GOP looks to delay spending to fund recovery

[Judi Lynn]

Last update: September 18, 2005 at 9:18 PM
GOP looks to delay spending to fund recovery
Douglass K. Daniel, Associated Press
September 19, 2005 CONG0919



WASHINGTON, D.C. -- House Republicans are looking at delaying some federal spending, including money for a prescription drug benefit under Medicare and thousands of highway projects, to offset the cost of rebuilding the Gulf Coast, a leading GOP fiscal conservative said Sunday. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., said there is a need for dramatic spending cuts in "big-ticket items."

However, Democrats appearing on Sunday TV news programs questioned how President Bush can trim the budget to pay for Hurricane Katrina recovery and support tax cuts for the wealthy.

"Where is he going to find roughly half a trillion dollars over the next several years for Iraq and for Katrina?" Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., asked on "Late Edition" on CNN. "I think we're not leveling with the American people."

Raising taxes or not making permanent the president's tax cuts is not the answer, Pence said on ABC's "This Week."We simply can't allow a catastrophe of nature to become a catastrophe of debt for our children and grandchildren."
(snip/...)

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5621783.html

[aquart]

1. Pence doesn't get that he contradicted himself?

Oh well. BUSHCO is the catastrophe of debt, not Katrina.

[Roland99]

4. Yeah...that part has me scratching my head, too.

[dean_dem]

10. Oh, I get it.

A catastrophe of nature shouldn't be allowed to cause a catastrophe of debt- however a multi-billion dollar war and tax cuts for the rich, no problem.

[Inland]

2. The legacy of Bush's fuzzy math.

The numbers just don't add up in a reality based universe. And Bush just dumped the entire problem of funding his project, once again, on Congress, the next president, and future generations, in that order.

Tax cuts, then defense increases, then Iraq, then Medicare drugs, then Katrina. Thanks, Bush.

[warrens]

3. That Pence is a real genius

Can't let this become a debt for our children and grandchildren, but god forbid some rich guy misses a tax cut. Fuck them all. Hard. With a baseball bat.

[July]

8. Didn't they sell the tax cut legislation by saying it was temporary?

IIRC, they weren't going to get the votes they needed, so they offered the "temporary" idea. Of course, that was just the way to get a foot in the door. Now taking away the tax cut (as promised) is spun as a "tax increase."

So where are the clowns who handed over a vote because they had the "temporary" cover? Why aren't they saying they can no longer vote for the tax cuts?

[TrogL]

12. Actually, that sounds good

[pcboss49]

5. Pence is such and idiot....

This is just some butt kissing on Pence's part. The tax cuts for the rich only support the President's and Vice-President's buddies that don't want to help out the poor in New Orleans.. This is just another effort to get us to a 2 class system.... Poor and filthy rich....

Just my 2 cents worth...

[calimary]

9. Funny, you're already offering more with that two cents than the

republi-CONS with their latest republi-CON JOB.

Welcome to DU!

Help us get RID of these bastards!!!!!

Visualize IMPEACHMENT!!!!!!!!
Then go DO something about it.

[Supersedeas]

14. welcome to du, psboss -- the 2 class system will get a new porch, i guess

[loudsue]

6. Once again, GOP shows they don't give a damn about Americans

The same old "let them eat cake" attitude....but they don't hesitate to spend the tax dollars of working people on any pet project or war or corporate bailout that might come along.

In fact, republicans spend our tax dollars like a bunch of drunken sailors.

:kick::kick::kick:

[gratuitous]

7. Gee Pencie, maybe everybody should just volunteer

And companies give away their products for free. We're all in this together, right? Ooh, isn't it time to vote for another pay raise for yourself? That's always fun!

[0007]

11. Fuzzy math with that 0' razzle dazzle square root shit again, 'eh?

[BSDRebel]

13. Title should be: "GOP looks to portray themselves as animals"

How could you possibly be against funding recovery in New Orleans?

Worried about fiscal discipline? Reign in the Iraq War and cancel the tax cuts to the rich, asshats!