Government

Senate Rejects GOP’s Cut, Cap & Balance Debt Plan

The Democrat-controlled Senate has killed the House-passed Cut, Cap and Balance Act by a party-line vote of 51-46. The Republican measure would have forced Congress to cap spending and approve a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution before allowing for an increase in the nation’s debt ceiling.

Politico reports:

The legislation, a conservative priority, never had a chance of passing, but the strictly partisan 51-46 vote to table the “Cut, Cap and Balance” bill highlighted the partisan divide in Washington over how to tackle spending and raise the nation’s $14.3 trillion debt limit. Before the vote Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) again called the plan “radical” and “one of the worst pieces of legislation to ever be placed on the floor of the United States Senate.” …

While some Democrats have voiced support for a constitutional balanced budget amendment, the version Republicans put on the floor Friday is much stricter than previous versions of a balanced budget amendment because it would enshrine in the constitution a two-thirds super majority requirement for any tax increases.

“It’s one of the stupidest constitutional amendments I have ever seen,” said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), a member of the “Gang of Six” that unveiled a bipartisan deficit-reduction framework this week. “It looks like it was drafted by two interns on the back of a napkin.”

Republicans objected to Democrats’ characterization of the plan, assailing them for negotiating a debt deal behind closed doors and failing to put forth a plan of their own.

“The majority leader and his party has not brought one piece of legislation to this floor. The president has not offered one number, one proposal in writing that we can work with,” said Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.), a former senator who was swept back into Washington by the tea-party wave last year.

“We have not had the opportunity to debate for one minute anything that the other side has offered. And so we being something forward and it’s called a worthless piece of junk? Is that what the American people sent us here to do?”

The GOP-controlled House passed Cut, Cap and Balance earlier this week on a mostly party-line 234-190 vote. The plan called for $111 billion in spending cuts in fiscal year 2012, gradually capping federal spending to just under 20 percent of Gross Domestic Product through 2021, and Congress to send states a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget in exchange for a $2.4 trillion hike to the debt ceiling.

With the defeat of CC&B, it remains unclear what the next step will be for the Senate in tackling the debt crisis.  Instead of putting forth their own counter proposal, Democrats insist any deal must originate in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Comments (232)

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  • Mess23
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:12pm

    The Dems are traitors to the Americam people, which means they are faithfull to some one or some group or groups. Any guesses?

    Report Post »  
  • sWampy
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:11pm

    Our way of life was destroyed 40 years ago, 25% of the population now sits at home smoking weed drawing welfare checks, the poverty level has exploded, the education level has plummeted, families are an oddity, 50% pays no taxes at all, 90% don’t see their kids growing up with as good of a standard of living as they grew up with. ;-/

    Report Post »  
  • bandi9
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:10pm

    of course Conrad is gonna hate something that makes it difficult to raise taxes. People! Wake the hell up!!

    Report Post »  
  • TexasStu
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:10pm

    We all knew this was coming, so now what? I would say to the Republicans to go home and enjoy the rest of this month and have a good heart to heart with their constituents. I think they will find that we support them in passing this bill and not supporting the other spending bills. It is time to make a stand either you want bigger government and more spending no matter the cost or you are for cutting spending and a balanced budget….they cannot have it both ways and they know it and so do WE THE PEOPLE.

    Report Post » TexasStu  
    • rambosharley
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:20pm

      Exactly!

      Report Post »  
    • Tyr
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:31pm

      I’m sure that will really change their minds. The Dems are Marxists that believe in Socialism! We are Capitialists that believe in Individual Freedom. Are they EVER going to change YOU? NO! Are you ever going to change them. NO! It all comes down to what your country and your freedom and liberty from oppression is worth to you, to your children and your childrens’ children!

      Report Post » Tyr  
  • beenaroundyaknow
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:10pm

    Did you notice that the gutless bastards did not vote yea or nay on the bill, they voted to table the bill. Reid again refuses to force an up or down vote. Shame

    Report Post »  
    • oneshiner
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:49pm

      Bet the God he’s praying to in that photo is not the same one we Christians pray to, which is evident by the way he’s putting our Country in jeopardy by not allowing it to be voted on. The shoe is on the other foot now. The conservatives have done their job, now the Dems will be blamed for what we’re facing.

      Report Post »  
  • BIGJAYINPA
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:08pm

    Grab the pitchforks, light the torches. It is time to start decorating lampposts in DC….Just saying’

    Report Post » BIGJAYINPA  
  • CNK
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:08pm

    As usual, the republicans at least present a bill and all the democrats ever do is attack the bill. Obama cannot defend his policies because he knows Americans don’t like Socialist policies, so he and his fellow democrats attack, they never have solutions.

