House GOP skirts debt-ceiling drama, can now focus on spending cuts
As I suggested last week, congressional Republicans don’t have to play around with the debt ceiling in order to make sure spending is cut during the next two months. And it appears that approach is more or less what they’re doing. From the Washington Post:
As House Republicans prepared to vote Wednesday on a plan to suspend the debt limit, Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan made clear that the party is in no way abandoning its uncompromising approach to the budget battle with President Obama.
Republicans will insist that automatic spending cuts take effect March 1 unless other cuts are adopted, Ryan said. They may force a shutdown of the government on March 27 unless Democrats agree to additional cuts. And they will demand that any future increase in the debt limit – likely to be necessary this summer if the measure to suspend the current debt limit is adopted — be paired dollar-for-dollar with spending cuts or other reforms.
“We have a sequester kicking in on March 1, a continuing resolution [on the budget] expiring on March the 27. We have budgets that, if the Senate decides to do its job this year, will come out in April,” Ryan said Wednesday at a breakfast with reporters. “These are the kind of points we think force the kind of conversation we think we have to have.”
The suspension of the debt ceiling passed, although I would have much preferred to see a raise for a specific amount of money rather than time. But I still like the general tactic of taking the debt ceiling — and nonstop cries about defaulting on the debt — out of the discussion and relying on the sequester to force the action on spending cuts.
The question now is whether we’ll get the sequester, some other kind of cuts (preferably the kind that address the long-term solvency of entitlements), or whether the House GOP will lose its nerve.
– By Kyle Wingfield
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
117 comments Add your comment
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 24th, 2013
1:47 pm
“Actually, disgustingly American…”
In what way, shape or form is the desire for someone else’s property you didn’t work for considered “American”, barking frog?
sailfish
January 24th, 2013
1:48 pm
kyle
The republicans are giving themselves more time to do what? Same issues right back at them in three months. What is it exactly that they are gaining here?
By the way, please keep your hands off of our social security, that’s a non-starter.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 24th, 2013
1:53 pm
Come on angry white Conservatives, get your anger out now. Only 4 hours left until Kyle shuts down your embarrassing meltdowns again.
barking frog
January 24th, 2013
1:56 pm
Tiberius
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
In what way, shape or form is the desire for someone else’s property you didn’t work for considered “American”, barking frog?
………………………………………………………….
Georgia Lottery for one, inheritance another…
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 24th, 2013
1:57 pm
“By the way, please keep your hands off of our social security, that’s a non-starter.”
Reforming a program that doesn’t pay for itself is a non-starter, sailfish?
sailfish
January 24th, 2013
1:59 pm
tiberius
I’m all for reform as in getting rid of the cap; cutting the program in any way shape or form? NO.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 24th, 2013
2:00 pm
“Georgia Lottery for one, inheritance another…”
You have a strange way of seeing the world, barking frog.
No one forces you to buy lottery tickets, and inheritance is freely given within the family, which means you’re not trying to get something you didn’t earn.
sailfish
January 24th, 2013
2:05 pm
tiberius
So both dems and repubs have been borrowing from the social security trust to fund their budget whimsies. When it comes to being paid back, we the people should be first in line!
barking frog
January 24th, 2013
2:07 pm
Tiberius
No one forces you to buy lottery tickets, and inheritance is freely given within the family, which means you’re not trying to get something you didn’t earn.
………………………………………………………………………..
greed makes you buy the lotto ticket even if you excuse it as helping education.
I’ve never known anyone who actually earned an inheritance as it would be
called compensation, if so..
barking frog
January 24th, 2013
2:11 pm
Tiberius
You have a strange way of seeing the world, barking frog.
………………………………………………………………..
original American background probably…..
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 24th, 2013
2:13 pm
So you believe that government should maintain any program at it’s current levels, even if that program cannot fund itself, sailfish?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 24th, 2013
2:16 pm
“greed makes you buy the lotto ticket even if you excuse it as helping education.”
I’m greedy, but I don’t buy lottery tickets. And “greed” doesn’t make anyone buy anything.
“I’ve never known anyone who actually earned an inheritance as it would be
called compensation, if so..”
I think that anyone who sticks by their family and friends for life through thick and thin earns any inheritance they might get.
sailfish
January 24th, 2013
2:22 pm
tiberius
Social security was saved in the eighties by reagan and just needs some tweaking to stay 100% solvent, it can in fact fund itself and will be in better shape after the boomers are extinct.
barking frog
January 24th, 2013
2:23 pm
Tiberius 2:16
You may be right.
curious
January 24th, 2013
2:25 pm
Aesop’s Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
“Does it amaze anyone else that the liberals can hate capitalism with a purple passion and cheer on the stock market in the very next breath?”
Most liberals love the USA and want success for the Nation and its people.
