Saying $7 billion is budget busting for a budget the size of the U.S. government is over the top, but that doesn't make Specter and company any less annoying for this.Today's GOP:
Ha! Amusing. Funny. Ticklish! Until you remember that it's your damned money.There is no specific mention of a "Vote-a-Rama" in the Constitution, which is probably because the Framers could not have imagined what happened in the Senate yesterday: The chamber's 100 members gathered and, in a frenzy of legislative activity, did their darnedest to empty the Treasury.
It was the political equivalent of going on a shopping spree the same day you get a credit-line increase on your over-the-limit card. In the morning, the senators increased the federal debt limit by $800 billion, to $9 trillion -- that's with a T. In the afternoon came the Vote-a-Rama, a carnival in which the lawmakers took turns pitching scores of amendments to the 2007 budget measure, most calling for more money for favorite programs.
"The Republican Party is now principally moderate, if not liberal!" exulted Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), after the Senate -- including a majority of Republicans -- approved his budget-busting amendment to spend an extra $7 billion on domestic programs.
Just a week ago, GOP leaders gathered in Memphis and proclaimed the party's commitment to fiscal restraint; yesterday, the restraints came off. "All the talk in Memphis doesn't comport with reality," said Specter, savoring his victory in a leather armchair in the Senate press gallery. "I don't have any apologies to make for this 7 billion. I'm still not satisfied."
[...]
While the Senate was increasing the government's borrowing limit and growing the budget, the House was having a little Vote-a-Rama of its own, adding goodies to a $92 billion spending package to pay for Iraq and hurricane recovery.
Meanwhile, House members, facing a 5 p.m. deadline, scrambled to submit spending requests for their pet projects to the Appropriations Committee. By day's end, the committee had received 3,602 requests for a grand total of $14.9 billion.
[...]
When Specter visited the press gallery to talk about his $7 billion, a reporter asked if the senator had employed "sort of a gimmick" to evade budget rules.
"It's not sort of a gimmick," Specter deadpanned. "It is a gimmick."
Tell me again, why should anyone who cares about limited government support this party?
Spending Spree
Spending Spree
From Radley Balko's blog - http://www.theagitator.com/archives/026388.php#026388
No nation was ever ruined by trade.
– Benjamin Franklin
– Benjamin Franklin
I found this to be interesting its a little dated but I have to agree with a lot of it.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/bg1622.cfm
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/bg1622.cfm
Hiya Cart!Cartalas wrote:I found this to be interesting its a little dated but I have to agree with a lot of it.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/bg1622.cfm
PS. Facts and figures are the bane of democracy! We need Perky Katie Couric to tell us how we feel so bad about cutting spending.
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*~*stragi*~*
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You are very welcome.Stragi wrote:thx for ruining the country metanis
I turned 50 this year. I had this epiphany. Now that I'm a senior citizen it's time to bleed you young bucks dry. Open up that wallet and dig deep boys, it only hurts for a little while. I want my socialized medicine. I want socialized drugs. Socialized rent control. You name it, I want it. And I want you to pay for it. The best part is that us old folks are the biggest voting block so you can't stop it! Party ON!!!
