Scary Stuff

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This below post titled “No Compromise” is from my friend Marc Schulman’s blog “The American Future” (http://www.americanfuture.net/).  It truly is scary stuff. 
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No Compromise

When I was growing up, I pledged allegiance to the United States of America. Not so for 40 of our senators and 115 of our representatives, who are co-sponsors of this pledge:

I pledge to urge my Senators and Member of the House of Representatives to oppose any debt limit increase unless all three of the following conditions have been met:

  1. Cut – Substantial cuts in spending that will reduce the deficit next year and thereafter.
  2. Cap – Enforceable spending caps that will put federal spending on a path to a balanced budget.
  3. Balance – Congressional passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution — but only if it includes both a spending limitation and a super-majority for raising taxes, in addition to balancing revenues and expenses.
A list of the sponsoring senators and of upwards of 100 sponsoring organizations can be found here. Sponsoring representatives are here.

The Cut, Cap and Balance coalition isn’t happy with Speaker Boehner’s plan:
The Cut, Cap, Balance coalition understands that bipartisan leadership is under extraordinary pressure to present a proposal this week. We applaud the Speaker’s commitment to avoiding tax increases on job creators as part of an increase in the debt ceiling.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appears perfectly willing to continue the classic Washington parlor game of promising spending cuts now that will likely never materialize . . . Cut, Cap and Balance is not merely a legislative framework, it is a series of principles.  Principles are not subject to negotiation.  Unfortunately, the Speaker’s plan falls short of meeting these principles.  Perhaps most troubling is the proposed Congressional Commission.  History has shown that such commissions, while well-intentioned, make it easier to raise taxes than to institute enduring budget reforms. Additionally, a symbolic vote on a balanced budget amendment at some later time minimizes its importance, as it will not be tied to an increase in the debt ceiling. A BBA [Balanced Budget Amendment] that allows a tax increase with anything less than a 2/3 supermajority is not a serious measure. The fact remains there is only one plan that has passed the House with bipartisan support that will permanently end America’s debt problem and that is the Cut, Cap and Balance Act.  This Coalition is willing to sacrifice much in return for a permanent solution to this issue, but we will not sacrifice the fundamental principles of CCB.  To be clear, we are not criticizing the Speaker; however, we cannot support his framework, and we urge those who have signed the Pledge to oppose it and hold out for a better plan.

No compromise. Come hell (a default) or high-water (a credit rating downgrade).

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While we’ve all been reading and hearing about the Cut Cap and Balance plan, I had no idea they are this organized, and that there is a “pledge” involved, and I hadn’t seen a list of who had signed the pledge.  Links in Marc’s post share that information. 

I’m not surprised to see that Florida’s Tea Party Senator Marco Rubio has signed.  (Our other senator, Bill Nelson, is a Democrat – whose seat is at risk in 2012.)  My own Congressman Connie Mack (R) has not – but that’s because he doesn’t think it is conservative ENOUGH!  He announced his opposition to Cut, Cap and Balance in a July 16 press release titled “Mack Opposes GOP Led Cut, Cap and Balance Legislation If It is Tied to Debt Ceiling Increase.”

I agree with Marc.  Scary stuff….
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