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Special Report
Fiscal Cliff Diving
Republicans will get a better deal if they stop negotiating behind closed White House doors and force the Senate to vote on a plan. In other words, if they follow the Constitution.
(Page 2 of 2)
Republicans and Conservatives, Speak
Up!
Senate Republicans are in the minority, but that
doesn’t mean they must be mute on this issue, as they have been.
They can gain political leverage by publicly condemning Harry Reid
for failing to act on the fiscal cliff when the House has already
done so. Indeed, they can bring much needed attention to this point
by calling on Harry Reid to resign for failing to act, and Senate
Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, too. Yes, that will stir big
controversy, because that would involve Republicans fighting back,
as Democrats would do if the tables were turned. That is how the
argument gets in the news.
And if the old Republican Senate bulls won’t do that, let the Tea Party senators do it. Newly elected Ted Cruz can make an immediate splash similar to what Newt Gingrich did leading up to 1994 by taking the lead if necessary. Marco Rubio can also raise his profile. Senators Rand Paul, Pat Toomey, Ron Johnson, Mike Lee and others can seize the reins of leadership.
And the same goes for the conservative movement more generally. Good God, speak up, or forever hold your peace! And not just on the fiscal cliff. Jim DeMint can breathe new life into the Heritage Foundation by holding a well-publicized, splashy conference on the real causes of the financial crisis, a debate that conservatives must engage and win, or become Hooverized. Ditto that for AEI, and all the organs of supply-side economics. Or maybe that will have to be left to Grover, Americans for Tax Reform, and the National Tax Limitation Committee, which may turn out to be the last line of defense for American civilization.
(Thumbnail Photo: Kfengler, Creative Commons 3.0.)
About the Author
Peter Ferrara is Director of Entitlement and Budget Policy at the Heartland Institute, General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union, Senior Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, and Senior Policy Advisor on Entitlements and Budget Policy at the National Tax Limitation Foundation. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under President George H.W. Bush.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (46) | Leave a comment
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Jacob McCandles| 12.27.12 @ 8:15AM
Dirty Harry has been asking Boehner to sign on to the Senate bill. Which bill is he referring to?
c. j. acworth| 12.27.12 @ 8:24AM
Republicans should also make it clear that no other legislation will be even considered until we get a rational, pro-growth budget. Forget about guns, global warming, everything else until this top priority is addressed.
Aristocat| 12.27.12 @ 11:40PM
Step 1 must be to oust Boehner and McConnell...
They are responsible for the mess we are in by the last "deal" they agreed to...
Every Conservative should be up in arms against Boehner's war on Conservative House members--throwing them off committees, campaigning against them, forming alliances with Democrats to pass bad legislation, etc.
Step 2: Peter is right, let the House again pass the extension of the Bush tax cuts and other good legislation...
Step 3: Everybody blast Harry Reid for playing possum for three years, not passing budgets, letting Obama twist Boehner's arm to get what he wants....instead of legislating.
Step 4: House pass a Republican budget, stick with it come hell and high water from the media which will follow....Stand your ground !!!!!
N8tivTxn| 12.27.12 @ 8:34AM
What a novel approach, "follow the constitution"?
The Senate GOP have completely outed themselves as cowardly lions through the 2012 election season, so why would we dream of them speaking up boldly?
Perhaps if Ted Cruz were a non-lawyer, he might rise up to lead the young TEA types, but will senators like Rubio risk their future on a scenario whose final chapter is unwritten? I have my doubts, especially after watching him tap-dance through the 2012 election, doing little more than posturing for a 2016 political position.
Where are the statesmen who dare to risk putting the well being of the nation above their own?
Perhaps we should hold a naked mud wrestling contest between Harry and Mitch? At least the masses would be entertained, as we go "cliff" diving... let 'er rip!
CrackerHound| 12.27.12 @ 11:33AM
Peter states the following:
"And by the midterms, Democrats will no longer be able to blame Republicans for the fiscal cliff disaster, as many gleefully believe today that they can. The economic crash will show just how wise and beneficial the Bush tax cuts were in the first place, and prove rather than discredit Republican economic policy. Blaming Republicans for the expiration of those tax cuts that Republicans originally passed over uniform Democrat opposition will lose luster in the glaring sunlight of the next two years."
Really?...have we not seen how the democrat party/national media tandem can CREATE whatever apperance they desire? Regardless of how unlikely and untrue the talking point, the "low information voter" (70% of America) swallows it whole and vote accordingly.
2010 was a fluke and here is an example of how the liberal democrat-media team can create any narrative they desire.....after that election and up until today, the Tea Party is unanimously described as an angry white mob, extremist, racist, etc. Now I don't know about anyone else, but the TeaParty I participated in and witnessed was anything but. It is a lie. But since they were responsible for the unexpected election results that occured, they were given the FULL Alinsky treatment.