Georgia, The "New Mississippi"
January 24th, 2013
2:39 pm
Obama will let the sequester take effect. He can an most likely will ask agency heads to submit plans to the White house for their proposed cuts and offer some “guidance”. He can then hope they are stupid enough to shut the government down on March 27th. The GOP Congressman have signed to many pledges with people that do not live in their states, are not eligible to vote in their states , and pay no taxes in their states to effectively serve our nation.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 24th, 2013
2:46 pm
“Social security was saved in the eighties by reagan and just needs some tweaking to stay 100% solvent, it can in fact fund itself and will be in better shape after the boomers are extinct.”
Incorrect, sailfish.
You’re relying on Congress being able to pay back into SS that which they have taken out. There is ZERO indication they will do that, or have any intention of doing so.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 24th, 2013
3:00 pm
“Most liberals love the USA and want success for the Nation and its people.”
——-
That’s not how they vote though.
Bruno
January 24th, 2013
3:03 pm
It’s amusing to read posts by people claiming to know what Democrats think, feel, and want, when it’s clear from the absurdity of their posts they’ve never stopped yammering their lame, right-wing stereotypes and parroted daily talking points long enough to ever actually LISTEN to a Democrat (if they even know one) in their lives. Mildly amusing, in a sad way, that is. Not HaHa! funny.
Matz–I’m not sure why you think conservatives are so unaware of the thoughts, feelings and wants of liberals. For starters, YOU (along with 50+ other Libs) put your thoughts, feelings and wants out here everyday on the blog. And though it may shock you to know, every hard-core Con has plenty of Libs in their personal lives, whether friends, girlfirends, wives or husbands. Most importantaly, we live in a liberal society, in which virtuallly the entire media and school systems from the elementary level to the university level are dominated by liberal thought.
Apparently you missed the segment on Bill O’Reilly last night where he cited a recent study in which 23% of liberals claimed they ended a relationship due to political differences vs 15% of conservatives who did the same. He cited the study to once again draw attention to the fact that liberals are nowhere as tolerant as they claim to be. On his panel was a Democrat representative who admitted that the study matched her personal experience. Her theory, like mine above, focused on the fact that we live in such a liberal society with full indoctrination from the earliest of ages that anyone who thinks differently (Cons) seem odd and out of place.
Finally, Matz, I don’t recall you being especially sensitive to the thoughts, feelings and wants of any Cons here. In most cases, you get what you give.
Politico
January 24th, 2013
3:07 pm
“In most cases, you get what you give.”
True statement as long as you understand it is a two way street when using the “lib” and “con” argument which is some of the broadest of brushes that can be used her daily. Both sides use it well and frequently.
sailfish
January 24th, 2013
3:18 pm
“There is ZERO indication they will do that, or have any intention of doing so.”
We the people are their bosses, they will toe the line or be replaced – count on it!
Jefferson
January 24th, 2013
3:21 pm
Cuts to defense and revenue increases, the only solution to the problem.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 24th, 2013
3:31 pm
Progs want to cut defense (an actual responsibility of government) so they can keep buying the votes of their parasite base.
I thought liberals wanted their nation and people to be successful.
Jefferson
January 24th, 2013
3:45 pm
Until then, just pout, cry, wine whatever — jack.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 24th, 2013
3:56 pm
“We the people are their bosses, they will toe the line or be replaced – count on it!”
And that has work – how, sailfish?
NONE of them, Republican nor Democrat, has a plan or intention to pay SS back.
And they keep getting re-elected at about an 85% rate.
Michael H. Smith
January 24th, 2013
4:00 pm
Progs want to cut defense?
For some strange reason I never thought of Ron Paul as being a pee-gressive.
Michael H. Smith
January 24th, 2013
4:10 pm
Remember Kyle, obama lost “ALL” moral high ground on this issue of raising the debt ceiling when he was a Senator and gave his extremely partisan political grandstanding speech….
Senator obama 2006 ~ I rise today to talk about America’s debt problem.
The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies.
Over the past 5 years, our federal debt has increased by $3.5 trillion to $8.6 trillion. That is “trillion” with a “T.” That is money that we have borrowed from the Social Security trust fund, borrowed from China and Japan, borrowed from American taxpayers. And over the next 5 years, between now and 2011, the President’s budget will increase the debt by almost another $3.5 trillion…
Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that “the buck stops here.” Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.
I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit.
Michael H. Smith
January 24th, 2013
4:19 pm
Excuse me, Mr. obama, where exactly did you say that buck stopped?!
Bruno
January 24th, 2013
4:28 pm
Oh, and BTW, Matz, as long as we’re talking about sensitivity towards others feelings, you might take a moment to talk to some of your Lib cohorts who have acted like total jackasses ever since the election (We won, nyah-nyah-nyah).
Dusty
January 24th, 2013
5:12 pm
I”m not exactly clear on how these moves we are discussing are supposed to work.(OK, so I”m no genius on government activity in Washington.)
Exactly how does a sequester work? Just overlook debt? How do you manage that?
How can the House get the Senate to make budget cuts when Harry Reid doesn’t read what they send? Just rejects it.
How are we to get a budget passed when Obama has never made one that the House & Senate will pass?
All I’ve seen so far is roadblocks and blockheads.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 24th, 2013
5:14 pm
For some strange reason I never thought of Ron Paul as being a pee-gressive.
