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The Spectacle Blog
At CFIF, I explain why and how John Boehner and company can at least in one area get a better deal than the one in the revised Boehner plan that finally passed the House: Front-load the spending cuts even more.
Frankly, as long as the conditions in that CFIF post are met, I don’t fear the results of the commission too much (even though I think it is a horrible way to legislate). Why? Because about a half to two-thirds of the reforms to entitlements and taxes are relatively uncontroversial among lawmakers, and thus the first big chunk of the final deal won’t be too difficult. The elements are these: Move to a “chained CPI,” meaning a barely-noticeable change in the inflation formula used by the government, to save money over time the same way that monetary interest compounds. Tie the Medicare elegibility age to that of Social Security. Hike both of those ages just a tiny bit faster than current law provides for Social Security. Cut corporate income taxes while closing a few loopholes and eliminating some of what the Left calls “tax subsidies” such as the ethanol tax break.
Of course, all of these reforms together still won’t be good enough or big enough to do the government-limiting, debt-limiting job conservatives are dedicated to doing, but they will provide a good down payment. A deal in the next two days that makes that down payment likely to happen, without tax-rate increases (or elimination of broad-based deductions or exemptions) or major military cuts, is probably a deal worth making.
View all comments (44) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Quin Hillyer
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/07/31/front-load-the-spending-cuts
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Bob Grant| 7.31.11 @ 3:41PM
I agree as long as there is no trigger that allows Obama to eliminate the Bush tax cuts without any political fallout.
I don't care what the plan looks like as long as it doesn't make Obama appear to be the fiscally responsible president he's currently masquerading to be. Give him a little rope with which to hang himself.
The election should be about Obama's failures and nothing else.
Have you considered| 8.1.11 @ 9:39AM
I believe that the expiration of the Republican congress' tax cuts under Bush is already in this baseline. They will expire on 12/31/2012.
I just read that the FY 2012 (7/2012 to 6/2013) pre-commission "spending cuts" will be about 7 billion.
And that the FY2013 (7/2013 to 6/2014) pre-commission cuts will be about 3 billion.
I have not seen a CBO score yet, and I don't know that they will have time prior to today's vote, but this is what I just read over at TheHill.
So, I guess they didn't take Quin's advice after all....imagine that.
What hooey!!!
Oldefarte| 7.31.11 @ 3:53PM
As long as the Republicans can strike substantial [or as much as politically possible] spending cuts [along with clearly defining the clear differences between the two parties], I think that that is all that can be hoped for at this point. With political control of only 1/3 of this governmental process, until the voters WAKE UP and complete the job they accompolished in 2010 by ELECTING MORE REPUBLICANS to take control over the WH and the Senate, nothing else can be accompolished currently. Some of these fools here don't understand apparently that it's akin to being behind 21-7 at halftime and expecting that you've won the game. The game won't be winnable until November of 2012!!!!!!!
Pecos Pete| 7.31.11 @ 4:40PM
Agreed!
Once the current debt ceiling hash is done then comes the FY 2012 fiscal budget, the House has already passed a budget ... what will the Senate do? Betcha it comes down to another Continuing Resolution through December 2012.
The only way to return the USA to solvency is with a conservative president, Senate and House resulting from the 2012 November elections.
Teflon93 | 7.31.11 @ 7:17PM
Sure, just like when they told us during the continuing resolution fight that the REAL fight was going to be over the debt ceiling, NOW the reall fight will be over the budget.
I have some eBay items to sell you poor, deluded people.
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 10:52AM
GROW [UP] A BRAIN!!!!!!!!
SCPOret| 8.1.11 @ 9:49AM
To hell with electing Republicans - elect CONSERVATIVES. McCain, Boehner, McConnell are all republicans and what the hell has that got us but more of the same old pelosi.
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 10:53AM
Name ten DEMOCRAT CONSERVATIVES [or even ONE]????????????????????
Kingofthenet| 7.31.11 @ 4:20PM
Don't underestimate the power of Conservative talk radio in all of this. Rush Limbaugh has been BRILLIANT, He has managed to convince MILLIONS of sheeple, his economic interest is theirs. You see guys Rush DO pay monster taxes, and he knows if he 'guts' the Govt. his taxes will be far less, and he can replace any lost benefits for far less than it currently cost him. Take for example Education, let's for arguments sake say, that Rush pay's 10 million in taxes a year, and the Average Joe 10 thousand(Both way low) say Education makes up 20% of taxes , Rush is paying 2 million a year for Education , while Average Joe is paying 2 grand, good deal for Average Joe if he has a couple of kids in Public School, not so much for Rush.
Warrior | 7.31.11 @ 4:38PM
I hope you lose your food stamps on August 3.
blackwatch| 8.1.11 @ 12:46AM
let's say that we cut his food stamps by 120% and then he can start learning what live is all about...
