is so much hidden spending and pork projects where mega millions are being wasted. It will take thousands of man hours of work to go through the hundreds of thousands of pages of bills to find the wasted money.
Lets stay vigilant and like Glenn Beck says become as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.
We need more private citizens getting involved with taxpayer watchdog groups to find this worthless use of our tax dollars and then demand the funding stops.
Our Government must be put on a very big diet and we as citizens must demand that they must balance the budget, stop deficit spending, work on making entitlement programs sustainable or phase them out all together.
Report Post »lylee
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 2:57pm“The American people have spoken”. A paltry $61 billion! Obviously the American people have not spoken enough. $1 trillion deficit and we reduce the deficit by 61 billion. A 6% rollback in the deficit. Let’s not break our arms trying to pat ourselves on the back. I do thank the Republicans are trying, but trying is not good enough. A balanced budget amendment is the answer along with not raising the debt ceiling.
Report Post »101
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 3:08pmThe 1.2 trillion dollar budget will cost 300 million Americans $4,000 each, the 61 billion in cuts only saved 300 million Americans $206.67 each…so if you’re happy with paying $4,000 and getting a saving of 206. bucks? Then I guess we got the right people in congress fighting for our future!
My personal opinion congress hasn’t scratched the surface, just manipulating the American people that were never learned math!
Report Post »EvilEmpire
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 3:24pmI agree 100% it’s a start. This is a start that had to happen this way. I am seeing a lot of people on here saying 61b is a joke. While I agree 61 b is a small piece of the pie we have to remember the first cuts need to somehow get through to the President’s desk.
Honestly, I’m not even sure this modest amount will. The Repubs have a better chance at shaving 61b than if they tried to shave 300b. Either way no DEMS voted for it in the house. I really believe by looking at this the new Repubs in the house are trying to get us in the right direction – but I doubt this even makes the President’s desk.
All this current admin wants to do is spend our money – sad.
Report Post »Sinista Mace
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 3:31pmIt’s not a start.
It’s a fly on the windshield of a spacecraft carrier mothership from another galaxy.
Report Post »Templar Knight
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 3:40pmGo Conservatives! This is what we the people are talking about. Keep up the cutting and we will vote you in again.
Report Post »jbl8199
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 3:53pmThat’s definitely not chump change!!!
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 3:54pmCan you say ‘drop in the bucket’?
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 4:42pmThe 235-189 vote to send the bill to the Senate was largely along party lines and defied a veto threat from President Barack Obama. It marked the most striking victory to date for the 87-member class of freshmen Republicans elected last fall on a promise to attack the deficit and reduce the reach of government. Three Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure.
Who are these 3 ????
Report Post »lylee
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:13pmAPatriotFirst
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 4:42pm
The 235-189 vote to send the bill to the Senate was largely along party lines and defied a veto threat from President Barack Obama. It marked the most striking victory to date for the 87-member class of freshmen Republicans elected last fall on a promise to attack the deficit and reduce the reach of government. Three Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure.
Who are these 3 ????
Voting against was Rep. Flake from Arizona who has announced that he is running for Sen. Kyl’s Senate seat. Counted as voting against but actually not voting at all were Representative Paul and Representative Quayle. Using the same logic, seven Democrats do not vote at all, they should be counted as voting for the bill. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll147.xml
Report Post »lylee
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:17pmMy bad! Also voting against the bill were Republicans Campbell and Jones, along with Flake
Report Post »greatalaska
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:28pmNot much of a start. Lets see, interest at 3.6 billion a day on the debt they have paid 20 days of interest with their big savings. The Republicans are not serious in cutting the nat debt. It’s a joke made to try and make us feel like they are doing something. LOL
Report Post »DmrNDrt
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:45pmToo Little!
Report Post »And
tower7femacamp
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:34pmonly 1 more trillion to go
Report Post »docgreen
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:44pmIts a start! Its better then Obama coming out and saying he’s found 860 some million! Please keep in mind, those billions is just the beginning! Lets give them a few more months and I bet their up to a trillion! Obama, didn’t even cut a one billion!
Report Post »C. Schwehr
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:46pmOnly 359 pages required to fund the entire federal government until the end of the fiscal year, and nearly 3000 were required to hamstring the healthcare industry?
Report Post »This IS a good start…but only a start, and it will not get past Harry and Barry without it being corrupted beyond recognition….Be prepared for a long shutdown of the federal government while the state run media heaps scorn on the GOP for trying to do their jobs!
