Last week the House was trying to pass a new budget bill in order to help pay for the costs of Katrina, Rita, Wilma, and Chimpy's mistress, TheWarOnTerra. Included in the bill, of course, were tax cuts for the wealthier - because, of course, when I'm out of money, my first plan is to cut my earnings - and spending cuts in programs which largely support the poor. What programs would be cut? Well, according to the Congressional Budget Office, Medicaid, Pension Insurance, Student Loan Programs, Child Support Programs, Deposit Insurance, Conservation Programs, Foster Care and Adoption Assistance, Agricultural Price Support Programs, and Food Stamps. They'd also get extra revenue from drilling in ANWR and increased mining production, but we all know those companies need extra money.
So, if you're sick or hungry or trying to take care of unwanted kids or getting an education to better yourself or trying to save money to retire on or working to feed the country, well, there are some rich people that need tax cuts.
The bill got held up in the House because, apparently, some Republicans have hearts, albeit malformed and kinda squishy ones, and chose not to support that bill.
"You're denying resources to programs that serve the middle class and neediest of the needy on the eve of a projected vote to provide tax benefits and breaks to the most advantaged in our society," said Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y. He was one of the moderate Republicans who pressured leaders to modify the spending cuts. GOP leaders can't afford to lose many of their own, since the issue has energized Democratic opposition.
Of course, not everybody is on the same page. Some think that if Tom "The Ham Sandwich" DeLay were still running things, those weak Republicans would have been brought back into line, and the poor would be disregarded, as is only right and proper.
But what really got me was that, despite poll numbers (I'll comment on this elsewhere) that say the GOP is hurting in the leadup to next year's elections, and that the Liar-In-Chief is being told "thanks, but no thanks", when it comes to campaigning next year, some think that a bill like this doesn't matter.
Carl Forti, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, which helps elect and re-elect GOP House members, says the spending cuts will be hard to use against Republicans.
"When was the last time that (a budget bill) was ever featured in a TV ad?" Forti said. "I don't believe that there are any political implications to this vote."
No political implications. For a bill that takes money out of the mouths of starving children and puts it in the pockets of the wealthy. Because I can't imagine anyone running an ad that goes something like this:
B&W: Mother, in dingy apartment. Crying child. Opens empty food cabinet. "I'm sorry honey, there's no more food right now. Daddy will be home soon, he said he'd stop at the store." Father comes in, clearly dejected. Wearing a threadbare suit. "I didn't get the job."
"Oh no, why not?"
"They said they wanted someone with a college degree. I explained that I had been in college, but my student loans got cut, and I couldn't afford to stay in, but that my grades were very good while I was there, but it didn't matter to them."
Child cries again.
"I couldn't get any more food stamps. I was told that we'd had our allotment, and it didn't matter that we've also been feeding your dad, because he lives with us after his pension fund got raided."
"Honey, what are we going to do?"
Child cries again, scene cut to driveway of big house. Big shiny new SUV pulls into the driveway. Kids come rushing out to meet Dad, who's got take-out bags from a restaurant. "Hey honey, come outside and look what I bought you with the new tax cut!"
Voice over - Congressman SOandSO voted for a budget which cut vital services for the poor, so one father can't go to school to get a job to feed his kids, and cut taxes for the rich, so another family can buy another new SUV...
Nope, no one would ever think of using that strategy...
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