11:02 AM
Julio Barreto
Now that the House has approved a continuing resolution for the balance of FY2011, here is one writer’s take on seven lessons learned from the debate which will influence future funding discussions:
1. While unorthodox by Washington standards, the decision by the Speaker to open the floor to amendments allowed Members of Congress to actually do the work expected of them: propose, debate and vote on issues affecting the nation. It is encouraging to see Congressmen and women actually voting on legislation versus sniping at each other. Look for this free flowing form of debate to continue.
2. To both of the political parties’ credit, members took votes that did not fall along party line. There were Republicans and Democrats uniting to defeat spending measures deemed unnecessary. There were odd mixes of liberals, moderates and conservatives teaming up on legislation, which offers a glimmer of hope that bipartisanship can occur in some instances this year.
3. The Tea Party deserves credit for ushering in a group of individuals who are not toting the party line on issues. They are actually forcing the leadership, and the House as a whole, to make hard, substantive, and politically risky decisions.
4. Even Democrats realize the need to rein in government spending. While it is easy to paint Republicans as heartless, the truth is no reasonably intelligent person could believe the country can sustain its current level of Federal government spending.
5. For the remainder of this fiscal year and the next, the president’s proposed FY2012 budget is the ceiling and the House version of FY 2011 funding bill is now the floor for Federal programs. Constituencies from both parties will feel the effects of cuts regardless of the outcome in the Senate.
6. Constituencies will have to devise new, creative strategies to preserve funding for their programs. It will not be enough to indicate the impact on individuals, families and communities. No one will be immune; therefore, the message must be distinct, simple and compelling.
7. Give credit where credit is due: the president’s deficit commission had the guts to call for cuts to ALL programs in order to seriously address the bulging deficit. Not including entitlement programs and defense in the list of cuts demonstrated a lack of leadership in Congress and the White House. The commission members were the only individuals willing to recognize the seriousness of our nation’s fiscal problem and offer a tangible, albeit unpopular, solution.
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1. While unorthodox by Washington standards, the decision by the Speaker to open the floor to amendments allowed Members of Congress to actually do the work expected of them: propose, debate and vote on issues affecting the nation. It is encouraging to see Congressmen and women actually voting on legislation versus sniping at each other. Look for this free flowing form of debate to continue.
2. To both of the political parties’ credit, members took votes that did not fall along party line. There were Republicans and Democrats uniting to defeat spending measures deemed unnecessary. There were odd mixes of liberals, moderates and conservatives teaming up on legislation, which offers a glimmer of hope that bipartisanship can occur in some instances this year.
3. The Tea Party deserves credit for ushering in a group of individuals who are not toting the party line on issues. They are actually forcing the leadership, and the House as a whole, to make hard, substantive, and politically risky decisions.
4. Even Democrats realize the need to rein in government spending. While it is easy to paint Republicans as heartless, the truth is no reasonably intelligent person could believe the country can sustain its current level of Federal government spending.
5. For the remainder of this fiscal year and the next, the president’s proposed FY2012 budget is the ceiling and the House version of FY 2011 funding bill is now the floor for Federal programs. Constituencies from both parties will feel the effects of cuts regardless of the outcome in the Senate.
6. Constituencies will have to devise new, creative strategies to preserve funding for their programs. It will not be enough to indicate the impact on individuals, families and communities. No one will be immune; therefore, the message must be distinct, simple and compelling.
7. Give credit where credit is due: the president’s deficit commission had the guts to call for cuts to ALL programs in order to seriously address the bulging deficit. Not including entitlement programs and defense in the list of cuts demonstrated a lack of leadership in Congress and the White House. The commission members were the only individuals willing to recognize the seriousness of our nation’s fiscal problem and offer a tangible, albeit unpopular, solution.
Interesting Read
How a government shutdown could happen
By Jonathan Allen & Carrie Budoff Brown
Politico
Republicans float $2 billion a week in cuts
By Jonathan Allen
Politico
Town hall 'rage' over spending
By Marin Cogan
Politico
House GOP spares no pet projects in trimming budget
By Philip Rucker
The Washington Post
Budget deadlock points to government shutdown
By Kara Rowland
The Washington Times
Lawmakers Play Down Shutdown, But Solution Is Elusive
By Humberto Sanchez
The National Journal
What might happen if federal government shuts down again
By Ed O'Keefe
The Washington Post
The Wrong Fight
By Ronald Brownstein
The National Journal
The Cook Report: Hang On Tight
By Charlie Cook
The National Journal
Senate Momentum Builds for a Deficit-Cutting Deal
By Steven T. Dennis
Roll Call
Republican governors strike at heart of Democratic Party
By Jonathan Martin & Ben Smith
Politico
Economy poll: African Americans, Hispanics were hit hardest but are most optimistic
By Michael A. Fletcher and Jon Cohen
The Washington Post
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has history of going up against unions
By Brady Dennis
The Washington Post
GOP lawmaker probes HUD’s non-disclose pact
By Chris Frates
Politico
Bingaman Exit Gives GOP an Opening in a Toss-Up Race
By Jennifer Duffy
National Journal
Incumbents, Beware
By Charlie Cook
The National Journal
The End of Fannie and Freddie?
Closing the troubled housing agencies is not the only mortgage market fix we need.
By Arnold Kling
The Weekly Standard
