Promises Made: “Adios” to PAYGODemocrat Position: Good for America Unless It's Bad for Democrats

by Rep. John Boozman Press Office: It took 105 days, but PAYGO is now not worth the paper it was written on. Remember last month when the Democrat Leadership pulled the DC Voting bill off the floor after Republicans offered an amendment to repeal the DC gun ownership ban? (Never mind that it would have restored the 2nd Amendment rights to people who Democrats said demanded the right to vote.) The fact that parts of the bill came under the PAYGO rules allowed the GOP to amend the bill.

... In order to prevent the GOP from amending the bill, House Democrats have waived the PAYGO rules, ... much heralded by Democrats in last year’s campaign.... Normally, the rules of the House of Representatives would require that the bill be subject to a PAYGO point of order on the House floor. However, the Democrats are eliminating the possibility for Members of Congress to question their waiving of PAYGO in order to pass the bill.

Rep. Boozman voted for PAYGO, ... with a bipartisan majority ... “as a common-sense step to require the House of Representatives to pay-as-we-go when it comes to money matters ... The American people demanded we begin down the road to fiscal responsibility, and this rule is a good first step.” . . . Some of the rhetoric about PAYGO spouted by members of the Democrat Leadership:

• Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “After years of historic deficits, this new Congress will commit itself to a higher standard: pay as you go, no new deficit spending. Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt.”
• Majority Leader Steny Hoyer: “Democrats propose a new direction on the economy that includes a commitment to fiscal discipline. We would restore common sense “pay as you go” rules that say any increase in spending or decrease in revenue, such as tax cuts, must be offset by decreases in spending elsewhere or increases in revenue. Democrats believe that fiscal responsibility will help put America back on the right track”
• Ways & Means Chairman Charlie Rangel: “It’s not good for me to have pay-go, but it’s good for the country. At this point, nobody . . . has convinced me that there should be exemptions from pay-go.”
• Democrat Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel: “I worked for an administration that had pay-as-you-go rules. It created discipline not just for Republicans, not just for Democrats. For the government. For the American people’s money.”

The new Democrat position on PAYGO: Good for America unless it’s bad for Democrats. See Also: House Violates Constitution ...

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Tags: Democrats, John Boozman, PAYGO, U.S. House, US Congress