Austin Scott joins Georgia Republicans in favor of John Boehner debt-ceiling plan
Over the course of the day, we’ll try to keep up with where Georgia’s Republicans are on House Speaker John Boehner’s debt-ceiling/deficit reduction plan, which will probably be voted on after the markets close today.
Some of you have wondered why we’re not counting Democrats. They’ve pretty much lined up against the legislation — this is primarily an internal GOP fight. At this point, we count five Republicans in favor, three against.
A 6 p.m. vote has been postponed while Boehner’s troops collect votes. Consider every vote essential:
U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Coweta County, indicates he’s ready to support House Speaker John Boehner’s debt-ceiling plan. Bob Andres, bandres@ajc.com
– Lynn Westmoreland of Coweta County: This morning, he indicated he’s a “yes” vote.
“Having looked at the whole thing, I think we did make some positive adjustments with a few little changes we made. It looks like we’re getting about 60 percent of what the [Paul] Ryan budget did. We are stopping the growth, changing the baseline,” Westmoreland told Jamie Dupree of AM750 and 95.5FM News/Talk WSB. “While we’re still heading toward the iceberg, we are turning the Titanic a little bit.”
– Tom Graves of Ranger: A strong no vote. “Compromise is what’s led us to the mess we’re in right now. We can’t compromise our way out of this,” Ranger said in a Wednesday morning C-SPAN defense of his decision to oppose the Boehner plan
– Paul Broun of Athens: A strong no.
– Tom Price of Roswell: In an interview with Rob Johnson on WGST (640AM) this morning, Price strongly hinted that he’ll vote for the revised debt-ceiling/deficit reduction package pitched by House Speaker John Boehner – if he can be assured that House Republicans will be allowed to vote on a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget on Friday.
“Companioned with a balance budget amendment,” Price said, “That’s a reasonable course of action at this time.” The congressman, of course, added that the Boehner package doesn’t include as many budget cuts that he’d ideally like to see.
– Austin Scott of Tifton: Listed as “leaning yes” by The Hill newspaper in Washington. “I’m looking forward to reading the final draft, checking the numbers and everything in it. But I’ll tell you this: The speaker’s got a lot more votes than the people who don’t want it to pass say he has,” Scott said Wednesday in an interview with Jamie Dupree of AM750 and 95.5FM News/Talk WSB.
Scott said he is most worried about the impact that federal government’s inability to pay its bills would have on the economy. “The longest way out of this recession is to allow the default – so that’s not an option, in my opinion,” he said.
CNN lists Scott as one of the most heavily lobbied targets of Boehner’s leadership team.
At 8:20 p.m., Dupree had this quote from Scott:
“It is the most responsible option and I plan to vote for it tonight.”
– Jack Kingston of Savannah: Listed as undecided by Hotline and The Hill newspaper. But this morning, Kingston indicated he, too, will back the Boehner plan:
“I think it’s the last chance we have to do something sane,” Kingston said in an interview with Frank Barnas of Newstalk105.9 WVGA in Valdosta. “What I don’t want to be in next week is, you’re past the deadline, the Social Security checks, the veterans’ checks get put on hold, the market drops 500 points – then what we’ll see is a panic by the politicians in Washington to, okay, raise the debt ceiling $3 trillion and no strings attached.”
– Phil Gingrey of Marietta: Decidedly no.
– Rob Woodall of Lawrenceville: In a test vote this afternoon, Woodall indicated in a floor speech that he should be considered a “yes” vote.
“This bill does not do everything I want it to do,” he said. “But do you know what this does do? This says we’re not going to increase the credit line by a penny unless we’re cutting a penny, too.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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176 comments Add your comment
RGB
July 28th, 2011
6:37 pm
Shut ‘er down boys.
They couldn’t get their way so they took their toys and headed for the house.
Tired and Sick
July 28th, 2011
7:12 pm
No you lost the election in a landslide to Obama and you have done everything in your power to ensure that he fails in leading the country out of the ditch that your people got us into -again. Republicans for decades have run on the same platform for running the government. Cut taxes and watch the deficit climb as a result. Also watch the unemployment rate rise as with Reagan. Vote for defense budgets that far surpass that which is necessary or in many cases more than what the pentagon requests. Do everything in your power to cut programs that are designed to help the least among us. What is particularly galling is to watch hawks like Limbaugh, Cheney, Boortz, Hannity, Rove etc etc etc rush to send our guys and gals to serve across the water but they themselves never served a day. Limbaugh’s pimple on his butt- kept him out- Cheney got 5 FIVE deferments to keep his worthless butt stateside and never saw the benefit of serving in the guard or reserve. Not one. But they are hell bent to send America’s children in wars that are not necessary and love to beat their chest to show how brave they are. What cowards they are.