Al Adab| 12.27.12 @ 8:37AM
Reid and his Senate have refused to pass a budget in four years. The nation is operating out of its shoebox not with a rational plan. Now they are more interested in blaming others than acting responsibly.
Cromwell was right, "You have sat too long for any good you have been doing."
Von Mises Jr| 12.27.12 @ 9:00AM
c.j. and Al have is exactly correct. For all intents and purposes, the CongrASS no longer exists as an institution. Their main function is to pass a Budget. They have "Power of the Purse" that is the financial responsibility for the nation. If the Senate refused to pass a Budget for four years, to continue on CR's is a dereliction of duty.
Hillsdale College "Constitution 201" likened the CongrASS to "Constituent Relations" for the Leviathan. They used to have some influence over the bureaucratic state with control over their budgets. G.W. Bush destroyed that with TARP giving the Executive Branch dictatorial powers with a $700B slush fund. Obama increased the baseline by $1 trillion with the Porkulus and the House has let it become the new spending level for four years.
One has to wonder if the GOP is not in on the plan to destroy the Constitution. Have they been promised Noble's Estates in the New Serfdom?
Quartermaster| 12.27.12 @ 9:10AM
The GOP has always been a problem. The Establishment types that hold the GOP as a fully owned subsidiary have always been go along to get along. Gingrich had Dole pegged when he called Dole the tax collector for the welfare state. That's been true of the GOP from the new Deal onward.
I have long agreed with Russel below that Cryin' John Boner needs to be replaced. I hope the rumors of a plan being circulated to replace that moron are true and that the Tea Party types hold to it.
Al Adab| 12.27.12 @ 10:27AM
It is as you say. The GOP, accomodationists all, have been the bane of the Conservative Movement since its inception; just as the Movement has been to the GOP.
During the founding, Conservatives fought the eastern establishment of the GOP personified by Rockefeller, Romney and the like. The GOP has followed its accomodationist train since the days of Tom Dewey and always to defeat. We must ask however, where are the future leaders of the Movement to give it voice and in fact is it too late in the day to restore any semblance of Constitutional government and free markets?
We state with Jefferson, "Indeed I tremble for may country when I consider that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever."
Warrior| 12.27.12 @ 11:50AM
The problem with the uneducated voting masses is that the media has won on the narrative that anyone with an R in front of them is a Conservative. Specter, Collins, Snowe, Brown, McCain, Graham, etc. are at best leaning to full blown tilting left of JFK and are referred to as Conservative during every election cycle.
CrackerHound| 12.27.12 @ 12:02PM
So why do some of us catch so much flak for advocating a conservative third party?
CJW| 12.27.12 @ 1:34PM
The House passed a bill to extend the Bush era tax rates for everyone, but the Senate has, Reid, has refused to vote on it.
It does not matter who the Speaker is if the Senate refuses to vote on bills passed by the House, and the Dem president vetoes the bill had the Senate voted on it.
The House should refuse to appropriate any funds for Obamacare, Afghanistan, foreign aid, and other selected "Obama" projects.
SUBVET| 12.28.12 @ 9:39AM
And so says..............Daniel 2:21
SUBVET| 12.27.12 @ 10:27AM
Von Jr..........as much as we here at TAS want the constitution up held we are just kidding ourselves just like bojangles said "we won". I don't think if someone in the GOP had the guts to stand up to these grifters we would be able to get anything done.
I am not the type to just give up but, when you look at what we are faced with....they run and own everything.....my only solace is...
Today when reading Daniel 2:21 least we forget who is really "in control".
Von Mises Jr| 12.27.12 @ 11:04AM
A government cannot govern a people unless they enjoy the will of the people, unless of course you have a brutal dictatorship and an unarmed populace. That is what Sandy Hook hand wringing has been for two weeks.
Actually, Corny Cornell West has this one right. They only care about the vanilla babies and could give a damn about the dead Border Agents and Mexicans from "Fast and Furious," or the 500 dead blacks in Chicago every year. Well at least they don't give a crap about the black and brown babies unless they can use it to take away good American's guns.
CJW| 12.27.12 @ 2:13PM
Von
I believe most of the Reps, and most of the country, still view Obama as a typical politician with whom they can negotiate in good faith.
Obama is a lefty idealogue intent on transforming the country to his view. Negotiations are only a means to that end. He does not care about the welfare of our country: he seeks to change it.
Boehner is wasting his time, as he has apparantly concluded, negotiating with Obama. It would help if Boehner was a better speaker and articulated the conservative position, and point out Obama's goals.