Bob Grant| 7.31.11 @ 4:46PM
Well, if Rush is paying so much in taxes going toward education maybe he should have a say in how kids are taught. It's only fair.
How about creating a Maha Rushie School for the Perpetually Naive and the Politically Ignorant.
Schedule:
7:00 Calculus
8: 00 English (old school style)
9: 00 Composition
10:00 American History (old school style)
11:00 ROTC
12:00 - 3;00 Political Science - A youra instructor, the all knowing Maha Rushie
Interested Conservative| 7.31.11 @ 4:56PM
You forgot the afternoon ROTC - 3:00-4:00, or perhaps NROTC so it's "balanced".
blackwatch| 8.1.11 @ 12:47AM
I want to see Reid and Pelosi at bayonet practice.
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 11:21AM
Finally, an intelligent human being!!!!!!!!
Teflon93 | 7.31.11 @ 7:24PM
Given your inability to logically reason, we're already far overpaying for education.
Let's start with basic math: Let's say Rush Limbaugh makes $10 MM this year and pays 90% of it in taxes, as you socialists want him to do. How many Rush Limbaughs will be required to fill in the spending gap of $2.7 trillion Obama wants to piss down the rathole before he's kicked out of office next year?
As a bonus question, how many Rush Limbaughs are there today and how many will there be in the second year of this policy?
And to blow your mind, how many of these Rush Limbaugh-level earners vote Democrat? How many serve right now in the Democrat Party, say, as Minority Leader of the House or as Senate Majority Leader?
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 11:20AM
Already overpaying for education? You must be a comedian. You don't pay excrement for education. With the illegals overrunning the public school FREE OF CHARGE, all thanks to DEMOCRATS LACK OF IMMIGRATION CONTROL, all taxpayers pay for public education. Oh, and FYI, some of us paid for our children to expensively attend PRIVATE SCHOOLS in addition to paying taxes to support your rugrats in public schools as well!!!!!
Interested Conservative| 7.31.11 @ 5:09PM
Mr. Hillyer - a few questions:
In the various posts (also RSM's) I don't see the BBA mentioned. Shouldn't the House hold out for at least a vote or two, if not passage for the increases?
As for the BBA, how about passage required in exchange for some "revenue"? By that I mean token and limited - namely the hedge-fund/trader type activity which is either objectively silly and ineffective, or revenue increases simply due to reforming the tax code. Rate increases or targeting specific industries ("corporate jets", "large yachts") is a reliable job killer, but a sop to the left which would come from tax reform anyway may be a small price to pay to get the BBA to the states.
Finally, I don't see any mention of either GOP leader naming the committee members. Are they saving that for the last to persuade the fence-sitters? Couldn't they at least float the rumors to start the spin - i.e. Kyl, Thune, Sessions, etc; Ryan, Cantor, et.al. - I know asking for DeMint, Toomey, Paul, Rubio, Johnson, Flake, Jordan, West may be a bit much, but some inklings might help.
C Bowen| 7.31.11 @ 5:57PM
West is pro-sell out, so I assume he is angling for a spot on the team.
Mimi| 7.31.11 @ 6:45PM
FREEZE IT! No more yearly percentage increases! Hold it to the '
Freeze the budget to 2006 levels. No more yearly percentage increases. Hold it there. the pain will be the least and fair.
Mimi| 7.31.11 @ 6:46PM
sorry ...ccomputer slip!
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 11:14AM
Yeah and the DEMOCRATS are just fantastic, huh??????????
C Bowen| 7.31.11 @ 5:56PM
LOL--"cut" $25 billion next year, instead of Boehner's proposed $22 billion.
That you thought such an idea, Quin, was worthy of an article and a cross post, is pure comedy.
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 11:13AM
Shazam, another post from the DOJ hit squad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sean| 7.31.11 @ 6:55PM
We need over a trillion in cuts per year and you propose 25 billion. The interest we pay on borrowing over a trillion dollars with the debt ceiling raise will be more than the proposed cuts in spending.
Teflon93 | 7.31.11 @ 7:16PM
And, using your prior logic to crap all over the Tea Party, Quin, where precisely are the votes to be found for frontloading the spending cuts?
Do you even read what you write anymore?
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 11:12AM
Why don't you propose that wuestion to DEMOCRATS??????????
Real American| 7.31.11 @ 9:10PM
we're not going to get anywhere by "cutting" only what the profligate spenders intend on spending, especially while giving Obama another credit card. We'll get real change by cutting what we're spending NOW. Front load the entire trillion dollars in "cuts" and we have a progress. otherwise, it's just business as usual.
The best way to do that is by eliminating departments and programs that cost so much money. Cut Education, Commerce, Head Start, Obamacare, etc and we won't have to budget that stuff over the next whatever years. Use the savings to pay off the debt. Lastly, end baseline budgeting.