Tired and Sick
July 28th, 2011
7:19 pm
It is your phony legislators that have decided that it will be their way or you will shut the government down. Have at it boys and girls and pay the price- because you will. I promise you that.
gm
July 28th, 2011
8:11 pm
Amazing, I dont hear the talk what would Reagan do anymore: He is only their God when things are not going their way, debt ceiling raised 17 times under him, Oh I forgot Obama is not their white hero on a horse.
The tea party are the worst Americans since the Klan was created, they rather see people suffer then work with the President of the United States.
Oh, but wait now, if we get another attack like 911 the hypocrites on the right
will pull the American flag out and sang Dixie and cry I love every body.
The world is watching a bunch of selfish, Un Americans on the right, it is hard to tell these tea party bigots who hate the President from the Terriost.
Kwanishalafita
July 28th, 2011
8:23 pm
– Rob Woodall of Lawrenceville: In a test vote this afternoon, Woodall indicated in a floor speech that he should be considered a “yes” vote.
“This says we’re not going to increase the credit line by a penny unless we’re cutting a penny, too.”
Rob it sounds like you’re wavering. Linder didn’t teach you like that. Don’t you realize the “cutting a penny” promise never happens?
P.S. gm you are a complete moron.
td
July 28th, 2011
8:30 pm
Frederick Douglass
July 28th, 2011
5:22 pm
And what has Obama done in three years to bring the jobs back? What did a super majority in both houses do to bring back jobs to the US for two years?
Do you not understand that this economy is changing from an industrial based economy to a technology driven, financial services based economy? There are plenty of jobs making good money in the tech fields. Since 1990 Microsoft has created 3 billionaires and 400 millionaires, Google has created 2 billionaires and over 200 millionaires, Cisco, oracle, 1 billionaire and can we mention the 27 year old billionaire from Facebook. How many other people have become successful at developing applications from these businesses? There is money to be made for the people that want to get an education and the middle class is not hurting.
What is hurting is people that want to have a production line union jobs. How can you blame a corporations? Production line work is not difficult and does not take a lot of skills or education. Companies are paying a union production line worker at GM $50 per hour (with benefits) and can get the same skill set in Mexico for $7 per hour. This keeps their stock rising and as a result keeps the majority of the middle classes 401K rising
Tired and Sick
July 28th, 2011
8:36 pm
Kwanishalafita Naw I think GM nailed them and you pretty well.
td
July 28th, 2011
8:37 pm
gm
July 28th, 2011
8:11 pm
Here you go again seeing everything through those race colored glasses. It has to be hard living with that huge chip on you shoulder.
This fight is not about Obama being half-black. This is about stopping Socialism in its tracks. It is time for Free enterprise to come back to American and the nanny state socialist to go back into the closet.
td
July 28th, 2011
8:45 pm
Tired and Sick
July 28th, 2011
7:19 pm
I do not usually call people names on this board but dead gumit man you have to be dumb as a box of rocks. How many times has RS asked for the plan from the Democrats and you still rant and rave about the Republicans allowing us to go over a cliff. Where is the plan from the President? Were is the Democratic controlled Senate plan? They have not even passed a “clean” debt ceiling plan. The Republican controlled house has passed a plan that the Senate will not even call for a vote. They will probably pass another plan tonight that the Senate is saying is dead on arrival. SO who now is letting the country go over the cliff?
BTW: The house passed a budget earlier this year and the Senate has not passed on in 3 years. Why?
Tired and Sick
July 28th, 2011
8:48 pm
Yeah that good old free enterprise has done so much for the american worker these past years. Let’s see- sending jobs overseas; whining about not being able to get their money back into the country without cost; huge layoffs; hoarding so much cash that they have to buy back stock; took the country to the cleaners with those pesky criminals on wall street; new whine is that american business does not need regulation, they can self police; continue to line up more pimps to pay congressmen to get more subsidies and more government cash at the trough. Yeah they are doing just fine for themselves.
