Thursday, August 04, 2005
Washington Post: the GOP embraces its spending side
From Jonathan Weisman, Washington Post Staff Writer-
"GOP leaders this week sent House Republicans home for the summer with some political tips, helpfully laid out in 12 'Ideas for August Recess Events'. Drop by a military reserve center to highlight increased benefits, the talking points suggest. Visit a bridge or highway that will receive additional funding, or talk up the new prescription drug benefit for seniors.
Having skirted budget restraints and approved nearly $300 billion in new spending and tax breaks before leaving town, Republican lawmakers are now determined to claim full credit for the congressional spending. Far from shying away from their accomplishments, lawmakers are embracing the pork, including graffiti eradication in the Bronx, $277 million in road projects for Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill) and a $200,000 deer avoidance system in New York.
When the year started, President Bush made spending restraint a mantra, laying out an austere budget that would freeze non-security discretionary spending for five years and setting firm cost limits on transportation and energy bills. But now, as Congress fills in the details of the budget plan, there is little interest in making deep cuts and enormous pressure to spend.
Lawmakers have seen little to fear from a political backlash, some acknowledge, and Bush has yet to wield his veto pen. In fact, the White House has proved itself largely unable to overcome the institutional forces that have long driven lawmakers to ply their parochial interests with cash.
When lawmakers return in the fall, they are almost certain to vote for more tax cuts. They also will vote on a huge new defense spending bill. But proposals for cutting entitlement programs including Medicaid have yet to pick up much support.
'If you look at fiscal conservatism these days, it's in a sorry state,' said Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz), one of only eight House members to vote against the $286.5 billion transportation bill that was passed the day before the recess. 'Republicans don't even pretend anymore.'..."
Well, it doesn't even sound like feeding at the public trough. It sounds a lot like looting and plundering...
"GOP leaders this week sent House Republicans home for the summer with some political tips, helpfully laid out in 12 'Ideas for August Recess Events'. Drop by a military reserve center to highlight increased benefits, the talking points suggest. Visit a bridge or highway that will receive additional funding, or talk up the new prescription drug benefit for seniors.
Having skirted budget restraints and approved nearly $300 billion in new spending and tax breaks before leaving town, Republican lawmakers are now determined to claim full credit for the congressional spending. Far from shying away from their accomplishments, lawmakers are embracing the pork, including graffiti eradication in the Bronx, $277 million in road projects for Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill) and a $200,000 deer avoidance system in New York.
When the year started, President Bush made spending restraint a mantra, laying out an austere budget that would freeze non-security discretionary spending for five years and setting firm cost limits on transportation and energy bills. But now, as Congress fills in the details of the budget plan, there is little interest in making deep cuts and enormous pressure to spend.
Lawmakers have seen little to fear from a political backlash, some acknowledge, and Bush has yet to wield his veto pen. In fact, the White House has proved itself largely unable to overcome the institutional forces that have long driven lawmakers to ply their parochial interests with cash.
When lawmakers return in the fall, they are almost certain to vote for more tax cuts. They also will vote on a huge new defense spending bill. But proposals for cutting entitlement programs including Medicaid have yet to pick up much support.
'If you look at fiscal conservatism these days, it's in a sorry state,' said Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz), one of only eight House members to vote against the $286.5 billion transportation bill that was passed the day before the recess. 'Republicans don't even pretend anymore.'..."
Well, it doesn't even sound like feeding at the public trough. It sounds a lot like looting and plundering...
