Turning Up the Budget Pressure
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You know, it would be very easy to make fun of Orange John Boehner and the House Republicans over their capitulation this past Wednesday on the debt ceiling.
You may have missed the story, because the media were more obsessed in the past week with a much more important story - namely, "Who knew that Beyonce lip-synced the national anthem, and when did they know it?"
So in case you've forgotten what the debt ceiling fuss was about, let's review.
First, just as they did during the fake "fiscal cliff" crisis, the so-called "deficit hawks" of the GOP blustered and puffed up their chests and insisted that yes, by golly, they were perfectly willing to destroy the country's credit rating and plunge us back into recession if they didn't get massive spending cuts in exchange for agreeing to pay the bills we already have.
Then, when the president said he wasn't going to knuckle under or negotiate again in the face of that kind of terrorism, they went completely hysterical, howled, "OMG! OBAMA IS WORSE THAN HITLER!" and vowed a fight to the death. So, as you can no doubt see, it'd be easy to mock them when they meekly cave in and pass a three-month extension of the debt ceiling without a single spending cut.
But I'm not going to do that.
I'm not going to do that because I think that on the rare occasion that the Republicans act like grownups, they ought to be commended for it. Besides, the one condition they did come up with actually contains the seed of a good idea.
The bill contains a provision that any house of Congress that doesn't pass a budget by April 15 doesn't get its pay. Unfortunately, the 27th Amendment says that "No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives shall take effect until an election of Representatives shall have intervened," so the best they could probably do would be to temporarily withhold their salaries - not, say, donate them to Planned Parenthood or the NRA or something like that.
But hey, it's a start. And at long last, we'll finally get the Republicans to do two things: (1) admit that while the president can propose a budget (and has), budgets are made by the legislative branch, and that talking about "Obama's spending" is disingenuous at best; and (2) finally come clean on exactly what it is they want to cut.
Up until now, the GOP line has been, "You Democrats have to give us spending cut proposals, so they look like your idea." They do this because they know if people saw what they really want to cut, they'd be even less popular than they are now. But now they're stuck, which is a good thing.
The only problem I have with the "no budget, no pay" idea is that under the current proposal, if one of the houses comes up with a budget, any budget, its members get paid. There's no real incentive for the Republican-controlled House to come up with a budget they know has a chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate, and vice versa.
Indeed, both the House's Paul Ryan and the Senate's Patty Murray have vowed to quickly come up with proposed budgets, each of which is pretty much guaranteed to give the other house's majority party the hives.
So here's my idea: If a budget isn't passed by both houses and signed by the president by April 15, nobody gets paid. Not the senators, not the representatives, not the president. No Democrats, no Republicans, no independents. If they don't come up with something everyone can live with by May 1, then the sergeants-at-arms of both houses will be ordered to remove all the chairs from the House and Senate chambers and all legislative offices. Let 'em work standing up. (I confess, I stole this last part from a legendary tale of a crusty old judge trying to motivate a hung jury to make a decision.)
If that doesn't work, by May 15, we chain the chamber doors shut with all of them inside. No budget by June 1? Cut off the air conditioning. If you've ever been in D.C. in the summer, you know what that means. We'll either get a budget arrived at by fair negotiation and compromise, or we'll need to elect a new Congress.
Frankly, I could go for either one.
Dusty Rhoades lives, writes and practices law in Carthage. Contact him at dustyr@ nc.rr.com.
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Comments
Courseaire 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Based on Dusty's prior columns, I think he lip-synced this one.
JimRussell44 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Nailed it again, Dusty!
dustyrhoades 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Thanks, Jim!
fugitiveguy 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"The first 2 years of Obama rule he had democrats controlling both houses and still did not get them to pass budgets."
Where did you hear this? Fox News?
AFCHIEF 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Here is the result of Obamas 2012 budget vote in the senate
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/163345-obama-budget-receives-zero-votes-in-senate-
AFCHIEF 3 months, 3 weeks ago
How about Obama 2011 budget vote in the House. Not a single democrat even votes yea.
http://hotair.com/archives/2012/03/29/consistency-obama-budget-fails-to-get-a-single-democratic-vote-again/
dustyrhoades 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Hliarious, The Rethugs do everything they can to obstruct a budget, brag about their obstructionism, then claim it's all the President's fault that they can't get the job done.
