Highlights of the Republican Spending Cuts Bill

[roo_ster]

A good start.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/257611/highlights-republican-spending-cuts-bill-daniel-foster

Essentially, cut back 2011 spending to 2008 levels.  From 2012 to 2021, maintain 2006 levels, plus a pack of other specific cuts.

Sounds reasonable, as I don;t recall 2006 as a year when bureaucrats yanked the bread from the mouths of babes or ordered oldsters into the cold streets to die.

[roo_ster]

Still need to tackle "entitlements," defense, and HLS.

[MicroBalrog]

Is this even anyhow capable of passing? I mean, actually passing both houses and being signed?

[Ben]

I'm very happy to see the federal travel budget addressed. The number of people I see -- and that's run of the mill GS employees, not just bigwigs -- that travel to Hawaii and every other ridiculous location for meetings and conferences is simply ridiculous.

Many of these meetings can easily be held via teleconference, or if in person meetings are required, can be held either somewhere like Denver, a hub in the middle of the country, or DC, where govt contract flights are dirt cheap.

[Monkeyleg]

Is this even anyhow capable of passing? I mean, actually passing both houses and being signed?

Doubtful, I'd say, but it's a good political move for the Republicans. The Dem's will talk about starving children and freezing old people.

It's always the same story. A major city the other day announced that budget cuts have forced the city to reduce the police force. I'm sure there were other areas to cut before even beginning to touch police services, but its a good way to scare the public back into paying more taxes.

[HankB]

Funny how things I see as baby steps on the way to fiscal responsibilty have Democrats shrieking in anguish and making impassioned attacks that compare Republicans to everything from nazis to cannibals.

Well, OK, maybe not cannibals.

Yet.

[roo_ster]

Funny how things I see as baby steps on the way to fiscal responsibilty have Democrats shrieking in anguish and making impassioned attacks that compare Republicans to everything from nazis to cannibals.

Well, OK, maybe not cannibals.

Yet.

Don'tt you mean "nazi cannibals?"

[AZRedhawk44]

Don'tt you mean "nazi cannibals?"

<drool>

Yummm... Nazis..... Arghghghghghghgh...



</drool>

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Is this even anyhow capable of passing? I mean, actually passing both houses and being signed?

It will pass in the House easily.  Passage in the Senate and signing by the Prez are possible, though less likely.  It would take some timing, strategy and maneuvering. 

Many Senate Dems are up for reelection in 2012, and if we can keep the political pressure up you might find a few of them willing to cooperate to save their jobs.  The same might be true of Barry, but I'd put a lower probability on him.

A more likely outcome of this is a new bill, a compromise bill, that makes some cuts but not as many or as deep.

[Waitone]

I would rather see across the board cuts combined with some of the other proposals.