Congress Back to Bargaining Over the New Budget
Republicans, and even a number of Democrats, have commented with disgust how out of touch some politicians are with the over-arching need in the U.S. to cut budgets significantly.
Following a voter mandate for less government spending that led to gains in the House for Republicans and especially Tea Party candidates, those in Congress are back to the basics of bargaining over the budget. In what is the most damning element of the American political process, politicians must make sure to achieve the overall goals to cut the U.S. budget while at the same time ensuring that as much money as possible spent by the federal government in their home districts. It is, of course, a sickening reminder of just how dependent on the federal government much of America actually is.
As they move to negotiations, Democrats have noted that Republicans have to be more flexible on making budget cuts in order to avoid a government shutdown. Republicans, tired of watching out of control spending that has been occurring during both the Bush and Obama administrations, want to cut aggressively. Noted Senator Charles Schumer, D-New York, "We’re looking for some give on the Republican side." Whether the Republicans are looking to give is another matter altogether.
For a nice change of pace, however, at least one Democrat is on board with making aggressive cuts in the budget, and has claimed that her own party has not gone far enough. Senator Claire McCaskill has noted, "There are way too many people in denial around here about the nature of the problem and how serious it is." Couldn’t have said it better myself Claire. Issuing another comment indicating disgust, Senator Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, noted, "Why are we voting on partisan proposals that we know will fail, that we all know do not balance our nation’s priorities with the needs to get our fiscal house in order?"
As they move to negotiations, Democrats have noted that Republicans have to be more flexible on making budget cuts in order to avoid a government shutdown. Republicans, tired of watching out of control spending that has been occurring during both the Bush and Obama administrations, want to cut aggressively. Noted Senator Charles Schumer, D-New York, "We’re looking for some give on the Republican side." Whether the Republicans are looking to give is another matter altogether.
For a nice change of pace, however, at least one Democrat is on board with making aggressive cuts in the budget, and has claimed that her own party has not gone far enough. Senator Claire McCaskill has noted, "There are way too many people in denial around here about the nature of the problem and how serious it is." Couldn’t have said it better myself Claire. Issuing another comment indicating disgust, Senator Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, noted, "Why are we voting on partisan proposals that we know will fail, that we all know do not balance our nation’s priorities with the needs to get our fiscal house in order?"
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