Earth to Harry Reid: The "Gang of 234" Shows Cut, Cap, and Balance IS the Path Forward

Disclosure: Goofy U.S Senate Gang Photo
had too many Tax Tats and Evoked Rage

Today in Washington, D.C. - July 20, 2011:
The Senate resumed consideration of H.R. 2055, the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs (Milcon-VA) appropriations bill.

At noon, the Senate will vote on an amendment to the bill from Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) which would require the adoption of a budget resolution before funding in the bill could be spent.

As noted previously, last night, House Republicans passed their Cut, Cap and Balance bill by a bipartisan vote of 234-190. Also, addressed was the Senate Gang of 6, trying to broker a separate deal with the president. While the term "Gang" sounds bad, it may be appropriate when a few big heads believe they should run roughshod over the rest of the elected Senators and House members elected by the people. If things have deteriorated to Chicago Style politics of Barack Obama, it is time for some drastic changes. An appropriate term for the Gang's plan was coined today by Eric Erikson at RedState: Gangrene Plan - "The Gang of 6 plan is intended to play a role in the debt ceiling debate by giving the McConnell-Reid-Pelosi Pontius Pilate Act more life to get passed until the Gangrene Plan can take affect."

The Hill reports that Senator Harry Reid’s requested that Speaker John Boehner send him a “path forward” in the debt debate and claiming that they have some nebulous plan. Maybe he is referring to the Senate Gang or even the former McConnell plan as showing a path for the Senate. One thing is certain, Reid doesn't have a plan other than doing what the President wants.  Reid was re-elected by "hook and crook" via the efforts of Barack Obama. The citizens of Nevada have a Senator in name only who is too busy playing Mini-Me to Mr. Teleprompter.

This morning, Republican Study Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) tweeted "Gang of Six Plan? Try the Gang of 234 Plan, #CutCapBalance", and issued the following statement, “In case Senator Reid didn’t notice, a bipartisan ‘Gang of 234’ just sent him the way forward. It’s called the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act. This is the only plan that can fundamentally solve our debt problem, and it is waiting for Senator Reid to bring up on the Senate floor for an up-or-down vote. The House made its position in the debt debate crystal clear. It’s Cut, Cap, and Balance.”

Right on Congressman! Why would 6 Senators trade the properly represented position of 234 Representatives to support 1 President who has taken us to the abyss of economic ruin?  Obama's prior trump card, "it's Bush's fault" was worn out long ago. He and his White House minions, Czars and bureaucrats have done more damage in two years and seven months than considered possible by people who are responsible and ethical. Just shows what can happen when unscrupulous and unqualified people are allowed to run the Ship of State.

The AP noted  that the House “voted Tuesday night to slice federal spending by $6 trillion and require a constitutional balanced budget amendment to be sent to the states” before the debt ceiling could be raised. The story notes, “The legislation, dubbed ‘Cut, Cap and Balance’ by supporters and backed by tea party activists, would make an estimated $111 billion in immediate reductions and ensure that overall spending declined in the future in relation to the overall size of the economy. It also would require both houses of Congress to approve a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and send it to the states for ratification. The amendment itself would require a supermajority vote in both houses of Congress for any future tax raises.”

According to the Senate minority leaders office, Senate Republicans are pushing for a vote on Cut, Cap and Balance as soon as possible.  The Hill reported yesterday. “Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that Senate Republicans are hoping for a vote on the balanced-budget amendment this week. ‘As you know, the issue on the floor next, after the Military Construction bill, will be the “cut, cap and balance” proposal that we anticipate will pass the House tonight,’ McConnell said. ‘The majority leader has indicated we will move to that next.’”

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), one of the authors of the Cut, Cap, and Balance bill in the Senate, said in an interview last night, “The fact is, I want us to reach a deal before we get [to the debt limit deadline]. And Sean, that’s why I’m excited about the vote tonight in the House. They are going to pass a bill that puts us on a path to a balanced budget. The president would get the debt limit increase he wants. And all we’re asking for him is join us on putting our federal budget on the path to balance. Don’t have to get there overnight. But how controversial, how crazy an idea is it to balance the budget?”

He also echoed the frustration many Republicans have had with the way the Obama White House has approached debt limit negotiations and a balanced budget amendment: “But let’s face it. There’s never been any evidence that they have any interest in really cutting spending and shrinking government. This administration has been all about the opposite. So, we need the American people to say, Mr. President, we’re really insisting now. You know, the last time we had a Democratic president, he agreed that we ought to balance the budget and working with the Republican Congress, they actually did it. So why is it so unreasonable now?”

Leader McConnell responded yesterday, “Republicans have tried to persuade the President of the need for a course correction, but weeks of negotiations have shown that his commitment to big government is simply too great to lead to the kind of long-term reforms we need to put us on a path to balance and economic growth. So we’ve decided to bring our case to the American people. And that’s why this week, Republicans in the House and the Senate will push for legislation that would cut government spending now, cap it in the future, and which only raises the debt limit if it’s accompanied by a constitutional amendment to balance the federal budget. The Cut, Cap, and Balance plan is the kind of strong medicine Washington needs and the American people want — and Republicans in both houses of Congress will be pushing it aggressively this week.

“I heard one of my Democratic colleagues say yesterday that the votes simply don’t exist to pass any bill in the Senate that balances the budget. My question is, why in the world not? If you can’t vote for a bill that says you’ll live within your means, then you’ve given up and you agree that the unsustainable path is the only one we have. And that’s completely unacceptable.”

It is time for people to know who is and who is not for saving the United States from destruction and the continued overreach and expansion of Big Government.  As just one example, the people of Arkansas now know the truth that Rep. Mike Ross was NOT willing to support action to limit government growth and to pull America back from the brink of the financial abyss.  He not only failed to follow his own rhetoric which he uses back in Arkansas, he skipped past the lap dog  stage and even went against the leadership of the Blue Dog coalition. Ross voted with Nancy Pelosi against the Cut, Cap and Balance bill.

The American people are willing to look at the issues of entitlements, but first, they need to see the Government curtained in its gluttony. And, since the Federal Government has proven itself incapable of limiting itself, it needs to be bound by the representatives of the people with "Cut, Cap and a Balanced Budget Amendment."

---

Tags: Washington, D.C., US Senate, Gang of 6, backroom deals, US House, cut, cap, balance, BBA, Balanced Budget Amendment, stop wasteful spending, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!