Deficits, schmeficits
Forget everything you’ve heard from Republicans about fiscal responsibility. Now that they have a chance to pass tax cuts for the wealthiest in America, their true colors are showing. The Washington Post examines how the GOP plans to explode the deficit in order to cut taxes for millionaires in the aptly titled: Deficits, schmeficits: House conservatives cast aside fiscal warnings to make way for tax cuts. Key excerpts:
“House conservatives have warned for years about the threat posed by the national debt, and for months they pushed to include a path to ambitious spending cuts in budget legislation.”
“GOP hard-liners have frequently been willing to oppose must-pass legislation to achieve conservative policy goals, threatening government shutdowns and federal default as leverage.”
“But numerous House conservatives said in interviews this week that this time is different: Republicans are under enormous pressure to pass a tax bill, given the party’s failure to take legislative action on health care, and they do not want to be seen as standing in the way.”
“‘We’ve got to get something major done,’ said Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, whose members pushed earlier this year for hundreds of billions of dollars in spending cuts.”
“Ryan, who as House Budget Committee chairman and the GOP’s 2012 nominee for vice president routinely issued warnings about the nation’s long-term fiscal trajectory, did not mention the national debt in discussing the upcoming budget vote with reporters on Tuesday, focusing exclusively on the benefits of the tax plan.”
“…Those willing to go along include several members of the landmark GOP class of 2010, a group of 63 mostly stalwart conservatives who were as critical of their own party’s failure to contain the national debt as they were of Democrats.”
“They include Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), who represents a solidly Republican northwest Arkansas district and is now a senior member of the Budget Committee. He complained in vivid terms Tuesday about having to vote for the Senate package — but confirmed he plans to support it.”
“‘The budget that came back to us is a crap sandwich, but it happens to be the only thing on the menu,’ Womack said.”
“GOP hard-liners have frequently been willing to oppose must-pass legislation to achieve conservative policy goals, threatening government shutdowns and federal default as leverage.”
“But numerous House conservatives said in interviews this week that this time is different: Republicans are under enormous pressure to pass a tax bill, given the party’s failure to take legislative action on health care, and they do not want to be seen as standing in the way.”
“‘We’ve got to get something major done,’ said Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, whose members pushed earlier this year for hundreds of billions of dollars in spending cuts.”
“Ryan, who as House Budget Committee chairman and the GOP’s 2012 nominee for vice president routinely issued warnings about the nation’s long-term fiscal trajectory, did not mention the national debt in discussing the upcoming budget vote with reporters on Tuesday, focusing exclusively on the benefits of the tax plan.”
“…Those willing to go along include several members of the landmark GOP class of 2010, a group of 63 mostly stalwart conservatives who were as critical of their own party’s failure to contain the national debt as they were of Democrats.”
“They include Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), who represents a solidly Republican northwest Arkansas district and is now a senior member of the Budget Committee. He complained in vivid terms Tuesday about having to vote for the Senate package — but confirmed he plans to support it.”
“‘The budget that came back to us is a crap sandwich, but it happens to be the only thing on the menu,’ Womack said.”