Burt| 8.1.11 @ 12:20AM
Trolls from the Billionaire Party ( Soros, Buffet, Di Feinstein, Dailey Machine, Google Execs, Facebook Execs, Apple Execs , GE Execs , Goldman Sachs execs, Comcast Execs, Hollywood Execs etc..) are peddling the tired old Class warfare card because the Billioniare Party promotes Socialism for the serfs but not for thee !
Sadly , Bonehead , Mitchy, the Sorso Puppet, and Pinky Reid( The Mob's puppet) needs to keep the K Streets gang flushed with taxpayer cash.
Pathetically , AS lets DC Beltway Rhinos profess what a great deal Bonehead got again !
We recall what a great deal Bonehead and Mitchy got in the 2011 budget compromise !
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 11:11AM
Do you know the names of any DEMOCRATS??????????????????
blackwatch| 8.1.11 @ 12:57AM
well it's going to be an insurrection or a full blown civil war after all. they just don't get that we won't allow them to bankrupt our
children's children's future.
So will it happen Greece style or more like Syria?
Paul Nelson| 8.1.11 @ 5:25AM
expect the order to go out to kill some conservatives
blackwatch| 8.1.11 @ 1:00AM
sorry left off....or will it be over with a bang and a whimper as we all go quietly into bondage?
Or will Red State America leave the blue state dregs to drown in their own vermin and filth?
Sean| 8.1.11 @ 1:37AM
Red State Arizona just sent McCain to the Senate again. Red State Texas just elected Perry Governor again and has sent Cornyn and Kay Baily to the Senate. Good luck with them doing anything.
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 11:09AM
Another one exclusively mentioning Republicans. IT'S THE DEMOCRATS, STUPIDS!!!!!!!
Sean| 8.1.11 @ 3:51PM
If the people elect liberal Republicans then it is both the Republicans and Democrats. Am I suppose to blame Democrats only for out of control spending? Republicans had the House, Senate, and Presidency not to long ago themselves and could not control their spending. I am harshest on Republicans because they are suppose to be the party of limited government.
WL| 8.1.11 @ 1:37AM
Funny how you see the need for frontloaded spending cuts now huh????
Didn't take you long to get to that...from listing who is on Boner's side huh????
Hacks, Hacks
All the same,
Never Look Back,
And hope you forget their name,
When the deal is done,
They are none to blame,
Except without them,
The deal woulda been won!
But none to mistake,
during the fight of it sure,
they were nipping at your cape,
to keep you demure,
because they know what it takes,
to compromise FOR SURE...
And watch the moment escape...
Till America exists no MORE!!!!
Congrats Mr. Hillyer...NOW, how long will it take before you berate us about not supporting this DEAL?
Only to have the CBO or somebody else tell us it really cuts about Thutty Tree Grand? Or Fittty Wun hunn-ed? or Eight fie Thou?
...or whatever the lingo is for
LIE??
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 11:08AM
Shazam idiot, the only politician you named was a Republican. Do you know the names of any Democrats, or will your DOJ bosses allow you to critisize any? How about Sanders, Pilosi, Reid, Schumer, Durbin, Clyburn etc....did any of them have anything to do with their problem???????
Derek Leaberry| 8.1.11 @ 8:50AM
The budget "cuts" are a fraud. They are cuts in increases, not actual cuts. What Mr. Hillyer won't admit is that next year's budget will be higher than this year's budget and that next year's budget will be nearly $ 1 trillion more than George W. Bush's last budget. Conservatives have lost again. Better to blow up the whole dishonorable government.
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 11:05AM
What budget next year....the Democrats have failed to [as required by our constitution] establish a budget for the last two years of this administration. It would possibly cause a heart attack to many of us even if a budget was produced!!!!!!!!
SCPOret| 8.1.11 @ 9:41AM
Last night they proved they are like a Popeye cartoon - "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today" Only theirs is "I'll give you cuts next year for a debt ceiling increase today" Why not, it's the same scam they have run against the stupid party for years, and like Charlie Brown the stupid party always falls for it.
Then they pass the buck again to the next congress, which is not bound by their promises. The same scam they used on Reagan, and Bush senior.
The American people are sheep who keep allowing this Pelosi to continue. Throw the bums out.
VICTORY IN 2012
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 11:03AM
Finally, someone intelligent enough to mention a DEMOCRAT by name. Thank you, and you're correct....can't wait until November of next year. Vote [conservative]Republican!!!!!
Oldefarte| 8.1.11 @ 11:22AM
http://youtu.be/uDpi4FjuV5k
TexasMom2012| 8.1.11 @ 12:56PM
When you vote for a conservative, Tea Party, Republican make sure you check their background and core support before signing up! Avoid fiascos caused by fake duplicitous Dems or Progressives... They have tried this successfully in the recent past so I am sure they will try to run stealth candidates in 2012, stay vigilant.