    Report Post »  
  • NuffSaid
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:08pm

    The Demo-Sociopaths voted against the balanced budget amendment. Balanced budget means the you must plan for your expenditures so that they do not exceed your incomes. Doesn’t sound so difficult.

    The Demosoks still have no reasonable position plan or even clear statement. They sound like teenagers throwing a fit and slamming the bedroom door. Maybe they are waiting for their mothers will bail them out.

    Report Post »  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:13pm

      at least investigate crimes,

      Grassley Sees DOJ Cover Up in ‘Fast and Furious’ Investigation
      Thursday, July 21, 2011
      By Fred Lucas

      Sen. Chuck Grassley

      Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

      (CNSNews.com) – A senior Senate Republican has accused the Justice Department of a “cover-up” by limiting information to Congress about a botched gun running program along the southwest border.

      “I think they’re trying to cover up now by not giving us all the information that we want,” Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told CNSNews.com.

      “In regard to criminality, this is quite obvious there is criminal activity when our own government suggests our own laws ought to be broken,” he said. “Isn’t it just as criminal if we do that, as [it would be] if Chuck Grassley did it as a private citizen?”
      http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/grassley-sees-doj-cover-fast-and-furious

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:07pm

    Democrats know that Cut, Cap and Balance, if it became law would spell the end of liberalism and the Democrat Party. After all, their stock in trade is the transfer of wealth from the earners to the takers requiring as it does, higher and higher taxes and deficits.

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • sWampy
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:06pm

    Why is congress so scared of constitutional amendments? They should pass everyone on that comes up, what could possibly be a better way to pass a bill than have 3/4ths of the states approve it by a 2/3rds margin?

    Report Post »  
    • quicker
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 1:15pm

      In order to do that they would have to have 2/3s of the states to sign on.

      Report Post » quicker  
  • beenaroundyaknow
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:06pm

    Hey Democrats, better start packing. Bye y’all, it’s been fun watching your moronic antics. Thanks for all you have done to take the country to ruin all in the name of partisan politics. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

    Report Post »  
  • Styx
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:06pm

    “It looks like it was drafted by two interns on the back of a napkin.” – Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), a member of the “Gang of Six”

    Says everything you need to know about the opposition to CC&B. No arguments on the merits of the proposal, just ad hominem attacks against the writers.

    Report Post » Styx  
  • eyestoseeearstohear
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:04pm

    The “ Big O”, is not going to accept ANYTHING SHORT OF being able to FINISH KILLING AMERICA.

    The Reps have better HOLD THEIR GROUNDS ANYWAY….NO TAX HIKES, NO RAISING DEBT CELING AND CUT SPENDING.

    IF there is a WILL….THERE IS A WAY!

    You can‘t make me believe there isn’t A DUPLICATE OR UNNECESSARY PROGRAM (s), OTHER THAN Social Security & Medicare that CAN’T BE CUT OUT.

    Obama AND Congress SHOULD CUT THEIR SALARIES….THEY created the mess.
    Cut Gov‘t Workers back AND cut the remaining Gov’t Workers SALARIES…
    Cut NEEDLESS PROJECTS completely.
    Cut sending Millions of Dollars to Countries who are OUR ENEMIES.
    Cut ALL NEEDLESS EXPENDITURES…in spite of the heads of those Dept’s objections.
    A damn FISH Research Project – I think we can live without.

    Report Post »  
    • eyestoseeearstohear
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 1:01pm

      HOW TO REDUCE THE DEBT
      1. Cut all Federal Government Employee pay by 7%. According to USA Today, Government Workers get paid 30% more than their counterparts in the Private Industry. A 7% cut in pay will reduce deficit spending by $140 billion per year.
      2. Repeal Obamacare. According to the OMB, increased costs from Obamacare are $2.4 Trillion over 10 years. So, a repeal of Obamacare will save $240 Billion per year.
      3. Cut out unnecessary Programs like Payments to Foreign Governments by the State Dept (Hillary Clinton), EPA, Dept of Education (this is a State responsibility according to the Constitution), several Programs in the Dept of Interior, etc. This will save about $350 billion per year.
      4. Eliminate Tax Loopholes, Oil Credits, Grants, Environmental Studies, Subsidies for Ethanol and other items. This will provide about $200 billion per year.
      5. Close several Military Bases and get out of Afghanistan and Libya. This saves about $100 billion per year.
      All told, this is more than $1 Trillion per year without touching Social Security or Medicare.
      Obama increased Government spending by $700 Billion per year, so why not just reverse all the stuff that he added. That would save $700 billion per year.
      So why doesn’t Obama do this?
      Because he really wants to grow Government.