The President almost never gets his budget proposal through in its original form. BUDGETS COME FROM THE LEGISLATURE.
You people have no idea of how government works. You clearly don't know anything about the Senate and how the minority party can obstruct anything from getting done, like the Rethuglicans who have used a record number of filibusters to keep anything from happening because they hate Obama more than they care about the country.
packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Afchief ~ the libs can't even defend their own practices. And they looooove Rand Paul!!!!
fugitiveguy 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"The first 2 years of Obama rule he had democrats controlling both houses and still did not get them to pass budgets. Obama sent a budget to the senate and it was voted down by his own party. "
Save your effort men. Dusty has his "O" glasses on preventing him from being able to read anything remotely negative about his King.
fugitiveguy 3 months, 3 weeks ago
"You people have no idea of how government works."
Just what exactly do you mean "you people". I find that offensive. Whats the matter you got something against the Irish?
dustyrhoades 3 months, 3 weeks ago
So now pack's just trolling every thread with that repetitious Rand Paul nonsense because he thinks he's being irritating rather than merely tedious.
Pack, you are the most pathetic troll here. Bar none. At least Chief's intermittently entertaining when he gets a load on.
packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Dusty ~ what's wrong with a TRUE constitutionalist gaining resistance in the White House? Sounds like a real "change we can believe in". Rand Paul 2016!!!!
packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Dusty ~ doesn't it honestly piss you off to have someone do the same things that you do on a continual basis?? Where were you to call SPUWS a "troll"?? Yup, nowhere. Suck it up cry baby, Rand Paul is about to be in the house!!!!
by Randy
packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago
But keep it up with y'alls genius "modern economic theory" and "gun confiscation" it seems to be a winning platform for Rand Paul to be our next President of The United States of America.
dentman65 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Dusty, I believe that you said that the Republicans are shy about stating what they really want to cut because it would make them very unpopular. In your opinion, what things do the Republicans wish to cut? And do you think any cuts are even needed? I'm just trying to make sure I'm mad at the right tribe.
AFCHIEF 3 months, 3 weeks ago
DR you call republicans obstructionist but the Liberals GAVE ZERO VOTES for Obamanations budgets, so I guess they are also obstructionists.
JimRussell44 3 months, 3 weeks ago
dentman, I've been asking the same question of the Republicans. Where exactly do they want to cut spending? This is the point Dusty is also making. It doesn't matter what we THINK the Republicans wish to cut, it only matters what cuts the Republicans want. So far, all they are saying is that we must make cuts in spending to balance the budget. It's their version of "you have to pass it to find out what's in it".
JimRussell44 3 months, 3 weeks ago
packwilleat, Rand Paul will be perfect...if you are a Democrat.
JimRussell44 3 months, 3 weeks ago
AFCHIEF, glad to see you posting on this column. I have a carryover comment from a previous discussion that got closed out before I could respond. I don't hold veterans in low esteem as you have suggested. I hold idiots in low esteem. And you, my friend are not intelligent enough to have lived my life, so it's a good thing you got to live yours by being told where to go and what to do.
AFCHIEF 3 months, 3 weeks ago
JimRuss well glad to see you are a just another Obama KOOL AID drinker who can't think for himself beause that would require some intelligence to know that the liberals are driving our country into another Greece.
No Qualifications Needed by AFCHIEF
clarabelle 3 months, 3 weeks ago
" AFCHIEF - JimRuss well glad to see you are a just another Obama KOOL AID drinker who can't think for himself beause that would require some intelligence to know that the liberals are driving our country into another Greece."
And he tells "me" to grow up regarding my comments ............ too funny!
dustyrhoades 3 months, 3 weeks ago
AFCHIEF's brain only has room left for a few stale cliches like 'drinking the Kool-Aid", "head up Obama's butt", "Greece! Greece!" and of course endless variations on "no, YOU are!' that have managed to survive the fog he apparently lives in. He mixes and matches and blurts them out, apparently at random, precisely like any obnoxious, bitter old alkie hanging on to the end of the bar. He may or may not actually be drunk, but he sure posts like it.
dustyrhoades 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Or he may just be the perfect symbol of how tired, senile, and intellectually empty the Rethuglican Party has become, unable to change and repeating the same worn out, tiresome old lines that failed them so badly in the last election. And now the right's in full retreat, with their angry goon squad bawling ineffectual insults as their ideology fades into shameful history.
