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Whither the Ryan Plan?

By Joseph Lawler on 7.18.11 @ 4:35PM

At National Review, Dan Foster argues that the Paul Ryan plan, not Cut, Cap, and Balance, should have been the rallying point for Republicans in the debt ceiling negotations:

You hear a lot of talk about how passing CCB is important because it shows what Republicans are for. But the Republicans have already done this by passing the Ryan budget. To do it again is redundant and a waste of precious time (which is not on the GOP's side here). Not least because (1) the "Cut" part of "Cut, Cap, and Balance" is based on the Ryan budget, and (2) the "Cap" and "Balance" parts rely on the passage of a constitutional amendment at a time when it is not clear there are majorities for anyplan in either house of Congress, let alone two-thirds majorities. I'm not convinced that capping spending at 18 percent of GDP (2001 levels, roughly) would do anything but spawn new, ingenious accounting tricks while ensuring that spending never gets down below 18 percent. But let's leave that aside for the moment. If it's in fact a policy worth fighting for in Congress, the eve of a potential crisis that the GOP looks sure to be resoundingly blamed for is not the time to do it. Worse yet, it looks increasingly likely from where I'm sitting that CCB votes will be used to provide political cover in advance of an attempt to pass the McConnell plan - which just about nobody likes. None of this would have been necessary if the GOP had built their negotiations around the Ryan budget.

Could the Ryan budget have been passed wholesale as part of a debt-limit deal? Of course not. The GOP probably would have had to decouple the longer-term entitlement stuff and do a lot of horse-trading with Democrats on the composition of the cuts. But considering that we're now looking atno entitlement reforms and $1.5 trillion in discretionary cuts whose composition is to be determined largely by Joe Biden and congressional Democrats, I can't help but think that would have been a better outcome.

It's worth noting that the newly-released, and surely-doomed, Coburn deficit-reduction plan also deviates from the Ryan blueprint on reforming entitlements.

View all comments (5) | Leave a comment

simon templar| 7.18.11 @ 5:44PM

It is not about putting forth plans solely but rather communicating to the American public as to what is happening and who is primarily responsible for the mess we are in now. It is putting the responsibilty sqaurely on the idiot in the white house and exposing the agenda. It is about keeping the pressure and focus on the essential issues...insane spending, insane borrowing, and insane health care legislation.

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 6:11PM

"Debt Ceiling Drama
By Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) - 07/18/11 :

The debt ceiling debate is providing plenty of opportunity for political theater in Washington. Proponents of raising the debt ceiling are throwing around the usual scare tactics and misinformation in order to intimidate opponents into accepting more debt and taxes. It is important to distinguish the truth from the propaganda.

First of all, politicians need to understand that without real change default is inevitable. In fact, default happens every day through monetary policy tricks. Every time the Federal Reserve engages in more quantitative easing and devalues the dollar, it is defaulting on the American people by eroding their purchasing power and inflating their savings away. The dollar has lost nearly 50 percent of its value against gold since 2008. "

simon templar| 7.18.11 @ 6:36PM

He is spot on that Ron Paul when it comes to economics and government! I wish he could garner a greater voice and take it to the American people...like a televised chat with the people at prime time.

Nowis Thetime| 7.18.11 @ 10:25PM

I Agree!!!! There Is None Running For OFfice who Could turn thigns Arounding for OUr Country like Ron PPaul!!! He is Alone the One Who cCnan say What needs TO be Said!?!!! TO be sure, fiscarly sound judgement is So very Hard to Find in as so AMany have Said. If we Are not Now willing to Cut the Spendings and Make the Debt to Zero balcing Budget eh then Why Not? To Be sure.

Please to be Voting for the Ron Paul!

martin j smith| 7.19.11 @ 8:04AM

COULD I TELL YOU FOLKS --LISTEN UP LAWLER--You can have the Platinum _Gold Plated plan and it all does not matter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its all a crock. Our side ( at least our great leaders ) allow themselves to follow this rule: Its all up to us to fix it. Buuuuuuuuuuuloney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, I am tired of our side taking all the heat !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Recall Marco Rubio on Bob Scheaefer asking where is Obama's plan ? That is the VERY POINT. Our leadershould should not stop trying to find a "solution" but they SHOULD DEMAND
OBAMA PUT OUR HIS PLAN AS WITH REID ETC. Negotiations are not a one way street.

And, as I have said elsewhere Socialists will blame Repubs on everything an anything and it is our responsibility to put the spotlight on the lack of Socialist and Obama taking ANY RESPONSIBILITY. So far we have allowed the to get away with this crap. It is time to stop. NOW1111111