Friday, March 17, 2006

Senate G.O.P. Blocks Tight Budget Rule

From The New York Times
In … Congress this week, the Senate rejected on a 50-to-50 tie a proposal to restore what are known as 'pay-go' rules, a requirement that tax cuts and some new spending be approved by 60 votes or offset by budget savings or revenue increases.

Democrats and a handful of Republican allies said that the added discipline was essential to getting a handle on the mounting federal debt and that the rules had been instrumental in reducing red ink before they were allowed to lapse in 2002. …
Why did the Republicans vote against it?
Republicans said the push to add the rules to the budget was a back-door effort to make it harder to extend President Bush's tax cuts.
The Democrats have finally done something smart. Keep pounding away on them.

No comments: