States across the country are facing dire budget deficits.
Next week the federal budget will be released with a provision that will be a lifeline to struggling states. The only question is will republicans allow their states to drown in debt or will they come back to reality and take responibility?
As we enter the new era of republican dominance not only in the House of Representatives, but in governor's mansions and statehouses nationwide, I have been rather myopic on the question that America would actually CHOOSE to put the poeple who put our country in this financial mess back in charge let alone in such great numbers.
Well, death panels, Kenyan socialists and --oh excuse me-- DEATH PANELS!! KENYAN SOCIALISTS!!! AND GOVERNMENT TAKEOVERS!! aside, I am beginning to find it rather interesting how like the Democrats post 2008, the Republicans in 2010 are experiencing the post election.."ooooooh shit" descend on them.
After the emotional high of winning in such large numbers; of "having taken their country back", the grim reality of what THEY will now be held accountable for is slowly coming clear..like a freight train emerging from the fog headed straight for them.
We keep hearing "cut spending!!", but there doesn't seem to be any agreement as to what to cut. The simple fact that taxes MUST be raised in some capacity in order to make any headway seems to be the 800 pound gorilla in the room for the loyal opposition.
Republicans know this but cannot face this so they focus on re-defining rape, stripping away abortion rights and other favorite wedge issues like holding symbolic votes of repealing "Obamacare", with fancy-shmancy bills titled " REPEAL THE JOB-KILLING HEALTH CARE BILL".
As always, subtlety has always eluded hyperboblican party.
Now as they run out of chum to satisfy their base, they are suddenly left with the REAL issues that face their states, their constituents, their country that they so righteously took back. But they are terrified to actually make the decisions that on the campaign trail seemed so simple and easy.
So what can they do? Do everything they can to blame the administration and democrats. Rather than make the tough choices and compromise, their plan is no different than it was when they were out of power; Have no platform or agenda, just keep pointing fingers...but guess what?
The new federal budget being proposed by the administration won't let them get away with it that easily!
Via Ezra Klein (emphasis mine):
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/...
Here's how it works: First, the federal government will free the states from $3.6 billion in interest payments to the federal government over the next two years. Second, the Feds the payroll tax that funds the unemployment system only applies to the first $7,000 in income. The Feds will raise that to $14,000, but they'll give up their share of the new revenues. The states can take them or, if they don't want to raise taxes on employers, leave them. "This is the kind of slick fiscal policy that staff stay up nights trying to think up," writes Pete Davis, a former Senate Budget Committee staffer.
See? Put the apple on the table in front of the proud, starving fool. But it's that fool's own hand that will have to pick it up and take a bite.
The "job-killing" budget proposal can only be killed if they chose to subscribe to it. It's their own choice; Use the federal tax money alloted or don't.
This proposal brilliantly demonstrates the synergy of policy and politics. Its frickin art.