Friday, March 03, 2006

DEBT: Will the Dems Shut Down the Government?

CNN is reporting that the Senate Democrats, along with some conservative Republicans, are going to block the statutory reauthorization of our poor treasury to incur MORE debt than the fast-approaching limit, $8.18 TRILLION (insert Dr. Evil voice here).
This is certainly a fight worth fighting to the bitter end.

CNN:


Senate Democrats pledge fight over debt:


WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- A nasty budget fight is brewing in Congress as Senate Democrats and some conservative Republicans said on Friday that they will not support efforts this month to increase U.S. borrowing authority, a move needed to avoid a government default.


Democrats, who hope to gain control of the House and Senate in this year's congressional elections, are looking for a debate on the credit limit to highlight the nation's mounting debt at a time when President Bush also is pushing to make his tax cuts permanent.


"Democrats are not going to vote to increase this debt," Reid said...


House Democrats also have warned that they would oppose a debt limit increase without also putting into place a plan to eventually balance a federal budget that could see a deficit of around $400 billion this year.


Now, THAT's what I like to hear from the Democrats.  If we have to shut down the government, so be it- it's been done before.  This is a good fight for many reasons:




  1. It highlights the utter hypocracy between the GOP's small-government rhetoric and their actions.  This could be the final nail in the deficit hawks' support for the GOP.


  2. If done right, we will remind everyone of how much better the Democrats (see Bill Clinton) are better at managing the economy.


  3. It could force Congress' hand to not renew the Bush Billionaire tax cuts.


  4. Stopping excessive debt is the right thing to do.  


  5. It is yet another cloud in the perfect storm that is destroying any remaining faith in Bush's ability to run the country.  


  6. It can give the Democrats a chance to bludgeon Bush with one of the best new phrases I've heard lately, Bush's "baby tax."