The 112th House of Representatives is "The People's House"......

[the last yatto]

I hope DC becomes a state and in doing so Eastern Washington becomes one as well. They are such a drag and support the stupidest shit for what in return? discounted apples.

[Adios]

"A day after their vote to repeal President Obama's landmark health care law, House Republicans moved yesterday to put their own stamp on the issue, starting with the volatile topic of abortion," the AP writes. "GOP lawmakers introduced two separate bills to toughen restrictions on taxpayer funding of abortions, arguing that the language now in the law is weak. Leaders promised swift action." More: "Among other health care issues getting immediate attention from Republicans: curbs on jury awards in medical malpractice cases, rescinding an unpopular requirement that businesses report purchases of $600 or more to the IRS, and a rollback of cuts to private Medicare Advantage plans."

The Washington Post says, "Congressional conservatives on Thursday demanded far more dramatic reductions in government spending than House GOP leaders have recently proposed, in the first sign of a fissure between old-guard Republicans and tea-party-backed newcomers."

The Boston Globe: "Behind the scenes, conservatives are pressuring GOP leaders to deliver on a promise to immediately pass legislation cutting Cabinet budgets by $100 billion this fiscal year, which began Oct. 1 and is already one-third over. The committee proposed eliminating several programs outright, including the Legal Services Corp., which provides legal help to people who can't afford a lawyer; Amtrak subsidies; community development grants popular with local officials, and economic aid to Egypt. It advocated a five-year pay freeze for federal workers and cutting the federal work force by 15 percent through attrition."
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/01/21/5891439-congress-focusing-on-abortion

Not one mention of defense spending cuts. Not one.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

"A day after their vote to repeal President Obama's landmark health care law, House Republicans moved yesterday to put their own stamp on the issue, starting with the volatile topic of abortion," the AP writes. "GOP lawmakers introduced two separate bills to toughen restrictions on taxpayer funding of abortions, arguing that the language now in the law is weak. Leaders promised swift action." More: "Among other health care issues getting immediate attention from Republicans: curbs on jury awards in medical malpractice cases, rescinding an unpopular requirement that businesses report purchases of $600 or more to the IRS, and a rollback of cuts to private Medicare Advantage plans."

The Washington Post says, "Congressional conservatives on Thursday demanded far more dramatic reductions in government spending than House GOP leaders have recently proposed, in the first sign of a fissure between old-guard Republicans and tea-party-backed newcomers."

The Boston Globe: "Behind the scenes, conservatives are pressuring GOP leaders to deliver on a promise to immediately pass legislation cutting Cabinet budgets by $100 billion this fiscal year, which began Oct. 1 and is already one-third over. The committee proposed eliminating several programs outright, including the Legal Services Corp., which provides legal help to people who can't afford a lawyer; Amtrak subsidies; community development grants popular with local officials, and economic aid to Egypt. It advocated a five-year pay freeze for federal workers and cutting the federal work force by 15 percent through attrition."
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/01/21/5891439-congress-focusing-on-abortion

Not one mention of defense spending cuts. Not one.

Defense is the most important thing to monkeys living in a territorial mindset. Just be glad they didn't up the "poo flinger" budget.

[Cain]

LOL Republic roont

Today, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the RSC Budget and Spending Task Force, and Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), Chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, today unveiled the Spending Reduction Act, which begins to address the rapidly growing national debt by making substantial spending cuts immediately and throughout the next decade.

"The national debt has grown from $8.6 trillion four years ago to more than $14 trillion today," said Jordan.  "This mountain of debt, nearly the size of our entire economy, threatens to create a whole new financial crisis.  Every day we refuse to change course and instill some fiscal responsibility, the problem grows even larger.  Unless Washington acts soon to cut spending, massive tax hikes, economic stagnation, and national bankruptcy will rob our children of the opportunity to reach for the American Dream."

"The Spending Reduction Act gives us a $2.5 trillion head start in the race to preserve the fiscal stability of the United States," said Garrett.  "This bill represents the first step in the process, not the last.  To achieve long-term fiscal stability, we must finish the race by making the tough decisions Congress has put off for far too long.  Only after we tear down barriers to job creation and make reforms to our entitlement programs can we truly resolve our debt crisis."

"Our nation stands on the edge of a fiscal cliff and we face a stark choice: go over the edge into bankruptcy and declining freedom or choose to make the hard decisions today to save our country for our children and grandchildren," said Senator DeMint. "I'm proud to stand with Congressmen Jordan and Garrett against the wave of wasteful Washington spending. The Spending Reduction Act begins the difficult task of shrinking the federal bureaucracy that threatens our future prosperity. Congress must take the steps now to balance the budget, pay off our debt, and preserve freedom for future generations."

Compared to current projections, the Spending Reduction Act would save taxpayers $2.5 trillion through 2021.  It starts by keeping House Republicans' pledge to take current spending back to 2008 levels and repeal unspent funds from the failed "stimulus." 

At the beginning of the next fiscal year on October 1, 2011, spending is further reduced to 2006 levels and frozen there for the next decade.  To help achieve these savings, the bill shrinks the size and cost of the civilian federal workforce and specifically targets over 100 budget items and spending reforms.

http://rsc.jordan.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=220713

For those who don't want to parse the text, the long and short of it is the RNC want to reduce government spending by 2.5 trillion over the next ten years.  Let's assume an Obama-esque compromise at 1 trillion...that's still catastrophic.  I'm all for reducing debt, but we already know the RNC is going to put up a ring around defense spending and say "can't touch this".  So everything else is going to be hit...and you'll see the kind of thing that has been happening in Ireland or even Greece happening in the USA.  Too much, too fast, while playing favourites with one of the biggest sources of government spending is a recipe for fiscal disaster.

Consequently, I'm feeling more confident about my China 2018 bet.

[the last yatto]

Miranda rights are overrated anyways

[Adios]

In an unusual political pairing, liberal Democratic Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, a libertarian and former Republican presidential candidate, have joined forces in pushing for substantial reductions in the defense budget, including closing some of the 600-plus military bases overseas.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41219824...-capitol_hill/

Dare we hope for sanity?

[Prince Glittersnatch III]

In an unusual political pairing, liberal Democratic Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, a libertarian and former Republican presidential candidate, have joined forces in pushing for substantial reductions in the defense budget, including closing some of the 600-plus military bases overseas.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41219824...-capitol_hill/

Dare we hope for sanity?

Im scared to hope. I know Ill only be disappointed again.