From: Greg Dempsey <gregdempsey@sti.net>
Date: Wed, Jul 20, 2011 at 12:43 AM
Subject: [DailyKos] *? 2 ALL: HOUSE PASSES TEA-PARTY BACKED DEBT CEILING PLAN - WHAT ARE YOUR COMMENTS?*
To: greg dempsey <gregdempsey@sti.net>
"The bill passed, 234 to 190, on a largely partisan vote.
"Five Democrats, including Reps. Jim Cooper (Tenn.), Health Shuler (N.C.) and Dan Boren (Okla.), sided with Republicans in passing the measure. Nine Republicans opposed the bill, including Tea Party favorite and GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.). In a statement issued after the vote, Bachmann said the bill "does not go far enough" and should have included provisions to defund health care reform.
"Other Republican defectors included Reps. Walter Jones (N.C.), Francisco Canseco (Texas), Scott DesJarlais (Tenn.), Connie Mack (Fla.) and Ron Paul (Texas). Paul said he has never voted for a debt ceiling increase and never will. In addition, he took issue with Republicans for not including defense cuts in the mix of discretionary cuts.
"'All spending must be deemed discretionary and reexamined by Congress each year,' Paul said in a statement. 'To allow otherwise is pure cowardice.'
"Tuesday's vote comes after weeks of Republicans touting the bill as proof of their commitment to conservative principles. It includes three provisions: substantial spending cuts, statutory spending caps, and a constitutional amendment to require the government to balance its books each year.
"Republicans say the proposal is just the kind of shot in the arm needed to address the nation's staggering $14.4 trillion debt. Specifically, it calls for cutting more than $100 billion in fiscal 2012 and makes drastic spending cuts in areas that Democrats have prioritized as opportunities for investment: clean energy, infrastructure, education and job training. The biggest concern for Democrats, however, is the bill's proposal to gut Medicaid funding by one-third over the next decade.
"Both parties know the bill has next to no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate, and President Barack Obama has already threatened a veto. But Republicans have pushed for a record vote on it ahead of the 2012 elections.
"Democrats spent much of Tuesday's four-hour debate bashing Republicans for wasting time on a political stunt.
"'This bill panders, even grovels, to Tea Party extremists,' Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) said. 'Thank goodness this bill will never pass the United States Senate. Thank goodness this bill will never become law.'"
"Cut, Cap And Balance": House passes tea party-backed debt ceiling plan - what are your comments?
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