Budget Debate: Where are the fiscal conservatives?

By Roger F. Gay

The cat is out of the bag. Not surprisingly, the choice Republican bill presented by House Speaker John Boehner is an implementation of the wish list provided by Barack Obama and the Democrats. The great stand-off over “compromise” is pure political theater. Even popular Tea Party favorites like Allen West have jumped on the bandwagon. Republican talk show hosts like Laura Ingraham are confused and bewildered by anyone who hasn't.

Well, ah, the argument goes, we're nothing against the great Democratic Party machine. The press might criticize us if we stand up to them. You can't possibly consider doing the right thing during an election season. What's wrong with compromise anyway? We've given lip-service to debt-reduction. That's better than nothing, right?

It is something – something very much in the wrong direction. It's the direction that voters clearly said “Hell No!” to during the last election.

Republicans have complained about the lack of a detailed Obama plan and now John Boehner has actually invited Senate Democrats write the bill themselves. Detached entirely from the real world, Democrats keep pretending that they have Republicans over their own barrel. Republicans respond by asking the Democrats to provide the barrel.

While the partisan playwrights continue writing fantasy, there is a very real question that needs a real answer. Why isn't John Boehner pushing a fiscally conservative bill? I don't believe that he was sent to Washington to represent the far left / Political Class or to cave in to them at every turn. But that's what he's doing.

Very strongly related article: Budget Gridlock: The House is More Powerful than the Senate and President Combined
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