DEM BUDGET = $$$
WARNING: Dems Want To Spend Your $$$

________________________________________________
  
FACT: DEMOCRATS NOT INTERESTED IN CUTTING SPENDING
 
FACT: Senate Dem Leader "Not Into" Cutting Spending:
 
Democrat Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): "I'm not really into cutting (spending) right now." (Kevin G. Hall and James Kuhnhenn, "Bush Vows To Repair Gulf Coast, Prompting Fears Of Deficit Spending," Knight Ridder, 9/17/05)

• Sen. Reid Warned Democrats Would Have Power Of The Purse. PBS' Jim Lehrer: "[G]eorge W. Bush is still going to be president of the United States. What is a Democratic Senate going to do about all of that?" Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): "Well, of course, Jim, if we had the majority, we have control of the pocketbook, the purse. That's what our Constitution set up, is that the legislative branch of government controls the money. And this president, during the last six years, has had a carte blanche with this Republican-dominated Congress. He's gotten everything that he's wanted ..." (PBS's "Newshour," 9/13/06)                                            

n 1993, Rep. Pelosi And 216 Other House Democrats Voted For The Largest Tax Hike In American History, Which Raised Taxes $241 Billion. (H.R. 2264, CQ Vote #406: Adopted 218-216: R 0-175; D 217-41; I 1-0, 8/5/93, Pelosi Voted Yea)

Democrats Proposed Bloated Budgets:
 
Since 2001, House Democrats Have Pushed Five Alternative Budgets Totaling Nearly $1 Trillion In Additional Spending. (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com/advancedsearch.do, Accessed 7/18/06)

• This Extra Federal Spending Would Have Cost Each American Family $13,000. (U.S. Census Bureau Website, www.factfinder.census.gov, Accessed 7/11/06) 

Since 2001, House Democrats Have Pushed Five Alternative Budgets Totaling Nearly $1 Trillion In Additional Spending. (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com/advancedsearch.do, Accessed 7/18/06)

• This Extra Federal Spending Would Have Cost Each American Family $13,000. (U.S. Census Bureau Website, www.factfinder.census.gov, Accessed 7/11/06)   

FACT: DEMOCRATS OPPOSED BELT-TIGHTENING MEASURES
 
Democrats Opposed Legislative Line Item Veto:
 
In June 2006, 156 House Democrats Voted Against A Legislative Line Item Veto That Would Allow Savings Enacted To "e Used Only To Reduce The Deficit ..." (H.R. 4890, CQ Vote #317: Passed 247-172: R 212-15; D 35-156; I 0-1, 6/22/06)

• The Senate Did Not Take Up The Legislative Line-Item Veto Because "Most [Senate] Democrats, Led By Ranking Appropriator Robert C. Byrd Of West Virginia," Oppose It. (Steven T. Dennis, "Fall Agenda: Line-Item Rescissions," CQ Weekly, 9/1/06)

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's Spokesman Admitted Democrats See A "Political Opportunity" In Line Item Veto Debate. Sen. Reid spokesman: "[Reid] saw a political opportunity, which he seized on ..." (Greta Wodele, "Democrats Linking Line-Item Veto With Social Security," National Journal's CongressDaily, 6/29/06)

 
Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL): "For more than 5 years, the delicate system of checks and balances that our country depends on has been compromised all too often." (Rep. Alcee Hastings, Congressional Record, 6/22/06, p. H4434)
• Rep. Hastings: "Who knew that in the year 2000 the Supreme Court would choose America's first prime minister and relegate Congress' role to that of an advisory committee." (Rep. Alcee Hastings, Congressional Record, 6/22/06, p. H4434)

Rep. David Price (D-NC): "This bill would tilt the balance of power even further in the direction of the White House." (Rep. David Price, Congressional Record, 6/22/06, p. H4474)
 
Democrats Opposed 2005 Deficit Reduction Act:
 
200 House Democrats And 44 Senate Democrats Voted Against The 2005 Budget Reconciliation, Which Saved Taxpayers Nearly $39 Billion Over 5 Years. (S. 1932, CQ Vote #4: Adopted 216-214: R 216-13; D 0-200; I 0-1, 2/1/06; S. 1932, CQ Vote #363: Motion Agreed To 51-50: R 50-5; D 0-44; I 0-1, With Vice President Cheney Casting A "Yea" Vote, 12/21/05)
• House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD): "It is perverse, it is bad policy, and I think Americans will see it as such." (Patrick O'Connor, "Budget Vise Tightens: Pressure Mounts On House GOP To Deliver Votes," The Hill, 10/19/05)
• Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-SD): "This plan [is] morally irresponsible, it's fiscally irresponsible as well." (Rep. Stephanie Herseth [D-SD], Press Conference, 10/20/05)

