GOP Leaders OK $41.6B in Deficit Cuts

[Eugene]

GOP Leaders OK $41.6B in Deficit Cuts


Monday December 19, 2005 12:46 AM

AP Photo WX106

By DAVID ESPO

AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican congressional leaders agreed to trim deficits by $41.6 billion and
sought to unlock the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling Sunday in a frenzied year-end
bid to enact the core of a conservative agenda.

"We're going to move the nation's business" through Congress, vowed Senate Majority Leader
Bill Frist.

But Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid accused the GOP of breaking Senate rules to suit their
purposes, and threatened to slow action to a crawl. "The arrogance of power of the Republicans
... is beyond my ability to comprehend," he said.

Medicare, the student loan program and Medicaid, which provides health care for the poor, would
all be tapped for savings under the emerging five-year deficit-cutting plan.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5488847,00.html

And they plan to work through the night on this.

[rodeodance]

1. someone just has to punch Frist!!--he is so arrogant!

ut Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid accused the GOP of breaking Senate rules to suit their
purposes, and threatened to slow action to a crawl. "The arrogance of power of the Republicans
... is beyond my ability to comprehend," he said.

[Ian David]

2. Send voter registration records to habitual house burglars...

suggest they Buy Blue, Rob Red.

You know those cars with the big "W" stickers on them? The "W" stands for "We have gas you can siphon."

That was a satirical riff.


Anyway, Merry Christmas poor people, and a Happy New Year to New Orleans!

"Operation: Drown the Negroes" continues.

[wtmusic]

3. Is a "deficit cut" the opposite of a "deficit cut cut"?

or it kinda like, say, raising taxes?

[ny_liberal]

4. they just won't stop

will they?

[Skittles]

5. no they won't and it is disgusting

my guess is they know they are about to lose a lot of their power because the American public is FINALLY awaking from their coma to the realities of bush inc - so these g.d. "conservatives" will be working overtime to pillage the country dry before it happens.

[JPZenger]

6. Worst ... headline ... ever

Pigeonshit. This was NOT a reduction in the Federal deficit. It is trying to find a way to afford tax cuts for the rich by cutting needed services to the poor. There will be no net reduction in the deficit from the actions of Congress this Winter. Their tax cuts more than make up for the spending cuts.

[gulfcoastliberal]

7. It'd be nice if Reid backed up words with actions. Remember SHUT IT DOWN?!

I'm not trying to foul our nest here, but where are those "phase 2" intelligence investigation results? Why not use procedural motions to stop this repuke madness? Why aren't they against cutting food stamps and student loans to the point where they will act to stop it, rather than actionless platitudes. Yes, we're the minority, but like Walt Starr said - they have the power to SHUT IT DOWN!

[Triana]

8. Yank the rug out from the elderly, poor, and children...

...to give more $$$ to the stinking filthy rich, corprats, and of course to have more wars!

It's the Republican way. Fund WAR. NOTHING else. That is the Repube idea of what gov't is for. Period.

[madmark]

9. Medicare, Student loans, Medicaid; well at least they are starting

with the cuts from most politically weak first.

[HuffleClaw]

10. and more late night shenanigans ?

like when they illegally delayed things so they could pass some bill?

[MaineDem]

11. House Roll Call: Deficit Measure

The 212-206 roll call Monday by which the House passed a bill to reduce government spending by almost $40 billion over five years.

A "yes" vote is a vote to pass the bill.

Voting yes were no Democrats and 212 Republicans.

Voting no were 196 Democrats, 9 Republicans and 1 Independent.

X denotes those not voting.

There is one vacancy in the 435-member House.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/12/19/house_roll_call_deficit_measure/?page=2

[Tempest]

12. This is less than half of what the Pentagon is asking for Iraq

The Pentagon is going to ask for $100 billion in 2006 for the Iraq war.

Just as predicted, the cost of the war is going to fall on the shoulders of the poor and lower middle class.