Just within the last few days, the House passes a bill raising the debt ceiling without the draconian spending cuts the Teabagger Caucus claimed were an absolute condition for such a raise; Sarah Palin gets ignominiously dropped by Faux News; the Defense Department lifts the ban on women in combat; Republicans and Democrats in the Senate get together on an immigration reform package that provides a "path to citizenship" for the undocumented; and a former Romney adviser admits that "the culture wars are over and Republicans largely lost."
Now, I've been fighting these wacked out, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, everything-but-them-phobic nutballs for so long, I'm not taking a victory lap just yet. There's still a lot to do. But you've got to admit, it's the best time to be a liberal and the worst time to be a wingnut that we've seen in a long, long time.
Courseaire 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Now, I've been fighting these wacked out, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, everything-but-them-phobic nutballs for so long, I'm not taking a victory lap just yet. There's still a lot to do. But you've got to admit, it's the best time to be a liberal and the worst time to be a wingnut that we've seen in a long, long time. It's amazing that you actually believe this - fight on Bro!
packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Bush handed us Obama. Now Obama is going to hand us Rand Paul. R's and D's are done...... welcome to the L's!!!!
dentman65 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Dusty, one thing is for sure, as a lawyer you are blessed with the art of argument that many of us do not have. You make your living by the fight. And I mean that in a professional way….you fight for your clients so you are very good at it. The strange beauty of it all is that on this board each day we are putting to use exactly many of the rights we have as Americans: The right to say our peace and give our opinions. Would you think that a great trait to have in a leader is diplomacy and the ability to compromise? Or is it best to have a leader that stands firm in his thoughts and beliefs until the end? What if any of these traits do you see in our current leadership? I have always held to Theodore Roosevelt’s policy of speaking softly and carrying a big stick. I thought it funny in your comments about locking everyone in a room with no air conditioning until a solution results. That may be what it takes. Perhaps we need to give the Congress and the Senate Boxing gloves and whiffle bats and the last man standing calls the shots. Perhaps we need another Eisenhower, who skillfully kept Patton and Montgomery from shooting each other to reach the ultimate goal of victory in WWII. It is my opinion that no what people may think of Eisenhower, he must have been a great diplomat and compromiser to get all of those brass egos to somehow get along back then. I can’t recall who made this statement, “ In times of decision, the best thing to do is the right thing, the next best to do is the wrong thing, the worst thing to do is no-thing.” Make it a great day!
clarabelle 3 months, 3 weeks ago
hey pack............. go eat already............ and take your time :)
dustyrhoades 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Thanks, dentman.
It's been my experience that the other side gets a lot more reasonable in negotiations when you've shown them (a) you're willing to fight; and (b) you're able to win. One thing that's exasperated me about Obama despite what the delusional wingers would have you believe, is that he's given up and compromised too easily on some things (e.g. the public option in the health care bill). Actually, I've criticized several Democrats for this sort of thing as well over the years. You can look it up. (Just Google Dusty Rhoades "Republican Lite")
But now that he's both showing willingness to fight AND the ability to win, look how much more reasonable some Republicans have gotten on things like immigration and the debt ceiling.
packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Clara ~ here are the principles you should familiarize yourself with. You and the Dem's are killing any chance of having any future with y'alls economic policies, gun control, and amnesty. Heck at least pass some more right to marry laws to gain more sheep for the cause. Good luck!!
We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual.
We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.
Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the opposite principle, that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labor. Even within the United States, all political parties other than our own grant to government the right to regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labor without their consent.
We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these things, and hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual: namely, (1) the right to life -- accordingly we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action --accordingly we oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and (3) the right to property -- accordingly we oppose all government interference with private property, such as confiscation, nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.
Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals. People should not be forced to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They should be left free by government to deal with one another as free traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible with the protection of individual rights, is the free market.
packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago
We're destined to approach a Debt to GDP ratio of 200%. Congrats Demotards, you can only blame this on yourselves. But keep popping open the bubbly while Rome goes up in flames.
