Patterico's Pontifications

5/24/2010

Obama Wants to Cut Spending

Filed under: Obama — DRJ @ 11:24 am



[Guest post by DRJ]

President Obama wants Congress to give him power similar to a line-item veto so he can slash spending:

“The White House called for a new presidential power Monday to slash spending that would be similar to a line-item veto.

The “expedited rescission authority” that President Barack Obama is sending to Congress this week would allow the president to propose a package of cuts to recently signed spending measures and then force Congress to take up-or-down votes on it. Those cuts would become law if they received a majority of votes in both chambers.”

Congressional response was positive regarding fiscal restraint but some Republicans questioned Obama’s commitment:

“House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said GOP members were “pleased” the president was trying to show fiscal discipline, but Boehner noted that Obama has yet to use his ability to propose rescissions under the current budget rules, as House GOP leaders have asked him to do.

“Instead, President Obama continues to put off this important work, missing critical opportunities to stop the out-of-control spending spree that economists say is hurting our economy and slowing the creation of new jobs,” Boehner said in a statement.”

My guess for No. 1 on Obama’s targeted cuts? The military.

— DRJ

20 Responses to “Obama Wants to Cut Spending”

  1. What an utterly transparent line of BS. Obama has no intention of cutting any spending, his own budgets illustrate that.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  2. SPQR, with respect, you’re wrong. If given the power to cut spending, Obama will use it — to punish his political enemies. You’re thinking of a line-item veto as a weapon against spending. He’s just thinking of it as a weapon.

    Beldar (690e1a)

  3. If it passes, what’s good for the goose will be good for the gander, if the gander can hold on for 2 more years.

    MD in Philly (cb8efe)

  4. Obama voted against a line-item veto for Bush in 2007

    drjohn (dcfed0)

  5. Ah, Beldar, I stand corrected.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  6. The article in The Hill points out that exempt from this new spending rescission power would be taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. In other words, more deck chair rearranging on The Titanic. Obama would certainly counter that his entitlement commission will be addressing those issues, but as it is currently chartered is there anyone who thinks they will reach any kind of agreement on substantive reform?

    Obama is the world champion at wanting to look like he is addressing problems, without actually having to do a damn thing about them.

    JVW (36eb17)

  7. “…Obama is the world champion at wanting to look like he is addressing problems, without actually having to do a damn thing about them.”
    Comment by JVW — 5/24/2010 @ 12:08 pm

    It is what empty suits do.

    AD - RtR/OS! (21733c)

  8. Beldar’s on target. The audacity of Barack Obama’s mendacity is on display.

    Obama’s message is as upfront as it is personal, I’m only surprised he isn’t standing behind a White House podium, his chinny chin chin arrogantly upthrust along with his middle finger.

    ropelight (9890ec)

  9. Can’t remember where I saw/heard this, but line item veto would also give Dear Leader power against repealing O-care in a “must-pass” spending bill. I suspect Beldar has it dead on.

    Red County Pete (8fa565)

  10. The House appropriations committee is currently passing an “emergency” spending bill with many more billions of deficit spending. Almost none of which is “emergency”.

    If this gets through the Senate, any bets on a veto? Ha!

    SPQR (26be8b)

  11. it’s for the children!

    redc1c4 (fb8750)

  12. We all liked the idea (at least I did) when it looked like a conservative president(if there is such a thing) could use it to control an out of control legislature. But that stick is pointy at both ends, isn’t it? The REAL problem is not the lack of a line item veto. The founders saw no need to give that much power to the executive. The real problem is that the voters have failed with their own veto power – the power to retire a corrupt congress.

    Gesundheit (6acc51)

  13. Military cuts and cuts to all projects in red states and red districts. Mr. Transparency strikes again.

    eaglewingz08 (1e4d33)

  14. Very few politicians, D or R, have the fortitude to make the cuts and changes needed. This will not end well, regardless of electoral politics.

    gp (ccb2c1)

  15. This is all so ridiculous. Congress passed Pay-Go so all new spending will be offset by other spending cuts.

    Unless there is an emergency.

    And all government spending is now an emergency like the last two unemployment extensions.

    MU789 (aad8cf)

  16. No. 2 Highway funding to Arizona
    No. 3 College loans for student to Univ. of AZ, AZ State Univ., AZ School of Massage Therapy, etc.
    No. 3 Closing of Yuma proving grounds and air station
    No. 4 Stop $25m Federal Grant Awarded to Launch “Energize Phoenix” Project
    No. 5 Arizona loses federal aid, limits HIV drugs for ADAP. Oops already done.
    No 6. Closing of Grand Canyon National Park in AZ

    etc.

    snookered (1f2034)

  17. This is one of those underachiever scams by Obama. Look over here at this shell game! Now he’ll go over and screw something up while the media lap dogs showcase this “grand new idea”.

    JoeBean (6aeb80)

  18. “Obama Wants to Cut Spending”

    Ha ha ha ha ha ha

    Dave Surls (3f99da)

  19. Didn’t the Supreme Court declare a line item veto unconstitutional in Clinton v New york back in 1998? vote was 6 to 3 according to Wikipedia.

    BarSinister (6fdd2a)

  20. If The Obowman was serious about cutting spending, he’d start with his list of Czars, none of which have been approved by the Senate.

    AD - RtR/OS! (bd3d6c)


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