Op-ed by Boehner: “Next fight to be about trillions, not billions”
Dylan’s line comes to mind: “Money doesn’t talk, it screams,” and the shrieking in my ears sounds like insolvency. Boehner needs to shut up and start listening. Then perhaps he’ll be motivated to deliver on his empty promises.
(USA Today) — This week, Congress is moving toward approval of an agreement on the largest spending cut in history to help begin to create a better environment for private-sector job growth.
While the president’s party still controls Washington, House Republicans have dragged a reluctant Senate and White House into taking this imperfect first step toward getting spending under control. The agreement will reduce government spending by $38.5 billion over the next few months — and by hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming decade.
This is real money. And as Stanford University economics professor John B. Taylor observed, “Reducing discretionary spending in 2011 . . . will help establish credibility and show that government can actually take needed actions, not just promise to take them.”
But the agreement is far from perfect, and we need to do much more if we’re serious about creating new jobs, fixing our spending-driven debt crisis, and ending the uncertainty that continues to plague our economy.
That’s why this week, we’ll advance our fight from saving billions of dollars to saving trillions of dollars as we turn our full attention to the GOP budget outlined by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., aptly titled “The Path to Prosperity.”
The Path to Prosperity is a powerful blueprint for economic growth and fiscal responsibility that will help our economy get back to creating jobs, stop Washington from spending money we don’t have, and lift the crushing burden of debt that threatens our children and grandchildren.
Before serving in Congress, I ran a small business. Created jobs. Met a payroll. I understand how important the Path to Prosperity is because I’ve seen firsthand how irresponsible choices in Washington hamper our economy by creating uncertainty and eroding confidence.
Small businesses are the engine of job creation in America, and every decision a small business owner makes — particularly when it comes to making a new investment or adding payroll — involves weighing risks.
When government engages in policies that rattle confidence or decrease predictability, employers tend to do the logical thing: They sit on their hands. Rather than hiring new workers, launching new ventures, or investing in new equipment, they stand pat, keep their heads down and attempt to ride it out.
The Path to Prosperity seeks to end much of that uncertainty. It leads where the administration has failed and takes on autopilot spending that’s driving our debt crisis while preserving critical health and retirement security programs for the future; expands American energy production to create jobs and address rising gas prices; repeals and defunds the health care law that threatens jobs; and much more.
The budget by Chairman Ryan has set the bar. If the president is willing to follow our lead and offer serious proposals that address the drivers of our debt and the barriers that are holding back our economy, we’ll welcome it, and we’re open to hearing them. But in order to be credible, the White House plan must preserve and protect programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and set us on a path to pay down the national debt.
So far, the president has only outlined an irresponsible budget that would impose a job-crushing $1.5 trillion tax hike, add $9.1 trillion to the debt over the next decade, and do nothing to address our autopilot spending. Instead, it locks in place the spending binge that has increased every child’s share of the national debt to $45,000.
Rather than removing uncertainty for private-sector job creators and bolstering confidence in our economy, the president’s budget is likely to deepen anxiety among families, small business operators and investors — the people who really create jobs in America.
President Obama also wants a debt limit increase, but says spending cuts and budget reforms shouldn’t be attached to it. Americans will not stand for that. We must follow their will.
More of the same spending, taxing and borrowing will not make our economy stronger or our future brighter. This is why the spending cut agreement is important. While not nearly enough, these cuts represent a first step in taking our nation off the path to national bankruptcy, to giving employers the confidence they need to expand their businesses, and to sparing our children of lives indebted to foreign countries such as China.
Republicans control only one-half of one branch of the federal government, but we are committed to using our limited power to maximum effect in the effort to end the uncertainty facing job creators and put our economy back on a path to job creation and prosperity.
John Boehner, R-Ohio, is speaker of the House of Representatives.
Posted by WM on Sunday, April 10, 2011, at 8:45 pm | 
Tweet
LMAO…Yeah right!
They had better be ready to play hardball. The Ryan Roadmap isn’t even enough on it’s own. We’ve run deficits for pretty much our entire existence as a country, and the national debt alone is enough to give people nightmares, let alone the unfunded liabilities.
Actually a well written piece. We can only hope he can keep all the people headed in the right direction and achieve as much as he possibly can.
We need to send him some more Republicans because the Democrats will fight to keep their slush funds going in order to buy votes. They (D) really don’t care how bad they screw the country as long as they get to stay in power. John Boehner is swimming against the tide with all those liberal socialist pricks whose idea of leadership is to vote AGAINST the other party.
Come on 2012.
Finish draining that swamp.
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!
If you can’t stand up to Barry and Harry now Boehner what makes you think we believe you’ll stand up for bigger cuts down the road?
Boehner must have gotten word from me and many others through email, blogs and GOP headquarters that we think he should step down.
I am just giddy with excitement there, Boehner…just giddy…..yawn……………I will believe it when I see it.
Vote this loser out next time. He thinks the Tea Party is just a fad.
Seems to me I have heard this line before…
“Boys…..BOYS !!!! Don’t make me turn this car around!!!!”
