I am getting tired of us having to do this to Democratic officials.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn on Wednesday introduced the No Budget, No OMB Pay Act of 2013, which would withhold the pay for the director of the Office of Management and Budget and top budget officials until the fiscal 2014 budget is delivered.
Do your jobs, dammit.
This is an important point:
In what liberals are sure to describe as a fit of denial, [House Budget Chairman Paul] Ryan argues that Republicans are actually “much better positioned” to advance conservative policy alternatives during Obama’s second term than they were during the 2012 campaign. He predicts that once Americans begin to feel the practical effects of Obama’s policies, many of which have yet to be fully implemented, they will “yearn” for change. Voters may have endorsed such policies in theory, but according to Ryan, they are in for a rude awakening when Obamacare and other aspects of the president’s agenda take full effect over the next couple of years.
“I think it’s different now that the rubber is hitting the road with respect to Obama’s policies,” Ryan says. “We ran against the Obama policies before they were implemented. Obama was able to protect them with his rhetoric, but he was never measured against his results. Now, in the second term, they’re implementing these things, they’re putting details in writing, regulations are coming out, and we’re seeing just how different these proposals are than the rhetoric that was used to sell them.”
So, we’re looking at a Senate proposal of one trillion in new taxes:
Senate Democrats are drafting a federal budget blueprint that would raise nearly $1 trillion in new taxes over the next decade and slice roughly $1 trillion more from projected spending, according to Democratic aides familiar with the document.
Let me translate that into English: the Democrats are proposing more than one trillion in taxes (that number will go up, trust me) and no real spending cuts. “Projected spending” is a null statement designed to lock in current spending as a baseline, despite the fact that current spending is an aberration and artifact of that 2009 ‘stimulus’ that didn’t even work. It’s not going to fly with the House. It’s going to be pure hell for Democratic Senators up for re-election next year. It’s even admitted that the proposal is not going to balance the budget any time soon.
Tragically, though: it’s still progress. This is the first budget we’ve seen from Senate Democrats in years.
Moe Lane
Pick which one you like best! I can’t decide.
Senate Democrats say they will soon pass their first budget in four years, but it is proving a test.
You can tell, right from the start, that the Hill itself will believe that Senate Democrats will pass a budget when the Hill actually sees one.
Senate Democrats are tired of the GOP taunts over their failure to pass a budget since 2009 — it is one of Congress’s primary duties — and are determined to get a 10-year measure through the Senate before the Easter recess starts on March 22.
First off: the Hill is also not very sympathetic to the woes of the Democratic party, huh? I should also note that I suspect that, as matters previously stood, Senate Democrats would have borne up under the taunts for some time longer. But credibly threaten to dock their pay, and all of a sudden the Senate springs into action!
…I weep for the Republic.
Continue reading Funny, funny lines from the Senate’s budget follies.
… well, it’s bad news if you’re a progressive Wisconsinite, that is.
Wisconsin’s budget picture brightened Thursday, with new estimates that show a surplus will grow to $484 million, giving Republicans and Gov. Scott Walker even more room to pursue their tax cutting agenda.
The estimate from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau was nearly $137 million better than one Walker’s administration released in November. The numbers will be used by Walker as he puts the final touches on his two-year spending plan, which he’s set to unveil on Feb. 20.
Yes, I’m a dirty so-and-so. So?
Via Althouse, via Instapundit.
Please take note of this. Democratic Senators are a funny bunch, sometimes. Point out that they’re mandated, Constitutionally, to pass a budget every year? They yawn. Remind them that it’s rank hypocrisy to lecture people on fiscal responsibility when they won’t show any? You get a shrug in response. Observe that shenanigans like Senate Democrats not doing a budget since 2009 is one major reason why people hate Congress more than Nickleback? They’ll just chuckle and smirk.
But threaten not to pay them, and… well. Suddenly it’s Civics Week at the Senate.
The Senate’s third-ranking Democrat said Sunday that the upper chamber will pass a budget this year, something House Republican leaders have insisted as they’ve agreed to hold a vote on a short-term increase in the nation’s borrowing limit.
[snip]
House Republicans last week proposed a vote on raising the debt ceiling for three months to give both chambers time to pass a budget for the next fiscal year. Under the proposal, if either chamber fails to adopt a budget by April 15, then that chamber’s members would then have their paychecks withheld.
Continue reading Charles Schumer (D, New York): the Democratic-controlled Senate will pass a budget.
“The first step to fixing this problem is to pass a budget that reduces spending. The House has done so, and will again. The Democratic Senate has not passed a budget in almost four years, which is unfair to hardworking taxpayers who expect more from their representatives. That ends this year.
“We must pay our bills and responsibly budget for our future. Next week, we will authorize a three month temporary debt limit increase to give the Senate and House time to pass a budget. Furthermore, if the Senate or House fails to pass a budget in that time, Members of Congress will not be paid by the American people for failing to do their job. No budget, no pay.
There’s a lot of arguments going on right now about the best thing for Republicans right now (I default to agreeing with Ieyasu when it comes to birds that will not sing), but one thing that absolutely must change is that we have to find some way to make Senate Democrats do their damned jobs. If you don’t like this method of getting them to pass a budget, by all means: feel free to suggest a better one.
One that might work.
Because apparently math is hard.
The White House has informed House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) that it will miss the legal deadline for sending a budget to Congress.
Acting Budget Director Jeff Zients told Ryan (R-Wis.) late Friday that the budget will not be delivered by Feb. 4, as required by law, a House aide said.
Continue reading Obama’s budget proposal will be late. Again.
Here’s a pro-tip* for Bob Shrum: if you’re going to try to marginalize and mock a US Senator (to the point of calling him “buddy”), make sure that you have the right info first.
Continue reading Bob Shrum ignorantly and incorrectly lectures Senator Ron Johnson.
Ah, the joys of bipartisanship.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paqI0KwlaK8
Seriously, the Democrats need to start thinking about how this stuff looks to people who aren’t part of their tight little sub-demographic.
