|
|
Click here for more opinions
2004 and 2011: same debt debate, but roles reversed - Comments (0)
Carole Mcwilliams - 7/22/2011
I’ve been having some work done on my house that required moving stuff out of my junk accumulation room. One of the things I found was a yellowed Denver Post clipping dated Nov. 21, 2004, meaning right after George W. Bush was re-elected (not by my vote).
The clipping is of interest given the current congressional stalemate over raising the federal debt ceiling. Yes, this is yet another column about that. I’m sorry. You’re sick of reading them. I’m sick of writing them, but it just won’t go away.
Anyway, this 2004 clipping is the Post’s weekly tally of votes in congress by Colorado representatives.
The first one is, guess what?
A vote to raise the national debt ceiling. It passed in the House by a close vote of 208 to 204, sending S 2986 to President Bush for signature to raise the debt ceiling by $800 billion up to $8.18 trillion.
The summary says, “This marked the third time Congress raised borrowing authority in Bush’s first term.”
Voting yes from Colorado were Republicans Bob Beauprez and Scott McInnis. Voting no were Democrats Diana DeGette and Mark Udall, and Republican Joel Hefley. Republicans Marilyn Musgrave and Tom Tancredo didn’t vote.
The next item in this news clipping was defeat of a Democratic effort to attach a “pay-go” requirement to the debt limit increase.
The clipping says it would have set an April 15, 2005 deadline for congress to decide whether to restore pay-go to federal budgeting. The item description said, “A yes vote was to require congress to ‘pay for’ tax cuts and entitlement spending hikes.”
It was voted down with 194 for and 218 against.
Voting no were Republicans Beauprez, Hefley, and McInnis. Voting yes were Democrats DeGette and Udall.
On the Senate side, our two Republican senators, Wayne Allard and Ben Nighthorse Campbell voted yes on raising the debt limit. The senate vote was 52 for and 44 against. The tally doesn’t list a senate vote on a pay-go attachment.
It’s interesting how times have changed. In the current fiasco, House Republicans now want to make raising the debt limit contingent on congress passing a constitutional balanced budget amendment.
Sure, let’s debate the merits and also the problems that could come with a balanced budget amendment. But not with government shut-down/ default looming in less than two weeks.
More promising this week, adults in the senate stepped forward from both political parties for serious discussion of a plan that includes both spending cuts and revenue increases.
The constitutional glitch there is that revenue bills must start in the House, where the kindergarteners are running things. They seem determined to hold their breaths until they turn blue and pass out.
Except that they’ll hold their breaths and it will be all the rest of us who turn blue and pass out.
|
|
|
| Other
Opinions ... |
3/25/2013 Bill of Rights is crucial to U.S. citizens
9/22/2011 Picking on the Rich
9/9/2011 Has it really been 10 years??
9/8/2011 The Age of Misinformation?
9/8/2011 Nothing like the open road to clear the mind
8/18/2011 Local government should reflect local concerns
8/11/2011 Woe to Our Culture
7/29/2011 Times welcomes all opinions
7/22/2011 Kudos, prayers deserved after Sunday morning collision
7/22/2011 2004 and 2011: same debt debate, but roles reversed
4/1/2011 Hug your kids and remember Shaniah
2/11/2011 Statement from Matthew J. Box, Chairman of the Southern Ute Tribe.
1/14/2011 Time to take a long, hard look in the mirror, America
11/5/2010 Juan Williams firing about money, not free speech
6/10/2010 A real balanced budget means nothing is sacred
3/26/2010 Let’s give medical marijuana a chance
2/5/2010 Will there be a convention to reconstitute the U. S. Constitution?
1/8/2010 Would you trust your healthcare to a bunch of mules?
11/23/2009 We're still hanging in there!
10/2/2009 Thanks for making Bayfield Heritage Days a success
8/7/2009 Summer's over, but future beckons for youth
7/16/2009 How I spent my summer vacation
7/3/2009 Have a great Independence Day!
6/26/3009 Mill Street is still a downtown gem
6/19/2009 Healthcare reform should not benefit only insurance companies
6/12/2009 A recreation center in Bayfield? Let's get real
5/1/2009 Go kids, go!
4/17/2009 Want to be a part of our community?
4/3/2009 What is the future of newspapers?
3/20/2009 Turning off the lights for an hour is silly
3/13/2009 Should your access issues affect my property?
1/30/2009 Please immunize your kids
1/23/2009 Welcome, President Obama!
11/7/2008 Leave my trash alone, thank you
8/15/2008 Investing in kids is good for our future
7/3/2008 King George and President George - it's easy to confuse the two on July 4
6/27/2008 Supreme Court denies Bush's power grab
5/23/2008 U.S. is heading in the wrong direction
4/25/2008 Republicans entertained by Democrats
4/18/2008 Insurance doesn't mean health care
4/11/2008 County violates landowners' rights
2/21/2008 Waterboarding could be Bush's Watergate
|
|
|