SavvyCowboy
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:03pmIt’d be nice if they just rounded up to $1 TRILLION. That’s a nice round number to chop. Let’s hope they can maintain gutting NPR and Planned Abortionhood – throw in National Endowment for the Arts and I’d be cheesed!!!!!!
Report Post »uncleherbert
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:49pmI am proud of congress, First time ever saying this! I hope I get to say the same thing about the senate, might have to wait until after 2012?
Report Post »taebaggranny
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:28pm@ N37BU6 Now we need to make speaker Boehner understand that we do not want compromise with the DEBT LIMIT… Oblamer is threatening to furlough the workers that take care of sending the Social Security checks out if he doesn‘t get his way but did you notice that he didn’t say the same about the WELFARE checks?? That would mean that he would piss the Illegal Immigrants that have 3 to 8 kids on welfare off..Can’t have that now can we? I have never been prejudiced in my life but I think I could learn to be with this commiecrat in our WH..
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:07pmThe Obama administration upped the ante on Friday, warning that workers who distribute Social Security benefits might be furloughed if the GOP cuts go through.
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Report Post »This needs to be spread across every website and blog that seniors visit from now till election day 2012!!!! (((OVERSIZE HEADLINES:{ The Obama administration upped the ante on Friday, warning that workers who distribute Social Security benefits might be furloughed if the GOP cuts go through.} LET’S JUST KEEP SHOUTING IT OUT!!!! CAN SEIU AND OFA OVERCOME THE BACKLASH WHEN ENOUGH SENIORS FINALLY ARE MADE TO REALIZE THAT THEY’RE JUST PAWNS, AND THE FIRST PAWNS THAT HE’LL FEED TO THE ENEMY IN THIS CHESS GAME FOR POWER !!!!)))
Mil Mom
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:23pm@GREATAMERICANBECKFAN
I would love to have them start an investigation into where all the money went for the so called Obama stimulus bill. I am sure that Seiu, acorn, and many other far leftist organizations and social activist groups had billions funneled to them. We are talking almost a trillion dollars and much of it has been recorded as being sent to districts and organizations that do not exist.
*********
I agree with you entirely, I think this whole administration, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, et al should be investigated, indited and sent to prison for Racketeering and Money Laundering. And Congressman Issa shouldn’t have to be the only one looking into it. Doesn’t the House have the right to appoint a Special Investigator, (or is that only for Carl Rove..) ?
EATAMERICANBECKFAN
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:34pmSinista Mace
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 3:31pm
It’s not a start.
It’s a fly on the windshield of a spacecraft carrier mothership from another galaxy.
********************
Report Post »Yeah! BUT LET’S FACE IT; THIS MOTHERSHIP HAS NEVER BEFORE SEEN A FLY ON IT’S WINDSHIELD !!! They’re probably sitting at the controls frantically trying to reach their home galaxy with advice on what this strange creature is, and how dangerous it is, (What are it’s properties) I doubt if the home galaxy has ever seen anything like it either, their probably near self-destruct mode from the shock!
Captain77
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:18amIts a start!? A pathetic why even bother start more like it! The deficit this year alone is 1.65 trillion, and all we are cutting is a little more than 1/25th of that! Anyone else here want to get excited about the progress we’ve made in cutting 1/25th of what we can’t afford? Wake up people, only Chris Christy and Rand Paul have voiced any real solutions to our debt problem, yet the rest of the republican/conservative/tea party representatives are too scared to speak up and do what must be done. I’m sorry, but I for one am not about to get hopeful about a 1/25th cut of our deficit, and neither should you.
Report Post »JOHNNYROTEN
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 1:32amthey need to do this EVERY DAY FOR A YEAR !!!!!! if they run out of ideas for cutting, just send me a note, I’ll be more than happy to send them some ideas
EPA, NEA &
Report Post »Dept of everything, EXCEPT Defense!
XinTX
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 8:45amIt’s a teeny tiny start. $61 Billion when the debt is $14T is a small drop in an ocean. And the ‘leadership’ voted down a larger cut. But $61B seems a tad no the timid side.
Report Post »JoeAmerica
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:01amIf the Republicans want to cut something.. Cut their own pay! Instead of wasting more of that precious money and time (as precious as money) on a bill they KNOW won‘t pass the Senate or the President’s office !.!.!.!.!.!.!. Ok then, how about CUTTING those tax breaks for the super wealthy.?.?.?.?.?
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