Congressional Repubs Introduce Alternative Budget to Gales of Near-Universal Mockery

[Xiahou]

Well the actual plan is out, and it's good to see the Washington Post give it fair consideration:

After getting blasted last week for presenting a budget plan light on details, House Republicans yesterday unveiled a more complete proposal that would cut taxes for businesses and the wealthy, freeze most government spending for five years, halt spending approved in the economic stimulus package and slash federal health programs for the poor and elderly.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the senior Republican on the House Budget Committee, said the plan would stabilize the rising national debt by requiring the nation to borrow about $6 trillion over the next 10 years, $3.3 trillion less than would be required under the budget request submitted by President Obama.

Annual deficits also would be slightly lower than under the revised budget plans that emerged last week from the House and Senate budget committees. The revised Democratic proposals would require the nation to borrow about $4 trillion over the next five years, compared with $3.1 trillion in new borrowing under the GOP alternative.

WaPo aptly summarizes it as tax cuts for the rich and "slash"ing spending for the poor and elderly. Further, we also learn that the difference between 3 and 4 trillion- a difference of $1 trillion, is only a slight difference. That's just like how if you got a 25% raise at work, it would only be a slight raise.....

I'm glad that they're taking such a serious, balanced look at the proposal.

Now, if you actually want to learn something about their proposal, you could look at the writeups on Heritage which takes a more detailed and yes, favorable view of it. At least Heritage admits they have an agenda.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Answering President Obama's challenge for critics to present alternatives, the House Republicans have offered a responsible budget blueprint that:

* Borrows $3.6 trillion less than the President's budget;
* Would create $23,000 less debt per household than the President's budget;
* Keeps federal spending just above 20 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP)—the same level as before the recession;
* Avoids all tax increases and even simplifies the overly complex tax code;
* Includes a temporary moratorium on earmarks; and
* Begins reforming the unsustainable costs of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

Lastly, you can look at the actual documents here... the links are at the bottom of the page.

[Major Robert Dump]

I'm all for anything that freezes earmarks and spends less money. Unfortunately, after the bailouts I simply just don't care anymore. While I see how ridiculous it is to call a trillion dollar cut a slight cut, really, at this point I just don't see what it matters anymore because unless the system is cleaned up we will just repeat this in 20 years.

I am normally middle of the road on tax increases for big businesses and rich folk, it really depends on the circumstances and the tax rather than some all-encompassing ideal I hold. I don't, however, think now is the time to be raising taxes on industry.

Buy gold. Buy land. Buy guns and collectibles.

[Spino]

Well the actual plan is out, and it's good to see the Washington Post give it fair consideration:
WaPo aptly summarizes it as tax cuts for the rich and "slash"ing spending for the poor and elderly. Further, we also learn that the difference between 3 and 4 trillion- a difference of $1 trillion, is only a slight difference. That's just like how if you got a 25% raise at work, it would only be a slight raise.....

I'm glad that they're taking such a serious, balanced look at the proposal.

Now, if you actually want to learn something about their proposal, you could look at the writeups on Heritage which takes a more detailed and yes, favorable view of it. At least Heritage admits they have an agenda.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Answering President Obama's challenge for critics to present alternatives, the House Republicans have offered a responsible budget blueprint that:

* Borrows $3.6 trillion less than the President's budget;
* Would create $23,000 less debt per household than the President's budget;
* Keeps federal spending just above 20 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP)—the same level as before the recession;
* Avoids all tax increases and even simplifies the overly complex tax code;
* Includes a temporary moratorium on earmarks; and
* Begins reforming the unsustainable costs of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

Lastly, you can look at the actual documents here... the links are at the bottom of the page.

There are certainly some brights spots in the GOP's proposed budget but it is still way too timid & tepid for my tastes. Not nearly enough slashing and burning. People won't take much comfort in the fact that it simply recommends a return to federal spending in effect prior to the Obama administration. As if the spending sprees by Republicans and Democrats during the GW Bush years was acceptable to begin with?!? A temporary moratorium on earmarks? What a lovely, empty gesture! Whoopdeedoos all around! Ok sure, this plan is better than the Democrat budget we're about to be force fed but it still gets an epic FAIL grade according to any reasonably conservative metric.

The House Republicans could have seriously stolen the spotlight and shocked the nation by proposing a bold, innovative plan that actually adheres to the GOP's so-called core principles. Dramatically reduce the size of government in addition to massive reductions in spending accompanied by massive tax cuts. In light of the venom and vitriol being directed at the government by the public the timing for such a plan would have been perfect. As I've stated before the Republicans are powerless now, they can afford to toss caution into the wind and propose more audacious, conservative alternatives. Instead they draft a weak alternative plan that perfectly illustrates the lack of vision, principles and let's face it, balls, endemic to this generation of politicians. Clueless, gutless, narcissistic wonders, the lot of them.

Sadly this all reminds me of a popular Jack Nicholson romantic comedy from the 90s. Maybe Americans and other Westerners should just own up to reality and seriously ask ourselves, "What if this is as good as it gets?"