Rep. Paul Ryan introducing his budget. Let the posturing begin. (Jose Luis Magaua/Reuters)
Today, while Senate Republicans will be trying to stop the
very popular Buffet Rule to tax the rich, their buddies in the House are mapping out new and exciting ways to screw over everyone else.
Six different House committees have been tasked with trying to make Rep. Paul Ryan's magical "budget" work, and they're tackling it with gusto, ready to decimate programs for low and middle income Americans while increasing defense spending.
Expected targets for cuts include food stamps, farm subsidies and crop insurance, federal employee pensions and health care. A repeal of President Barack Obama's health reform law would prevent new coverage expenses from occurring from 2014. [...]
Importantly, Republicans want to shield military and security spending from these cuts by shifting them to domestic programs. And fiscal conservatives want to demonstrate to voters even deeper spending cuts.
Don't forget that they're also going to gift millionaires with the
lowest tax rates in 80 years (funded by getting rid of
still unidentified loopholes and, apparently, unicorn poop). They've certainly made their priorities clear: more defense spending and tax cuts for millionaires, while taking food out of children's mouths and health care away from the vulnerable. And don't forget those Medicare vouchers!
It would all just be so much show, if not for the fact that Republicans are determined to try to actually enact these cuts, breaking the budget deal they agreed to in the Budget Control Act settled last year. That risks yet another government shutdown stand-off this summer or fall. Somehow they seem to remain convinced that this is what will win the election for them.