2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumNEWS ANALYSIS: Republican Party divide increasingly a matter of region
NEWS ANALYSIS
Republican Party divide increasingly a matter of region
As Washington's budget battles show, a divide in the GOP between its Southern base and the rest of country is widening.
By Paul West, Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON The budget battles rocking the capital have exposed a deepening fault line within an already fractured Republican Party: the divide between the GOP's solid Southern base and the rest of the country.
That regional split became evident when members of the House of Representatives cast votes last week on a budget deal designed to avoid massive tax hikes and spending cuts: Almost 90% of Southern Republicans voted against the "fiscal-cliff" compromise. At the same time, a majority of Republican representatives from outside the South supported the deal, which was approved in large part because of overwhelming Democratic support.
The GOP's geographic schisms burst anew after House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) canceled an expected vote on a $60-billion disaster relief package for victims of Superstorm Sandy.
Rep. Peter T. King (R- N.Y.) accused his party of "cavalier disregard" toward New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, a potential 2016 GOP presidential contender, lashed out at what he called the "toxic internal politics" of his party's House majority, noting that Republicans had speedily approved support for storm relief in "Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Alabama
"
Boehner moved quickly to smooth things over, but the upheaval was a reminder that divisions within the party could play an influential role as the new Congress begins to tackle Washington's top agenda items, including an attempt in coming weeks to avoid a national debt default and President Obama's promised effort to overhaul the nation's immigration system.
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latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gop-analysis-20130106,0,787706.story
stultusporcos
(327 posts)ROBROX
(392 posts)Those who hate and are greedy just can not help ANYONE. They do not like to increase taxes and instead of supporting a 98% tax decrease they go for 100%.
Today the GOP complaint is that the social security tax increase was WRONG. next week the GOP will ask for a decrease in social security benefits. The hateful and greedy idiots do not realize that social security PAYS for its benefits. The GOP were the people who first stoled social security money to pay for other things.
rippinsteo
(6 posts)The GOP should just disappear so we can get on with ruling the country the way we see fit. GOP should get out of the way cuz what we want is a fully funded society.
AlinPA
(15,071 posts)both the state house and senate.
otohara
(24,135 posts)It will be hugely important that we get out the vote in 2014 -
Lazy Dems need to know, they were responsible for the Tea Party take over of many states and federal seats in 2010.