Rhoetus| 12.27.12 @ 7:10PM
Bravo Mises Jr! We have a Congress in name only, a CINO run by RINOs. And this is not good or constitutional.
Russel| 12.27.12 @ 9:04AM
Add to Boehner's foibles : he can't stand up and speak to the public , or won't . His lack of getting attention allows the enemy to make a fool of him and he won't fight back ; witness the last debacle over this ' cliff ' where the media had him ankle grabbing . Stick to OUR principles , use the Pelosi technique of podium-casting to the people and then maybe Reid would pay the House of Reps some attention . Better yet , simply replace the Speaker .
Von Mises Jr| 12.27.12 @ 9:54AM
Boner learned the negotiating tactics from the Bush family. He and his father destroyed the word "conservative" by referring to them as conservatives and then ruling like liberals. It is the same thing the socialist did to liberalism and freedom. Now they mean the exact opposite to most people.
Then when ridiculed, shut up and let it stick. I think the Bush father and son beat Obama by twenty years as imposters in the White House.
Russel| 12.27.12 @ 7:45PM
I agree . Tho as much as GW loved his country and did his job to protect it , his willingness to bow to the socialists on our own soil was a pathetic sight . That aside , his biggest mistake was to create the monster ' Homeland Security ' . It will come back to haunt far more than the Nixon creations . He could have cleaned out the Klinton Klowns and didn't . He could have fired all responsible for the debacle 9/11 and didn't . So yeah , I reckon you could say " he ruled like liberals " . Bonewad ? . He's a dyed in wool blueblood too .
Rhoetus| 12.29.12 @ 11:18AM
Von, You might want to write to National Review, Sean Hannity too, they don't get it.
Gr0w1er601| 12.27.12 @ 9:09AM
Follow the Constitution? What boulder dash- this is Washington, after all...
Kwan| 12.27.12 @ 9:32AM
Barack Obama is the name, social justice is my game. It's well known even to the dumbest Democrat party retard that cutting taxes increases remittances to the Treasury, due to increased economic activity. Obama is not really interested in that he prefers to demonize the rich and in turn free enterprise/capitalism. As a hardcore Marxist Obama believes that in order to create an egalitarian society the central government should own everything and the citizenry should own nothing, creating in effect the left's sacred and holy state of equality. This absurdity is reinforced by the left's belief that if citizen A has ten cents of wealth more than citizen B it creates a distortion in the space-time continuum, and must be rectified by the central government confiscating that ten cents in order to maintain the sacred and holy state of equality.
Jacob McCandles| 12.27.12 @ 9:49AM
I suspect you are correct, Kwan..what that says about Obama is terrifying. He understands the historical effect of tax rates on revenue. Revenue that would help support his beloved spending programs. But he sticks to the class warfare game, rapidly drowning us in debt and burying any hope of a return to prosperity. He is burying hope of a free society..for what? Power? Stupidity or evil....the question for the times.
Kwan| 12.27.12 @ 9:09PM
Obama and the left seem to believe that "equality" and "social justice" are more important than freedom and prosperity. He was not elected to transform our country into a Communist People's Republic like Cuba or Venezuela. If he believes that then he should be removed from office as quickly as possible.
Cat Shot| 12.27.12 @ 9:50AM
Peter! Peter! Wake up! Your Thursday article is due!
Pecos Pete| 12.27.12 @ 10:10AM
As reported by CBS News 12/26/2012:
"The U.S. Treasury Department will begin taking steps this week to delay hitting the government's $16.4 trillion borrowing limit. Without those steps, the debt limit would be hit on Dec. 31."
This is sweet. And convenient. Now we are hitting the debt limit two months earlier than expected just at the same time that the "fiscal cliff" is upon us. King O wants total power to administratively increase the debt limit. So, tie it all up in a grand bargain solving the "fiscal cliff" and all will be well.
To ignore the Constitution is insanity.
SUBVET| 12.27.12 @ 10:31AM
No Pete...........it means CONTROL
RJ| 12.27.12 @ 10:13AM
Great article, Peter. I am glad that you mentioned that the House first passed its extension of the "Bush tax cuts" last summer. I have been startled that Boehner has continually failed to point this out, however he has been acting, just as you described - going to the Emperor to seek approval. Boehner simply can't or won't defend/promote a position. We need a new Speaker and, as you say the GOP Senators need to take to the airways and help make the case.
rightasrain| 12.27.12 @ 10:14AM
Excellent as always, Mr. Ferrara. Nothing stinks more or is more antithetical to the democratic process than these closed door negotiations between Boehner and Obama.The House has acted. It's the Senate's turn. But Boehner is not the man to emphasize this simple fact. Honestly, has there ever been a Speaker who projects such weakness and servility?
