Budget Bill Squeaks Through Senate

[dotcoma]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/...n1150918.shtml The Republican-controlled Senate passed legislation to cut federal deficits by $39.7 billion on Wednesday by the narrowest of margins, 51-50, with Vice President Dick Cheney casting the deciding vote. The measure, the product of a year's labors by the White House and the GOP in Congress, imposes the first restraints in nearly a decade in federal benefit programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and student loans. "This is the one vote you'll have this year to reduce the rate of growth of the federal government," said Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, in a final plea for passage. But Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada countered that the GOP was advancing "an ideologically driven, extreme, radical budget. It caters to lobbyists and an elite group of ultraconservative ideologues here in Washington, all at the expense of middle class Americans," he said. The roll call delivered less than the final victory Republicans had hoped for. In maneuvering in advance of the final vote, Democrats succeeded in forcing minor changes. That requires the House to vote on the bill before it can be sent to President Bush for his signature. Passage is all but certain, but the timing remains in question, since most House members have returned home for the holidays.

I cannot believe this is what Republicans stand for these days. Here are the 3 areas that had the most cuts:

Medicare/Home Nursing, Nursing Home Coverage, and Student Loans. These are the areas that our Republican Senate voted (by just 1 vote) to enact. Meanwhile we have huge tax cuts and an already lower tax rate on the very rich.

It is shameful. Where are the supposed "Conservative Christians"? Where did their compassion for the truly needy go?

[bishop]

(where's the link to the article?)

so much for family values... take from the elderly, students, poor people - and give to the rich. merry fuckin christmas..

and, i see no evidence that this will really reduce the deficit at all. there's some $40 billion in spending cuts and $70 billion in new tax cuts.. (and if the economy should go south, the deficit will get even worse - as if it isn't already horrible.)

these sob's are saddling us with so much fucking debt, it isn't even funny... it's completely deplorable in fact. these people should be seen as enemies of the nation imo.

[Sean]

Yes, my father and I were laughing at how terrible this really is (nothing else to do but laugh); my mother actually is in a nursing home and it really gets my blood boiling when I think of who the cuts are aimed at. Fellow students with less money than me, and people who are in nursing homes who do not have supportive families like mine.

Terrible.

What was more shocking to me was the lack of GOP dissent. Only 5 Republicans said no to this? How partisan and polarized have we become.

[Osborn F Enready]

But yet people still fail to see,or research the true motives of unconstitutional government, and its ending goal.

I concur on topic by the way. The lines are finally being drawn in a long battle with no front, and some true colors are coming out.

[bishop]

Quote by: Sean Yes, my father and I were laughing at how terrible this really is (nothing else to do but laugh); my mother actually is in a nursing home and it really gets my blood boiling when I think of who the cuts are aimed at. Fellow students with less money than me, and people who are in nursing homes who do not have supportive families like mine. Terrible. What was more shocking to me was the lack of GOP dissent. Only 5 Republicans said no to this? How partisan and polarized have we become.

and i have a dying grandfather that will be affected by this as well. (horrible seeing how they treat these people - helpless and sick people should at least be able to die with some dignity.) no need to go into details.

but screw all of them - give the money to the rich instead. and while they're at it, make sure they don't put a dent in that ridiculous deficit of ours.


i would have to say though, that i think we saw more GOP dissent in this piece of "legislation" (i think it's shitty TP) than we have seen in previous pieces of "legislation".. this was the first time that cheney had to cast a deciding vote.

plus, for those of you who've seen the democratic reaction on cspan, it's amazing how many parlimentarian rules were broken just so that the GOP would force this 12"'er up the country's.......

[Colleptic]

Could I get a link to the bill’s details, I would like to read it in full (if possible). Thanks!

[shield772]

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.1932:

not law yet

[Colleptic]

Excellent, thanks.

[tman_ndsu08]

Perhaps if you guys actually cared about your dying parents, you would pay money out of your own pocket to see that they're taken care of or take care of them yourselves.

[Matt W]

Perhaps if you guys actually cared about your dying parents, you would pay money out of your own pocket to see that they're taken care of or take care of them yourselves.

Perhaps if you had any kind of empathy, you'd stop making an idiot out of yourself with such statements.

[Osborn F Enready]

MattW said:
Perhaps if you had any kind of empathy, you'd stop making an idiot out of yourself with such statements.

I say:
He does have a valid point, even though it is not worded as such.

I have no problem with them axing social programs, as long as those who paid in get back what they paid. I DO HOWEVER, have a problem with them cutting social programs FIRST, while allowing the unchecked monies in defense spending, and all other areas run willy nilly.

As a Libertarian minded person, I can't justify these "social(ist) programs" that they run off of taxpayers dollars, yet dole out the funding only as "they" see fit. So they FORCE me to pay taxes through extortion (with use of armed force and property seizure if I "don't comply"), yet they reserve the "supposed right" to dole out that money with no census of the people, on how THEIR money is being spent, or without equal access.

There is a valid issue with T-Mans statement, I just don't think he takes the time to explain himself anymore. After beating your head up against a wall long enough, you tend to stop wanting to bang your head there once a lump appears, and pain starts shooting with every smack.

So how can I say this......

I support the removal of ALL social programs (keeping in mind I have no problem with charities, non-profits, privatized aid for profit charities, or any other VOLUNTARY donation type of assistance), but in a time like this when most of America is being affected by terrible financial leadership, decision making, and poor foreign trade policy, I surely don't think it is the number one priority, nor have I ever.

Trim the fat from government, and THEN see where to start cutting social programs to make the ends meet.

This is simply aiding and abetting criminals to allow this to happen, since they are doing it to get out of a hole they dug, knowing there was no ladder when they started digging. The republicans have forced societies hand, knowing if they created a deficit so huge, people would have no choice but to accept cuts anywhere and everywhere possible.

The age old trick of creating a solution,to a problem that exists only by design.