Democrats Voted Against A Balanced Budget Amendment:
 
A Majority Of House Democrats Voted Against A Balanced Budget At Least Two Times. (H.J. Res. 1, CQ Vote #51: Passed 300-132: R 228-2; D 72-129; I 0-1, 1/26/95; H.J. Res. 103, CQ Vote #65: Rejected 271-153: R 172-1; D 99-151; I 0-1, 3/17/94)
 
In The 1990s, A Majority Of Senate Democrats Voted Against A Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment At Least 4 Times. (S. J. Res. 1, CQ Vote #24: Rejected 66-34: R 55-0; D 11-34, 3/4/97; H.J. Res. 1, CQ Vote #158: Rejected 64-35: R 52-1; D 12-34, 6/6/96; H.J. Res. 1, CQ Vote #98: Rejected 65-35: R 51-2; D 14-33, 3/2/95; S. J. Res. 41, CQ Vote #48: Rejected 63-37: R 41-3; D 22-34, 3/1/94)
 
Democrats Voted Against A Sunset Commission:

 
In 2004, 128 House Democrats Voted Against Establishing A "A 12-Member Federal Sunset Commission To Review All Federal Agencies For Their Efficiency, Effectiveness, Redundancy And Need." (H.R. 4663, CQ Vote #305: Adopted 272-140: R 208-11; D 64-128; I 0-1, 6/24/04)
 
FACT: IT HAS BEEN REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE BROUGHT BUDGET DEFICIT UNDER CONTROL
 
Deficit Has Been Cut In Half Three Years Ahead Of Schedule:
 
Today, President Bush "[W]ill Announce That He Has Met His Target Of Cutting The Deficit In Half Over Five Years - Three Years Ahead Of Schedule." (Michael Abramowitz and Peter Baker, "Painting A Rosy Budget Picture," The Washington Post, 10/11/06)
 
The FY 2006 Deficit Was $248 Billion, Down $71 Billion From FY 2005. (William L. Watts, "Treasury: U.S. Deficit Fell To $248 Billion In '06," MarketWatch, 10/11/06)

• This Is $175 Billion Less Than The Administration Estimated In February. (William L. Watts, "Treasury: U.S. Deficit Fell To $248 Billion In '06," MarketWatch, 10/11/06)

Deficit Is Now Only A Small Percentage Of Total Economy:
 
"The Deficit Has Fallen To 1.9% Of The Economy (GDP) - Well Below The Average Of The Past 40 Years." (Committee On The Budget, U.S. House Of Representatives, "Treasury Confirms Deficit Drop To $248 Billion," Press Release, 11/10/06)
 
Revenues Are Up Due To Strong Economy:
 
"[R]evenues Were The Highest On Record ..." ("U.S. 2006 Budget Gap Narrows To $248 Bln-Treasury," Reuters, 10/11/06)

• "Federal Revenues Are Running 11.8% Ahead Of Last Year - Higher Than The Average Of The Past 40 Years ..." (Committee On The Budget, U.S. House Of Representatives, "Treasury Confirms Deficit Drop To $248 Billion," Press Release, 11/10/06)

"Economists Say This Year's Surge In Tax Receipts Indeed Reflects A Strong Economy ..." (William L. Watts, "Treasury: U.S. Deficit Fell To $248Billion In '06," MarketWatch, 10/11/06)
 
Republicans Have Reduced Non-Security Discretionary Spending:
 
President George W. Bush: "Every year since I took office we have reduced the growth of discretionary spending that is not related to national security. My last two budgets have actually cut this kind of spending." (President George W. Bush, Radio Address, 7/15/06)




 

But there's not supposed to be any difference between the two parties?

Quoted: But there's not supposed to be any difference between the two parties?

Oh yeah, everyone knows they're just totally the same.

Bump

Quoted: Quoted: But there's not supposed to be any difference between the two parties? Oh yeah, everyone knows they're just totally the same.

We get a choice between BAD and WORSE.

In related news, water is wet.



Woody