Bob K| 12.27.12 @ 10:30AM
The main problem is that it is all about not pi--ing off the party leadership. As the old saw goes: "You have to go along to get along."
The current Republican Party leadership in the House who get to where they are by "going along" is not going to do anything different than what it has been doing lest it be viewed as political weakness.
Eventually they will go down but by then it will be too late.
Ronsch| 12.27.12 @ 12:37PM
Peter,
I think the House GOP should just send a budget that includes cuts to spending period. Entitlements, Departments, etc., and reductions in tax rates. And keep submitting it everyday with no changes. In fact, they should submit it everyday at exactly the same time.
JD| 12.27.12 @ 3:40PM
Ah, but Democrats will whine that we are like a broken record, repeating the "same old things."
That they have no answer for our "things" doesn't seem to matter to them. I wonder if they would also complain that a kindergarten teacher keeps telling her children that 2+2=4 each day, instead of coming up with some new sum for two and two!
Cynicon Implant| 12.27.12 @ 1:27PM
I'm all for just giving the Dems whatever they want. Just make sure that they own it. Then we'll see how popular they are in a couple of years. right now we are on a very slow slide -- let's accelerate it and maybe then people will wake up.
JD| 12.27.12 @ 3:41PM
History has shown that making them own it is precisely what we are unable to achieve.
cicero| 12.27.12 @ 4:16PM
They should all just go home. If we enter the new year with the Senate doing what it has been doing for the past 4 years, and the House being unable to get the Pres or the Senate to do anything, what is the worste thing that will happen? We will finally see our government actually cut spending. - by a half trillion dollars. Sounds good to me. We will also see the bottom 40% put back on the tax rolls. That sounds fair, in that they voted as a block for what has been going on for past 4 years. The country will survive. The land will endure. The military will squeeck by on its reduced budget for as long as is necessary. We may even get a little peace and quiet. No more whining and snickering from the geniuses in the press corps. No more posturing by the Dems in congress. No more prancing by our fearless leader? in the WH.
They have bought the narative, now let them own it.
Rhoetus| 12.27.12 @ 7:46PM
They should refund all their salary and benefits - although I would prefer that they just resign.
Occam's Tool| 12.27.12 @ 4:31PM
I will gladly pay the extra tax if it makes my Liberal State nurses scream about their taxes going up.
The real solution for the House is to pass a bill simply extending the current tax rates for 5 years, and then go home. Tell Obama that raising tax rates as he has suggested will pay for 8 days of spending, that we are taxed enough, and that it is time to cut spending in January, and that only a MORON raises taxes in a recession with unemployment rate around 8%.
1ConservativeUSA| 12.27.12 @ 4:36PM
McConnell and Boehner are good men, but we're not debating their character. They are not the leaders our country needs right now. They must go.
One suggestion, the House should pass a new bill LOWERING TAX RATES for all, except the over $250,000+ folks, which stay the same. While they're at it, make the capital gains rate and dividends rate zero for those below $250K. Again, those at $250K stay the same. Send it to the Senate and hold a major press conference telling Americans they have done so. Then, let Obama & Reid campaign against tax cuts for the middle and lower classes.
irish19| 12.27.12 @ 10:28PM
I like it. Let them come up with a plan of their own that they will own. Then the debate can begin.
Both Cicero and OT raise excellent points. Putting that bottom 40% back on the tax rolls and raising taxes on those already on the rolls who are paying little or nothing would be worth it if for no other reason than to hear them howl.
However, if they have a bit of skin in the game (an entire pound of flesh would be nice) it might make them wake up and pay just a little more attention to how said monies are being spent.
oldeham| 12.27.12 @ 5:26PM
Hey Dingy Harry - the ball is in your court or are you too much of a blind, stupid bully to notice.
Rhoetus| 12.27.12 @ 7:13PM
Rules for Conservatives @
http://www.saveamericanow.us.com
air max en france | 12.28.12 @ 2:05AM
Republicans should also make it clear that no other legislation will be even considered until we get a rational, pro-growth budget. Forget about guns, global warming, everything else until this top priority is addressed.
Hardcard| 12.28.12 @ 3:55PM
This whole government is rigged for our "rulers" benefit, and it's totally corrupted. The chief executive is a fraud and the congress is at best compliant. We went over the fiscal abyss about 16 trillion dollars ago I can see no light at the end of this sewer pipe.
sdfhlk | 12.28.12 @ 8:47PM
Merry Christmas,NBA ,NFL 2012
Al8184| 12.29.12 @ 1:18PM
Deal? What deal?
The only deal there is, is the deal between the powerbrokers in both parties to undermine the economy and culture to the greatest extent possible, in hopes of fomenting a popular call for some form of revolution.