Tired and Sick
July 28th, 2011
9:01 pm
td It is not the Presidents’ job to produce the list of cuts to be made- it is after all a bill coming out of the House as I recall. Is that not correct?? he has offered to agree to a 3 to 1 ratio on cuts to revenue increases on the very wealthy. That is a very good plan to me.
td
July 28th, 2011
9:02 pm
Tired and Sick
July 28th, 2011
8:48 pm
Wall street and corporate america are two totally different things. Corporate america is mostly run by Republicans and Wall street mostly by Democrats.
Low skill, low education jobs are being sent overseas because it is cheaper and maximises the stock prices of companies. You want to see low skill jobs come back then do away with the unions. There is no way a company can justify paying a person putting tires on a car $50 per hour.
Tired and Sick
July 28th, 2011
9:06 pm
Yeah you guys are already starting that theme in Ohio and Wis and others and payback will be hell next election pal.
Madison
July 28th, 2011
9:08 pm
“Denigration of the full faith and credit of the United States would have substantial effects on the domestic financial markets and the value of the dollar in exchange markets. The nation can ill afford to allow such a result.” Ronald Reagan
td
July 28th, 2011
9:09 pm
Tired and Sick
July 28th, 2011
9:01 pm
Where are the cuts at? I have not seen any. The CBO can not score a press conference. The President is suppose to present a budget to the Congress every year. Obama’s budget was presented and it was voted down 97-0 by the Democratic controlled Senate. The President can offer legislation anytime he wants too. The House control appropriations of money and that is all that has to originate from the house.
Tired and Sick
July 28th, 2011
9:18 pm
The job of the House is to send a bill to the senate and the President either signs or vetos it. In your case he will veto it if it passes the senate.
td
July 28th, 2011
9:20 pm
Tired and Sick
July 28th, 2011
9:18 pm
Please show me where that is in the Constitution?
WMD
July 28th, 2011
9:24 pm
There is no reason on earth for the lumping together of the debt ceiling increase and the necessity to deal with reducing the deficit. Your good old boys have linked them for the politics effect and your goal now is to drag out the discussion for the next 16 months. You are a sad bunch of Americans who lost an election in 08 and cannot stand it- have not been able to stand it since then. AND he won in a landslide against your good old boy McCain and his idiot VP candidate. I would not vote for any of your Repukes if you put a gun to my head. You don’t deserve to nor know how to lead this country.
tell the truth
July 28th, 2011
9:30 pm
td If you are that dumb we are not gonna see much progress on your part. If you think that only what is written in the Constitution is what can happen then God help you.
SmittyATL
July 28th, 2011
9:30 pm
I’m proud of the Tea Party movement for initiating substantive change in Washington. They upset the status quo, and somehow managed to put the brakes on Washington’s runaway spending. It’s truly remarkable that now virtually every left-wing liberal — from Harry Reid to Obama himself — is now talking about HOW to cut spending, and by how much, rather than continuing to push for even more gluttony.
I believe the fiscal conservatives have extracted about as much as they possibly can from this round. It’s time to cut a deal and move forward to fight another day. The job is far, far from over.
td
July 28th, 2011
9:32 pm
“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”
Senator Barack Obama
Senate Floor Speech on Public Debt
March 16, 2006
Madison
July 28th, 2011
9:32 pm
Art. I Sec 6
All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
where are those WMD Cheney?
July 28th, 2011
9:36 pm
SmittyATL Your tea party boot lickers will pay a heavy price in 2012- you better believe that. And the tea party itself will live in infamy.
td
July 28th, 2011
9:41 pm
WMD
July 28th, 2011
9:24 pm
“I would not vote for any of your Repukes if you put a gun to my head”
Why would you make such a statement when we all know you love your messiah and think he has done no wrong and plan on voting for him as many times as you can.
where are those WMD Cheney?