      Source: http://www.saveamericanow.us.com

      Report Post »  
  • TEIN
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:04pm

    Committee Chairman Kent Conrad “It looks like it was drafted by two interns on the back of a napkin.”
    So Kent, two interns have more common sense and perspective of the will of the people than you and the gang of 6???

    Report Post »  
  • StevenL1955
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:03pm

    It’s one of the stupidest constitutional amendments I have ever seen,” said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.),

    Well Senator, it may be until we take the Senate next year and throw Obama out, then you’ll have no chice but to accept the will of the people.

    Report Post » StevenL1955  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:07pm

      Just like TARP
      Just like the Food bill
      Just like the renewal of the un Patriot act
      Just like the cuts to SS for everyone under age 56
      Just like the de funding of Planned Parenting
      Just like the war in Libya

      funny how protected Obama really is, nothing even reaches his desk to force a
      Veto.
      Why did we all vote last Nov ?

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
  • NSDQ
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:03pm

    So let them destroy our way of life so we can say “Told Ya So”. I cant agreed to that. We need to get our family, friends and coworkers in the know flood them with facts not sound bites and scare tactics and make sure they get out and vote, flush these progressives down the toilet and THEN show them how strong common sense conservatism works and does more with less.

    Report Post » NSDQ  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:03pm

    Okay.
    Let’s see what obama and reid can come up with in a week.
    The House should go home and wait for harry‘s call when he’s done.

    Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:59am

    We need the Senate and the White House. If we get them and still no balanced budget amendment, it should look like the French revolution.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:03pm

      and while all eyes are on the Scam budget battle

      A shocking Department of Homeland Security video that caused outrage yesterday after it depicted white Americans as the most likely terrorists only confirms that the federal government is now profiling middle class America as the main terror threat, something that becomes made abundantly clear when one studies the history of training manuals and other literature put out by the feds that identifies politically active US citizens as domestic extremists.

      On the day that Janet Napolitano repeated rhetoric about “domestic terror” being the primary security threat, a newly released DHS video caused outrage by depicting white Americans as the most likely terrorists. The footage illustrated a number of scenarios encouraging people to report suspicious activity, and in almost every case the evildoer was a white American and in not one case was the terrorist a Muslim or an Arab.
      http://www.infowars.com/feds-profiling-whites-middle-class-americans-as-terrorists/

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:06pm

      Any budget put forth By Obama without approval in both houses is unenforcasble and any congressman that would allow him to do this is Unamerica. If the government won‘t follow the Constitution it’s no longer the government and much like a cancer will need to be physically removed and then treated with radiation.

      Report Post »  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:59am

    So now the congress go home. President Obama will hold meetings with Bill Clinton, Cass Sustein, Timothy Geithner, and Fed Chair Bernanke to plan their real plan.

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • concealled9mms
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:59am

    your right on

    Report Post »  
  • dcwu
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:58am

    It’s tar and feathers time.

    Report Post »  
  • concealled9mms
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:58am

    here we go again

    Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:56am

    SHAME on them. They are NOT AMERICANS. I would like the names of all the senators who voted against it please. Thank you!

    Report Post »  
  • ElaineA
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:55am

    Well, it is not a surprise …. but it IS a disappointment. I have called Washington, tweeted – whatever and I feel so discouraged that AMERICA is being held hostage by 51 Democrats.

    Report Post » ElaineA  
  • NSDQ
    Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:51am

    Dem wont stand for having their credit cards taken away

    Report Post » NSDQ  
    • drattastic
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:53am

      We will take their jobs away soon

      Report Post » drattastic  
    • hauschild
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:59am

      Until such time as there are no more credit cards to be taken away.

      Liberals are losers. I hate to say it, but it’s true. They’re terribly destructive in nearly everything they do.

      Actually, with the way these idiots are acting, I am kinda looking forward to the day when things really get tight. Liberals don‘t want to admit it’s coming, but oh, it’s coming. You can bank on that, Missy! And, I’ll be loving every minute of watching these losers piss and moan.

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:21pm

      They will try to do the most damage with what time they have left, including Obama.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Tyr
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:38pm

      Not with the bunch of half-wit, bible thumping, pizza slinging, health-care passing, gay hating, war loving, GW Bush clone looking presidential candidates the Tea Party is shoving down our throats.

      Report Post » Tyr  
    • schmite123oh
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 4:46pm

      those jerks dont know how to cut spending, “just throw more money at the problem”, like 14 trillion didn’t do it but maybe 20 trillion, ticks me off! they get plenty of tax money…

      Report Post »  
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