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/economy/279857-report-fiscal-outlook-not-improved-by-debt-deal#ixzz2JOAYHF2u
dustyrhoades 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Anyone who thinks a Libertarian candidate is ever going to win, or that their pie in the sky "platform" has a snowball's chance in hell, or that the condescending arrogance with which they attempt to "persuade" the electorate will ever win even a plurality of Americans over to their side, is clearly either schizophrenic or is smoking crack.
And pack is bleating RAND PAUL! RAND PAUL! so many times, he's clearly trying to convince himself. He's surely not winning anyone else over with his spammer-like behavior.
Besides, Paul's not even a Libertarian. He belongs to one of those "statist" parties pack claims to despise. But this kind of inconsistency should not be surprising coming from the compulsive troll who spends his entire day goofing off from his government job to come here and rave about how awful the government is.
dustyrhoades 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Oh, and since I'll be working the rest of the day, and since I know the usual pack of idiots will be grunting their usual "no YOU are!' responses, here's some PeeWees to tide you over.
by dustyrhoades
by dustyrhoades
by dustyrhoades
packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Dusty ~ Awwwwwwww!!!!
by Randy
JimHeim 3 months, 3 weeks ago
afchief - Your contempt for military family members suggests one of two things -
You've never served and are simply lying about service. Wouldn't surprise me;
Your ex-wife dumped you and took half of your pension. That one really wouldn't surprise me. If that's the case, the poor woman deserved every penny - and more.
It's been decades since the DOD referred to us as 'dependents.' Any actual active duty member would know that.
Finally, my wife was only active duty for 25-years, far less than half my life. Being wrong must be a hobby for you.
AFCHIEF 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Heim no contempt for military dependents and yes as of today they still call spouses and children dependents. Matter of fact standing right here on Ft Bragg doing one of my 3 jobs since I retired from the Air Force talking to an Army Major and yes his wife is called a dependent. Matter of fact the brown ID card still says dependent. So get YOUR facts right.
JimHeim 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Yours might, but mine doesn't. In fact mine (issued by the United States Government) says my relationship is spouse. The word dependent is nowhere on the card.
Check official DOD memos. You will see repeated references to 'family members and dependents.'
I think you're a phony!
AFCHIEF 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Heim I do not need to prove my military service to you at all so you can accuse me of being a phony all you want
dustyrhoades 3 months, 3 weeks ago
afchief - Your contempt for military family members suggests one of two things - You've never served and are simply lying about service. Wouldn't surprise me; Your ex-wife dumped you and took half of your pension. That one really wouldn't surprise me. If that's the case, the poor woman deserved every penny - and more.
I seem to recall seeing Mr, Sledz' name on a family court docket not long ago. Maybe I'll pull the file and have a look while I'm over there tomorrow. Public records, you know....
dentman65 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I used to look forward to reading intelligent input into today's problems and learning about modern events from people who have a greater knowledge of it than I, but this thread is frustrating and I hope we all are truly better people and better Americans than this. There is way too much testosterone in this room for me. Call me a weenie or wimp and it may be appropriate. I wonder if this is how it is behind the doors of the Senate or the House in the "Jerry Springer" D.C. that we love to chatise so.
JimRussell44 3 months, 3 weeks ago
AFCHIEF, so your still suckling at the government teat, is that what your saying?
AFCHIEF 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Jimruss I EARNED my retirement check from the Air Force unlike your liberal base of voters who WA NT THEIR FREE MONEY from the govt for doing nothing. Big difference!
JimRussell44 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Oh.I have no doubt you earned your government retirement checks. I'm sure you were a good little soldier and did what you were told. You deserve that reward. My comment about STILL suckling at the government teat was directed at your job that places you at Ft. Bragg talking with Army brass. Guess you would be SOL if it were not for your government jobs, you know, the ones funded by taxpayers dollars that all you conservatives want to stop so we can balance the budget. Oh, that's right, you want to increase spending on the military. Here is an idea, let's put everyone who is out of work into the military, that way the right would jump at the chance to increase spending in that area, the unemployed would have a job and all the social programs you guys hate could be shut down. Problem solved and everyone is happy. Hey, this idea got you off the street more than 30 years ago, it could work for everyone else today.