July 28th, 2011
9:42 pm
td were you born racist or naturally evolve into one?
tell the truth
July 28th, 2011
9:50 pm
I suspect they will all have challengers in both partys next year
Proud Moderate
July 28th, 2011
9:51 pm
Tom Graves, Phil Gingrey, and Paul Broun are all right wing fanatics who will allow our US credit rating to go under and sacrifice our fragile economy just to protect the richest 1% of people. They are domestic terrorists bent on ruining our country for their own narrow aims. The right wing tea baggers are scary extremists who are in a small minority. Let’s cut spending, raise taxes on the richest 1%, get rid of tax loop holes for oil companies, and work towards a balanced budget.
Let’s not forget that G.W. Bush took over a prosperous America from the highly successful Clinton and ran our economy into the ground. Clinton left office with a federal surplus, a 4.4% unemployment rate, DOW Jones over 10K, and no wars. Bush left office with us on the brink of a depression, the DOW at 6900, 8% unemployment, and 2 wars (one of which cost us a trillion and wasn’t necessary). Of course, right wingers want us to forget Bush’s disaster, but we still suffer the repercussions of it. Plus, if we forget his failed policies, we risk repeating them.
Even Reagan would be blast the right wing fanatics for their irresponsibility.
td
July 28th, 2011
9:57 pm
where are those WMD Cheney?
July 28th, 2011
9:42 pm
You are just to funny. I guess since you are an Obama supporter then you are a communist, Muslim terrorist.
tell the truth
July 28th, 2011
9:59 pm
Phil Gingrey is as useless as they come and would not know leadership if it bit him in the butt. He has never had an original idea in his entire life. He is a typical Republican congressman that only cares about being re-elected and taking care of those with money. He is a joke as a congressman and I cannot wait to vote against him in 2012.
Proud Moderate
July 28th, 2011
9:59 pm
Also, Bush oversaw a 86% increase in deficit spending during his 8 years in office, yet no Republicans were calling for a balanced budget then. They passed a tax break and put it on credit. They supported the Iraq war (unnecessary) and put it on credit. Now these same idiots are calling for a balanced budget. Hello, are you really serious? We spent 2 trillion on wars, and now you want to throw grandma on the street? I have a better idea, Let’s throw the tea bagger Congress members on the street instead. At a minimum, they need to take a 50% pay cut and get rid of 50% of their expenditures, staff, etc. to show they have an ounce of intergrity (which they don’t of course).
td
July 28th, 2011
10:00 pm
Proud Moderate
July 28th, 2011
9:51 pm
Don’t forget to mention that the Clinton economy was built on the back of the Community investment act that caused the housing bubble and caused the recession.
td
July 28th, 2011
10:02 pm
tell the truth
July 28th, 2011
9:59 pm
I guess I will just have to cancel your vote. I am also willing to bet you every penny I have and my cat that Phil gets re elected by more than 60% of the vote next year.
tell the truth
July 28th, 2011
10:02 pm
td You really do have a problem with your memory don’t you. That is just so sad. Can’t do anything for that??
tell the truth
July 28th, 2011
10:04 pm
Of course he will be re-elected . Look at who is in his district? It takes one to know and vote for one.
tell the truth
July 28th, 2011
10:07 pm
He still is a useless man and a coward for voting to pawn these future cuts only on the backs of the poor and elderly.
td
July 28th, 2011
10:09 pm
tell the truth
July 28th, 2011
10:04 pm
Yes it takes a good American loving conservative to vote for another. Unlike, a terrorist loving communist that will vote for Obama.
td
July 28th, 2011
10:11 pm
tell the truth
July 28th, 2011
10:07 pm
There are no real poor in this country and nothing that has been voted on will effect the elderly. Please quit the scare tactics.
Real Athens
July 28th, 2011
10:18 pm
TD:
You’re high on glue. “The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA, Pub.L. 95-128, title VIII of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1977, 91 Stat. 1147, 12 U.S.C. § 2901 et seq.) is a United States federal law designed to encourage commercial banks and savings associations to help meet the needs of borrowers in all segments of their communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.Congress passed the Act in 1977 to reduce discriminatory credit practices against low-income neighborhoods, a practice known as redlining.”
It has been revised by every administration since George H.W. Bush.
“No real poor in this country”?
Why? ‘Cause the Heritage Foundation told you? You’re living under a rock.
td
July 28th, 2011
10:30 pm
Real Athens
July 28th, 2011
10:18 pm
“Why? ‘Cause the Heritage Foundation told you? You’re living under a rock”
Define poor and please compare the poor with the rest of the world.
