Fiscal Fracas Divides GOP

[denverbill]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/04/politics/main586899.shtml

(CBS/AP) The U.S. Senate next week is expected to pass a massive spending bill that will bring federal spending per household to its highest level since the World War II — and do its part to promote the game of golf.

Published reports indicate the $820 billion measure for funding several federal agencies has increased tensions between fiscal conservatives in the Republican party and lawmakers who support the president's expansive spending on health care and defense.

It also includes millions in federal aid for a program teaching golf to kids.

<snip>

The conservative Heritage Foundation says federal outlays have reached $20,000 per household, adjusted for inflation, for the first time since WWII. "It's always easy to be generous with other people's money," said Brian M. Riedl, a Heritage Foundation economist.

The liberal Center for Budget and Policy Priorities found that spending has grown twice as fast under the Bush administration than under President Clinton, reports The Globe, at a rate of 8.7 percent annually.
<snip>

You know, it's pretty funny watching the freepers digest this.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1033986/posts

You would THINK that a spending binge like that would be something a liberal would actually favor. Unfortunately, the Medicare plan is a farcical payback to the drug companies instead of a REAL solution, and the NCLB act is a 1/2 unfunded mandate that is only exacerbating education problems.

This is a nice article to save and pass along to your freeper friends next time they call you a tax-and-spend liberal.

[theivoryqueen]

1. Byrd said he'd block passage...

so far he's the first to publicly avow his resistance.

[denverbill]

2. He should filibuster it to bring attention to that massive binge.

Just a few Democrats filibustering for one day would get it some publicity and point the Reps out for the drunken sailors they are.

You know, the only military experience most of those chickenhawks have is that they spend like drunken sailors.

[htuttle]

3. He can't block passage...

...but he can force a roll call vote.

I think what he's intending to block is the unanimous consent to just pass the bill through anonymously. That will force a roll call vote.

I really wish he'd done it on the recent $87 billion dollar bill, however.

[denverbill]

4. I agree about the $87 billion Iraq bill.

Unfortunately, there were many, many Democrats who were too cowardly to put their name behind this bill either way. Kerry, Edwards, and Lieberman, to name 3, anyone else up for relection to name some others.

[bain_sidhe]

5. Alright, who's gettin my $20,000??

'Cause I'm sure not!