Reno Hayek Symposium

Facing $1.4 Trillion in annual deficits for the next decade, current national debt of $12.3 Trillion and 2009 estimated social security and medicare unfunded liabilities of $107 Trillion, Obama endorsed a bill that would set up a bi-partisan deficit-reduction commission.”These deficits did not happen overnight, and they won’t be solved overnight,” Obama said in a statement. “We not only need to change how we pay for policies, but we also need to change how Washington works. The only way to solve our long-term fiscal challenge is to solve it together — Democrats and Republicans.” Is this just another Obama promise like “no earmarks” or “negotiations on CNN?” Or, is it designed as a set up for the Republicans to cover the Democratic Congress’ and administration’s spendthrift ways?

Let’s see, we’re up in discretionary spending by 8% in 2009, the third such consecutive year since the Democrats took control of the Congress, that’s 25% from $873 Billion to $1.090 Trillion. The non-defense discretionary programs got an 8% bump in 2009 and again in 2010 not even including the $311 Billion in additional “stimulus.” The omnibus 2010 appropriations bill includes: a 120% increase in low income energy assistance, a 30% increase for the corporation for national and community services (SOUND FAMILIAR?), a 22% increase for the essential (?) (read rural congressmen’s) air service, and, of course, a 9% increase for Amtrak. (See Heritage Foundation report here.)

Does anyone remember the inflation rate? How about public employee salaries? Well then, try Congressional junkets? Surely then, the recession, the unemployment rate and our belt tightening? Enough said!

Problem is that these discretionary increases add to the “baseline” for future years!

Why should Republicans participate in the inevitable tax and tax solution that the Democrats have in mind? As demonstrated, they will not cut and cut, the only correct solution.

There are two reasonable alternatives to put to these out-of-control fools: one, tell them to repeal all non-defense discretionary spending enacted in the last three years and start with a zero baseline budget, and two, tell them NO, HELL NO! Let them clean up their own mess!

The second is easier to explain to America. Some of us still have our wits about us and would appreciate it! Say HELL NO!

Tom Motherway