Our so called poor live in places with heat, AC, running water. Most have multiple TV’s, IPODs, cell phones cable and more than enough food to eat. Food Stamps for a family of 4 with no income is $668 per month. That is more money then the average person in 100 countries make in a year. When you add FS, Medicaid, TANF, WIC, Energy assistance, Child support and a 20 hour part time job at minimum wage then the income of most of our poor is equal to the upper middle class of the vast majority of people in the rest of the world.
tell the truth
July 28th, 2011
10:35 pm
td No real poor in this country?? You really are ignorant aren’t you?? So the future cuts to medicare and medicaid and to SS and SSI will not affect the poor and elderly?
Please please inform us of your knowledge- we wait with bated breath.
Proud Moderate
July 28th, 2011
10:40 pm
Enter your comments here
Black Conservative
July 28th, 2011
10:40 pm
Westmoreland is a goon and is your typically Republican of convenience. Remember when he was pushing for the 10 Commandments to be posted in all the federal buildings (courts)? Then when he was asked to recite the 10 Commandments, he failed miserably!!! What meaningful piece of legislation has he written? Yet, he gets rubber stamped back into office every year by the good ole folks of Coweta county.
Up in the clouds
July 28th, 2011
10:42 pm
td The Americans don’t live in other countries clem- they live here. Why don’t you try living on $688 a month pal??? You are a real piece of work. The air up there must really be something where you are. You typify those in the Republican party who think they are so smart and in truth are sadly too ignorant to realize how silly they sound. The real surprise is that God cares about that poor person trying to raise 3 children in a one room apt on $688 a month just as much as He cares about you. He is not a respector of persons you see and is certainly not that impressed with your house or your job or your bank account. But He does care about whether you love Him and your neighbor. Do you love your neighbor td?? Do you??.Because He knows what is in your heart in spite of what you say.
SmittyATL
July 28th, 2011
10:44 pm
Many of us DID vocally object to the deficit spending during the GW Bush years, and openly questioned many of his policies and his MO. I don’t take issue with Obama because of his race, his father’s religion, or his party; rather, I strenuously object to his vision for the nation, his association with many people of dubious character, and his pandering to various persons and groups who wish to knock America down a peg.
I’m not a cheerleader for either party; I want what’s best for our country. It’s obvious that many Republicans are inept and many are unethical — same for the Democrats. Unfortunately, the Democratic party has completely lost its way and has generally embraced a vision of a European-style socialist America. If you want economy-stifling taxation, nationalized industry, and crippling government debt, vote for the politicians who share your view. Since America has historically attained prosperity through entrepreneurship and individual freedom, I’ll vote for the politicians who embrace that vision.
Black Conservative
July 28th, 2011
10:46 pm
Georgia has serious issues with education, employment and infrastructure that need to be addressed. All of these have either stayed the same or gotten worse since the Republicans at both the state, congressional and senatorial levels have had a majority.
Proud Moderate
July 28th, 2011
10:47 pm
TD:
Just shave your head, carry your uzi everywhere you go, and move to an anarchy compound in Northern Idaho. You’re in la-la land when it comes to reality. Typical of tea baggers. You’re probably on disability like many tea baggers.
td
July 28th, 2011
10:49 pm
tell the truth
July 28th, 2011
10:35 pm
Now who looking “ignorant”? Did I not state the facts and are my facts not correct? Please point out exactly where I was wrong?
Will those programs get cut or will they just not be allowed to grow as fast as they currently do? Also, I have not seen one proposal for cutting the amount of benefits in any of the programs. I have seen proposals about raising the age limit or changing the eligibility requirements for someof the programs.
B. Thenet
July 28th, 2011
10:50 pm
Obama should send the House GOP members some flowers, now the Democrats are going to look like heroes when they get bipartisan support for their plan which will look very much like Boehner’s
Real Athens
July 28th, 2011
10:50 pm
TD:
Your point? You’d like the U.S. to be more like India? Somalia? Maybe even Afghanistan?
You’re sick.
Oh, like I said: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/07/what-is-poverty
Black Conservative
July 28th, 2011
10:51 pm
Hey folks here is a secret….When Pres. Obama was a Senator, he voted against raising the debt ceiling in 2006. How did Gingrey, Price, Westmoreland and others vote….yep you guessed it.