GOP Senators Step Back From Bush Budget

[Judi Lynn]

GOP Senators Step Back From Bush Budget
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, March 15, 2006
(03-15) 12:43 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Senate Republicans are trying to show their support for politically sensitive programs like education and veterans' benefits, distancing themselves from President Bush's budget for next year.

During debate on a stripped-down budget plan for the third day, Republicans also pushed amendments to boost funding for port security, immigration enforcement and community development block grants.

As the chamber discussed the budget, a nonbinding measure proposing tax and spending guidelines for the next five years, GOP and Democratic leaders planned a debate late Wednesday on a bill to increase the debt limit by $781 billion to almost $9 trillion.

The debt limit bill is expected to squeak by on a vote Thursday.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/03/15/national/w124318S16.DTL

[wordpix2]

1. OMFG, $9 trillion debt, time to tell the Iraqis, "We're BROKE & have to

leave."

Maybe the neoCon artists will make a contribution to all the Iraqi children they've made parentless. But I doubt they'll be that generous. More likely, they'll retire to their island or mountain paradise locations and mansions on big acreage.

[CrispyQ]

5. "Iraq: We're broke & have to leave."

That would make a great bumper sticker!

I would be :rofl: if it weren't so damned :cry:

[UpInArms]

2. still trying to sneak ANWR drilling into the budget

But Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg's measure re-ignites last year's battle over allowing oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, since it would let Senate leaders bring an ANWR drilling measure to the floor under rules blocking a filibuster by opponents.

The Arctic drilling gambit is unlikely to succeed since environmentally friendly Republicans in the House are likely to team up with Democrats opposed to the GOP budget to reject the move.

As a practical matter, the chief reason to pass a budget at all — other than institutional pride — is to install procedural hurdles against Democratic efforts to add spending to appropriations bills that will follow later in the year.

[izzie]

3. Didn't they just have a big oil spill? Stevens never gives up.

I still think the rest of the world will just walk right around us as we fall into more and more debt. The days are numbers, at this rate, for being king of the hill.

[Atman]

4. NOW they pretend they care.

Actually, I'm sure they do care, but for all the wrong reason.

I'm picturing Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet floating on a piece of flotsam, with him telling her, "Hey, maybe we should grab one of those life boats!"

To late, mofos. The ship has sunk and you contracted out the lifeboats to DPW.

[VegasWolf]

6. I need a good joke, tell me about attacking Iran again!!!! nt

[wordpix2]

7. seriously, how much more F**$$ing debt can this economy take?

When the economy comes crashing down, maybe THEN some people will want Big Oil, Halliburton, Carlyle Group and BushCo investigated. Until then, anything goes with this repuke admin and Congress

[angryxyouth]

8. Not only are we broke...

But we are getting ready to enter another hurricane season which predictions are saying will be worse than last year. On top of that major droughts in the nations breadbasket rivaling those of the dust bowl era. Katrina is still not paid for. It will not take very much to push this nations economy over the edge. Am I being too optimistic? :wtf:

[cliss]

9. We are absolutely, irreconcilably

B-R-O-K-E. This country is bankrupt. My God, how quickly it happened.

You're right: as I've been reading thread after thread which displays the ugly truth about our economy, I forgot all about the Gulf Coast and the hurricane season.

Now visualize this: Bangladesh after a huge flood. Khao Lak after the tsunami. Pakistan after the earthquake. We could be next.

[angryxyouth]

10. And Dopy is starting a new cold war on credit. bankrolled by China!!!!

Hey Ronny, He is your VP's son.