—————
All progs want to cut defense, but not all who want to cut defense are progs.
md
January 24th, 2013
5:25 pm
“I’ve never known anyone who actually earned an inheritance as it would be
called compensation, if so..”
The money given as an inheritance was earned so nothing else matters. I think some are just ticked because they don’t get any of it.
These same folks probably complained because little Suzie got a $10 allowance and all they got was $1………..
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
January 24th, 2013
5:26 pm
Seems to me the libs so hate inheritance because they have never developed the discipline to resist the instant gratification syndrome and they despise those who have. Must be hard to admit to your children, that you had a great time, but spent it all, while they watch other people’s children get a little boost in income. The lib philosophy plays out daily in the Congress as the Dems keep spending and refuse to address our debt and deficit.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 24th, 2013
5:28 pm
Dusty, the sequester (spending cuts) are already law. The House, Senate, and Obozo already signed off on it back in 2011. The question now is whether Congress will take action to undo these spending cuts.
Do nothing and spending is cut. Real Americans win.
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
January 24th, 2013
5:37 pm
Finn, 2 wars and a crooked prescription drug program, instituted by the GOP? Well, one question, Barry had the House and Senate for two years and he never fulfilled his promise of ending the two wars, and he found some reason to double down on Medicare part D. So, before you incorrectly attribute these additions to the national debt to GWB, remember we have 4+ more years of these expenditures, since Barry failed to keep his campaign promises.
Barry has increased the National Debt by 6 T dollars in only four years.
Matz… I believe it was you who said how do the Cons think they know what the Libs want. Well, Jefferson demonstrated exactly what I said about Dems thinking the problem is not enough revenue.
Jefferson
Cuts to defense and revenue increases, the only solution to the problem.
No need to make this stuff up!
Skip
January 24th, 2013
5:39 pm
I thought all spending bills had to go thru the Republican controlled house, guess I was wrong.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 24th, 2013
5:40 pm
Obozo also promised to end Our President Bush’s tax cuts even before they were set to expire in 2010. Now, they’re PERMANENT.
Who says Real Americans never give Obozo credit for anything?
md
January 24th, 2013
5:44 pm
Yep, I’ve never understood the bruhaha about inheritance. If a family makes a lot of money (or just some money), and takes a nice family vacation every year costing many thousands of dollars and has nothing in the bank when they die, then that is OK.
But if the family next door takes zero vacations and saves all that money for later then for some reason some folks on the left think they are entitled to some of it…..makes no sense.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 24th, 2013
5:44 pm
Rafe – That “2 credit card wars” was rachel maddow speaking through finn. You don’t really think he came up with that on his own, do you?
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 24th, 2013
5:45 pm
some folks on the left think they are entitled to some of it
———————-
You misspelled “scumbags”.
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
January 24th, 2013
5:49 pm
Aesop
Finn is a fine boy, just keeps repeating things he hears, in a repetitious manner.
redweather
January 24th, 2013
5:50 pm
I support cutting the bloated defense budget as well as corporate welfare like subsidies to the fossil fuel industry and to millionaire agribusinesses.
Archibald Leach
January 24th, 2013
5:57 pm
I thought the House GOP’s number one focus was creating jobs?
md
January 24th, 2013
6:07 pm
“You misspelled “scumbags”.”
I prefer not to take the low road……
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 24th, 2013
6:11 pm
I thought the House GOP’s number one focus was creating jobs?
————————-
Unemployment is down since the GOP won the House. You’re welcome.
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
January 24th, 2013
6:30 pm
The best way to create jobs is to balance the federal budget or at least reduce the deficit, the GOP House has been passing budgets with that in mind for the past three years, the Dem Senate has been on budget vacation for four years.
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
January 24th, 2013
6:37 pm
One more item discussed earlier, someone said inheritance is not earned. You haven’t watched many families struggle for years trying to take care on an invalid parent, or one with Alzheimers that lingers for years and years, have you.
What has government done to earn that money? Did they send a person to sit with that parent and hold their hand, and listen to their complaints, help them through their suffering, and sit with them on their death bed waiting for the end?
getalife
January 24th, 2013
6:50 pm
This thing still on.?
What about that leverage Kyle?
Lowering the deficit is part of his agenda so you are heard and will see action like that 4 trillion cut the President already put on the table.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 24th, 2013
6:55 pm
getalife – Is bookman still saying the dummycrats aren’t after our guns?
Hillbilly D
January 24th, 2013
6:56 pm
someone said inheritance is not earned.
Doesn’t matter if it’s earned or not, people have a right to leave whatever possessions they have to whomever they damn well please.
It’s a totally moot point, though. Anybody who dies with a large amount of assets/money has the knowledge, where-with-all, and means to evade any kind of estate taxes. The only people who wind up paying estate taxes are small business people/family farmers, trying to pass the business/farm on to their kids. Is there really anybody naive enough to believe that any Kennedy, Rockerfeller, Gates, Bush, Buffett, etc family members will ever pay a dime in inheritance taxes?