U.S. House Puts Off Vote Seeking $50 Billion in Spending Cuts

[Scooter24]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aq3Gac44NGVw

U.S. House Puts Off Vote Seeking $50 Billion in Spending Cuts

Oct. 20 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. House Republicans, unable to line up enough support for a budget-cutting plan targeting programs such as food stamps, Medicaid and student loans, put off a vote on the package until next week.

House Republican leaders said late yesterday they now want to include even more reductions in the measure, such as across- the-board cuts to discretionary spending, taking back money not yet spent from some programs and permanently canceling 98 other programs.

...

Blunt said he isn't ready to eliminate a raise for members of Congress as part of the budget-trimming. ``I'm personally supportive of a cost-of-living increase for federal employees, and I think that should include members of the Congress,'' he said.

...

The provisions the House plans to vote on next week are part of a budget-cutting strategy Republican leaders outlined earlier this month. The vote was postponed after some members objected to voting just on the cuts to food stamps, Medicaid and student loans, saying they want to be sure all agencies, including the departments of Defense and Homeland Security, would be considered for trims in discretionary spending.
Many moderate Republicans have problems with targeting cuts on students and the poor, said Representative John Spratt of South Carolina, the senior Democrat on the Budget Committee.

(more)

[Scooter24]

1. WTF?!?!

Out of all the programs to cut, they target those who need them the most.

[texpatriot2004]

2. It's that "Christian Compassion" for the "least among us." NOT nm

[Egalitariat]

25. Is that the only ones that are cut, or just the most sensational?

I'd like to see a complete list.

[Erika]

3. The republicans have no problem with us being a banana republic

None at all.

[GetTheRightVote]

4. So this is what a compassionate Pres looks like, oh really !!

They have got to be kidding, while the wealthy walk away with tax cuts.

:kick:

Where is our Pres. Kerry or Gore ?????

[pinniped]

5. And the Asshole still wants those stupid tax cuts.

Jerk.

[Solly Mack]

6. So they'll cut food stamps but keep their raises

and yet they get all offended when anyone says "republicans starve people"

but that's exactly what they do

[aquart]

12. Republicans kill dogs.

We saw. They left them to starve.

Republicans treat American citizens like dogs.

[JanusAscending]

7. I really do hope some "freepers" are reading this!!

Any Rep. Congress person from Ct., just lost their seat in the house if this passes! Take note Nancy Johnson, Chris Shays and the rest of the bunch!! Bye Bye! y'all

[Up2Late]

8. OH, but here's the best part you neglected to include...

...House Republicans say the cuts are needed to reduce the budget deficit and offset Hurricane Katrina recovery costs. The cuts are part of a 2006 budget plan Congress adopted in April. Democrats say Republicans want the reductions to offset $70 billion in tax cuts primarily for the wealthy that are also part of the budget plan....

Other sources put the figure closer to $100 BILLION Dollars in MORE Tax Cuts for the Wealthy.:banghead: :mad:

[w8liftinglady]

13. GE alone rec'd $9 billion IRS breaks 2004(profit of 32 bil)

http://www.ctj.org/corpfed04an.pdf (dialup warning-take a while)

[Robeson]

9. We're not talking about the average American here. The important...

...thing is, are they going to get those tax cuts through for the wealthiest 1% in this country. I mean, that's what really counts. What does the rest of us who need a pay raise have to do with this. We need to be more concerned about the wealthiest, so that they can retain more of their wealth. And we can all live vicariously through them, knowing that they live like Gods, while we'll get nothing. Isn't that the important thing?...:sarcasm:

[watrwefitinfor]

10. Nominated - don't let this issue die!

There were several posts earlier in the week about this scheduled vote. Lots of pleas to call/write congress. Maybe this is a result of all those calls.

Now watch for them to try to hide the cuts to the elderly, disabled, students, etc. in the next vote. We need to keep letting them know how we feel about this. They are taking a hard hit right now (administration in disarray, congressional leaders under arrest and/or investigation, upcoming elections in '06) and this is no time to let up.

Spratt is not exactly a progressive, but he is certainly better than many and we're not complaining about him here in SC.

Wat.

[annabanana]

11. I wonder if Move-On's full court press helped stall this...

I know they mobilized big time.

[strategery blunder]

14. Of course, the Congresscritters will still get THEIR raises

Blunt said he isn't ready to eliminate a raise for members of Congress as part of the budget-trimming. ``I'm personally supportive of a cost-of-living increase for federal employees, and I think that should include members of the Congress,'' he said.:banghead::mad::banghead::mad:

[w8liftinglady]

15. looking at corporate tax breaks would fix the deficit

$ 32 billion saved by exercising stock options(top 275 companies)
70 billion saved by depreciation
total tax savings for top 275 corporations for the last 3 years-1.75 TRILLION dollars.
Something to think about.

[watrwefitinfor]

16. This should be in its own thread - $1.75 TRILLION for top 275 corp

Got a link, Lady?

"total tax savings for top 275 corporations for the last 3 years -1.75 TRILLION dollars."

Wat

[w8liftinglady]

17. This report has all the taxes for the major corporations

http://www.ctj.org/corpfed04an.pdf

warning-it is a PDF file,and 72 pages long,so takes a bit if you are on a dial-up connection,like me-but it is very worth it... see page 16

[w8liftinglady]

18. I emailed Lou Dobbs and asked him to cover this..eom

[warrens]

19. We should ram that vote right down their nazi throats

Who votes for these scum, anyway?

[Sgent]

20. If so much as one democrat

votes for this, they have lost any claim to be a progressive people's candidate.

Suggestion -- raise taxes. Close the corporate tax loopholes, which should produce the needed savings immediately.

You could also repeal all or part of the Bush tax cuts, but nah.

2006 is important.

[dapper]

21. Let's vote and elect poor people.

enough of these millionaires in office.

Dapp

[Brooklyn Michael]

22. Oh pleasepleasepleaseplease

Puh-leeze give yourself a pay raise while you're still a Republican controlled Congress!

Christ, these guys are STUPID!

[nashville_brook]

23. time for REAL CHANGE -- people deserve more cultivation than

corporations. time to balence the scales.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5114942

THE HOMEBOY REVOLUTION: families as economic units instead of sexual units

[tridim]

24. Delaying it so they can pass it as the indictments rain down next week?

That's my guess.