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Binge Spenders: Democrats Discover Budget Deficits, Then Ignore Them
GOP Leader: "Americans are asking 'where are the jobs?' but all they are getting from out-of-touch Washington Democrats is more spending and more debt piled on our kids and grandkids."
Washington
(Nov 18, 2009)
Washington Democrats are trying to make amends for their unprecedented spending binge and the record red ink it has created by warning about the dangers of deficits and promising to be more fiscally responsible next year. The Obama Administration spent more in its first 100 days than all previous presidents have combined, prompting Washington to run out of money halfway through fiscal year 2009. The trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ has produced countless examples of wasteful government spending, including directing taxpayer dollars to congressional districts that don’t even exist. The national debt has topped $12 trillion for the first time in U.S. history. For all that, Americans are left asking ‘where are the jobs?’
Doubling down on the trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ is just one indication that Democrats have every intention of continuing to spend freely and pile more debt on our kids and grandkids. Also in the pipeline: a $1.3-trillion (and counting) government takeover of health care that actually raises costs and a massive omnibus spending bill to fulfill a budget that doubles the national debt in five years and triples it in ten. American families want fiscally responsible solutions to get the economy back on track, which is why Republicans sent a letter to President Obama last month reiterating common-sense ideas to help small businesses create jobs.
House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) responds to the Democrats’ budget-busting proposals in this Associated Press report:
"Americans are asking 'where are the jobs?' but all they are getting from out-of-touch Washington Democrats is more spending and more debt piled on our kids and grandkids. Instead of doubling down with more spending and borrowing, the American people want fiscally responsible solutions to get the economy back on track."
RHETORIC: “President Barack Obama gave his sternest warning yet about the need to contain rising U.S. deficits, saying on Wednesday that if government debt were to pile up too much, it could lead to a double-dip recession.” “A plan for reducing America’s long- term federal budget deficits will be ‘a key component’ of President Barack Obama’s annual State of the Union address in January, according to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.” (Reuters, 11/18/09; Bloomberg, 11/17/09)
REALITY:
• “SWELLING DEFICITS FURTHER” BY DOUBLING DOWN ON THE TRILLION-DOLLAR ‘STIMULUS:’
“House Democrats are looking at swelling deficits further…” “House Democratic leaders are also looking at the possibility of passing some smaller jobs-focused measures, potentially including extensions of various pieces of the $787 billion stimulus package.” “One lingering question is how — and when — to pay for the jobs package. Hoyer noted that Democrats would not want to offset the cost of new or continued initiatives immediately, for fear of counteracting any stimulative effect.” (Associated Press, 11/17/09; Roll Call, 11/16/09; CQ, 11/17/09)
• A $1.3 TRILLION (AND COUNTING) GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE:
“The health care bill headed for a vote in the House this week costs $1.2 trillion or more over a decade, according to numerous Democratic officials and figures contained in an analysis by congressional budget experts, far higher than the $900 billion cited by President Barack Obama as a price tag for his reform plan. … Republicans put the cost of the bill at nearly $1.3 trillion.” (Associated Press, 11/3/09)
• A NEW TARP SLUSH FUND:
“Among ideas floated Tuesday by Democratic leaders were using bailout money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program…” “Democrats want homeowners and workers to get money from TARP… That conflicts with the Obama administration’s idea of dedicating some of the money toward reducing the deficit.” (The Wall Street Journal, 11/18/09; The Hill, 11/17/09)
• A “BIG TRUCK” OMNIBUS SPENDING BILL:
“An end-of-the-year, catch-all appropriations package being put together will likely carry no more than four of the annual spending bills, with the FY10 Defense Appropriations measure as the legislative vehicle, Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye said Monday. ‘There is common talk around here that Defense is going to be used as a big truck…’ Inouye said.” (CongressDaily, 11/17/09)
• NEW TAXES:
“Liberals and labor groups have been pushing hard for Democrats to deal more aggressively with joblessness, and they say the cost of new policies could be partially offset with new taxes on certain financial transactions.” (CQ, 11/17/09)
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