Today in Washington D. C. - April 2, 2009 - Party on Dude Attitude Prevails
The Senate resumes consideration of S. Con. Res. 13, the $3.5 trillion fiscal year 2010 budget resolution. Votes on amendments are expected to being around 11:30, eventually moving into the annual vote-a-rama, where senators will vote on a large number of amendments in succession until all remaining amendments are disposed of. Once these votes are completed, usually late at night, the Senate will likely then vote on final passage of the budget.
Yesterday, the Senate adopted the Johanns amendment prohibiting the use of reconciliation to move cap-and-trade legislation by a vote of 67-31 and rejected the Whitehouse amendment allowing such a process if the Senate determines climate change a threat by a vote of 42-56. The Senate also approved the Cornyn and Ensign amendments, which would require 60 votes to raise income taxes, by votes of 82-16 and 98-0, respectively.
A number of Republican amendments were defeated yesterday, including one from Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) to require 60 votes to pass any budget that allows the debt-to-GDP ratio to exceed 90% and one from Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to freeze non-defense discretionary spending for the next two years.
With the Senate entering the home stretch on in debate over the $3.5 trillion budget, even some Democrats are uncomfortable with key aspects of it. Foremost among those is the nationwide energy tax that would be the result of a carbon cap-and-trade bill. The AP reported last night, “By a 67-31 tally, the Senate adopted an amendment by Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., against allowing controversial cap-and-trade legislation to pass the Senate with fewer than 60 votes. As important, the vote seemed to reflect considerable Democratic skepticism on climate change legislation generally; 26 Democrats voted for the amendment.”
Warning: Regardless of a few Democrats "uncomfortableness," keep in mind that the Johanns, Cornyn and Ensign amendments could (and probably will be) be stripped in conference committee since the House leadership is keen on including reconciliation instructions in their budget. The Washington Post noted the possibility yesterday that House Democrats might include cap-and-trade in reconciliation so they could use revenue from that program to pay for health care reform. Also, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell discussed some of the Republican amendments that have attracted bipartisan support. He noted the Republican sponsored amendments that would make it harder to raise taxes received overwhelming support. McConnell said, “It showed Republicans fighting to keep our nation from an irreversible drift to the Left, and it showed some Democrats agreeing to some of our proposals. But the proof of their commitment is in the final product.” The primary point is that these amendments almost certainly will be stripped by Democrats in conference resolutions between the House and the Senate versions of the budget.
Many Democrats understand that the budget presented by their party spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows far too much from future generations. Democrats troubled by these facts would do well to join Republicans in opposing this budget. However, the backroom deals and pressures may be too great for even the "blue dog" Democrats to withstand the Reid, Pelosi & Obama machine. These democrats hope their constituents will forget by the next election that they in fact failed to protect their constituents and instead presented them with token short-term benefits while saddling their constituents' children with a massive debt.
Democrats in Washington D.C. appear to be in an "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" operational mode. Also, have you noted the lavish parties being given at the White House (not the obligatory State parties required by a head of state but the Obama "party on dude" events)? Our tax dollars at work having fun! I thought Obama said times were tough and we needed to conserve and sacrifice. Leadership begins at the top, but apparently there is none!
Tags: cap-and-trade, energy tax, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Yesterday, the Senate adopted the Johanns amendment prohibiting the use of reconciliation to move cap-and-trade legislation by a vote of 67-31 and rejected the Whitehouse amendment allowing such a process if the Senate determines climate change a threat by a vote of 42-56. The Senate also approved the Cornyn and Ensign amendments, which would require 60 votes to raise income taxes, by votes of 82-16 and 98-0, respectively.
A number of Republican amendments were defeated yesterday, including one from Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) to require 60 votes to pass any budget that allows the debt-to-GDP ratio to exceed 90% and one from Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to freeze non-defense discretionary spending for the next two years.
With the Senate entering the home stretch on in debate over the $3.5 trillion budget, even some Democrats are uncomfortable with key aspects of it. Foremost among those is the nationwide energy tax that would be the result of a carbon cap-and-trade bill. The AP reported last night, “By a 67-31 tally, the Senate adopted an amendment by Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., against allowing controversial cap-and-trade legislation to pass the Senate with fewer than 60 votes. As important, the vote seemed to reflect considerable Democratic skepticism on climate change legislation generally; 26 Democrats voted for the amendment.”
Warning: Regardless of a few Democrats "uncomfortableness," keep in mind that the Johanns, Cornyn and Ensign amendments could (and probably will be) be stripped in conference committee since the House leadership is keen on including reconciliation instructions in their budget. The Washington Post noted the possibility yesterday that House Democrats might include cap-and-trade in reconciliation so they could use revenue from that program to pay for health care reform. Also, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell discussed some of the Republican amendments that have attracted bipartisan support. He noted the Republican sponsored amendments that would make it harder to raise taxes received overwhelming support. McConnell said, “It showed Republicans fighting to keep our nation from an irreversible drift to the Left, and it showed some Democrats agreeing to some of our proposals. But the proof of their commitment is in the final product.” The primary point is that these amendments almost certainly will be stripped by Democrats in conference resolutions between the House and the Senate versions of the budget.
Many Democrats understand that the budget presented by their party spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows far too much from future generations. Democrats troubled by these facts would do well to join Republicans in opposing this budget. However, the backroom deals and pressures may be too great for even the "blue dog" Democrats to withstand the Reid, Pelosi & Obama machine. These democrats hope their constituents will forget by the next election that they in fact failed to protect their constituents and instead presented them with token short-term benefits while saddling their constituents' children with a massive debt.
Democrats in Washington D.C. appear to be in an "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" operational mode. Also, have you noted the lavish parties being given at the White House (not the obligatory State parties required by a head of state but the Obama "party on dude" events)? Our tax dollars at work having fun! I thought Obama said times were tough and we needed to conserve and sacrifice. Leadership begins at the top, but apparently there is none!
Tags: cap-and-trade, energy tax, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Posted by Bill Smith at 12:06 PM - Post Link
1 Comments:
"Reid, Pelosi & Obama machine"? You must be kidding. If only that were true.
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