The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Senate Far From Budget Deal

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With a government shutdown looming next Friday if no deal is reached, Republican and Democratic Senators are moving further and further apart, with Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer arguing that tax increases and further cuts to defense should be on the table, along with ending some agriculture subsidies and putting mandatory spending on the table.

Thus far, the GOP budget bill has focused on cuts to discretionary spending. The Senate is expected later today to vote on the House-passed budget, but it doesn't stand a chance of passing -- nor does the Democratic alternative.

Republican leaders clearly want to avert a government shutdown, because they fear that they'll lose the battle over public opinion, as most people not named Newt Gingrich believe they did back during the 1995/96 budget fights. The Hill reports that they're planning a second stopgap spending measure to delay that possibility again, but they can't keep doing that forever. We're nearly six months into the 2011 fiscal year already.

Also, next month Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan is set to unveil the GOP budget for 2012, which will include a 10-year blueprint. That's likely to be an even bigger fight.

View all comments (3) | Leave a comment

PattyMor| 3.9.11 @ 1:38PM

I'm rooting for Paul Ryan, but I don't see many from the Rat Party backing him up. The only one I hear coming out with real cuts is Rand Paul.
In the House, the leadership put forth a measley $61 Billion for 2011. Its all so pathetic seeing our "leaders" letting our country circle the drain.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.9.11 @ 3:00PM

It's worse then that.

The Republicans in the House hold all the cards.

If they simply stand their ground Obama has one of two choices.

Either shut the government down or accede to the Republican demands.

The Republicans should negotiate nothing and play their cards close to the vest.

RJ| 3.9.11 @ 3:09PM

I don't see the complexity in this issue. America, and particularly the government, has been spending beyond its means for decades. The Feds, on a bi-partisan basis have put us 14 trillion dollars in debt. It must stop. The House has passed a spending bill which calls for 61 billion dollars less spending than many Democrats want to run the government for the next 6 months. If the Senate rejects the House bill or Obama vetoes it because it doesn't spend enough, they are the ones who are shutting down part of the government. Perhaps that will prevent us from getting further in debt.

In any event, there are no more excuses. Government spending must come down substantially. We are out of time and out of money. If the current Congress and President can't stop the madness, we will next replacements at the next election who will do the job. It really is not longer political. It is simply a matter of economic sanity.