YAWN!! Boehner want us to believe he will fight the trillion dollar battle but surrender on the billion dollar battle. Its always the next battle for him after surrendering the previous one
I thought it was a well written op-ed, and while I think much more needs to be done, I think Boehner is doing a decent job. The remaining budget for 2011, that deal was only covering discretionary cuts, the next one will change the tragectory of spending longterm.
I support the TP principles and I understand that this is not about 1 time cuts, this is about cutting the size of govt itself and that cannot be done in one swoop, and I expect Boehner to remember that, so far I can say Boehner is listening and that is a good start.
Just threaten Boehner with a government shutdown for the trillion dollar battle and watch Boehner surrender
They will start at 6 trillion over ten years and end up with 2 trillion over ten year, gutless wonders. Our country will be bankrupt before it reaches the half way point.
Geez people. Talk about eating our young. Nobody does that better than conservatives. Paul Ryan has an excellent proposal on the table. Boehner negotiated some cuts. Sure it wasn’t enough but it was something and look how the whole debate has now changed. Even Obama is touting the cuts. I’m no Pollyanna but these ad hominem attacks on Boehner are not helpful. I think we should have the back of the house majority at least through the budget negotiations. The debt ceiling debate is looming. Let’s see what they negotiate.
@ I Wear Infidel Undies: After the deal, Ryan’s now talking next year, not this year. And given the pattern that has emerged, next year will be no different than this year.
PS: What do infidel undies look like?
I think Boehner and the Republicans have done well so far. The $100 billion was supposed to be in their first year, not the second half of 2011. We put the Democrats on defense, and we’re setting the agenda. It would have been political suicide to go to the matresses at this time. Shutting down the government for what, an extra 2o-30 billion would have been stupid.
It was a victory, accept it and move on to the next battle.
C’mon, folks. It’s getting there. Remember, they just passed LAST YEAR’S budget. The FY 2012 budget must be passed by Oct. 1. Expect intense discussions immediately and a big push for Ryan’s plan.
Yea, sure crybaby orange man Boehner. A trillion what? Scotch and sodas? Golf trips with Obama? Fuck you coward.
So What?
Republicans are going to fight for the people now?
NO REPUBLICANS WILL JUST……….
CHICKEN$HIT OUT AGAIN.
if a lot of conservatives who felt guilty about slavery and wanted to cean their souls had not voted for L1/2BS we would not be in this position.
Actions speak louder than words, Mr. Speaker.
38.5 Billion is a very long way from Trillions. Epic failure – why? Because you are playing their game by continuing to put CRs forward for 2 weeks at a time. Soon you will be into FY12 without a budget for FY 11 and FY12. You must enjoy eating scraps off their table? I say grow some balls and do what you were elected to do; if not get the fuck out of the way.
Does anyone understand this?????
Federal Debt Jumped $54.1 Billion in 8 Days Preceding Obama-Boehner Deal to Cut $38.5 Billion for Rest of Year
@Sickofislam
I’m with you buddy; this is loser math and nothing more. He played right into their trap.
Well the gloom and doom continues. Watch yourself Exceller and I Wear Infidel Undies . Apparently being optimistic is not cool to many of the folks here. I spent the evening being smacked around for being overly hopeful. Finally I feel just as crappy as them. All is lost. everyone’s a crook. Boehner’s been Speaker way to long. They won me over to their side. Let’s through out all of our guys and start over. It’s not like the Dem’s would take advantage of that to screw us over some more.
throw not through.
I have to apologize folks and I am sincere. It wasn’t here but commenters on a post at IOTW that came down so hard on a fellow conservative for disagreeing. You are having a more civil discourse.
Sorry folks.
That being said IOTW has great snark and photoshop comedy and Weasel Zippers some great blogggers.
Let us be tactical about this, The speaker has a plan, let him play it out.
This mothereffer said he was gonna cut 100billion and he gave us maybe twenty or thirty billion when it’s all over?
You had your chance, Boner.
>>Dylan’s line comes to mind: “Money doesn’t talk, it screams,”…<<
Close, but the real quote is even more applicable. (I'm a contributor to the Yale Book of Quotations and I take this stuff seriously.) Please correct this.
From Bob Dylan's "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding"):
"Money doesn't talk, it swears."
Wikipedia
“It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan and first released on his 1965 album, Bringing It All Back Home. It was written in the summer of 1964, first performed live on October 10, 1964, and recorded on January 15, 1965. Described by Dylan biographer Howard Sounes as a “grim masterpiece,” the song features some of Dylan’s most memorable lyrical images. Among the well-known lines sung in the song are “Money doesn’t talk, it swears,” “Although the masters make the rules, for the wisemen and the fools” and “But even the president of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked.”
It would be nice to be optimistic about all this, but given the track record of the repubs to turn an advantage into a total clusterfuck, I’ll stick with being a tad jaded toward them until they pull their heads out of their collective asses.
I did notice on Drudge today that Obozo’s plan for his ‘deficit reducing budget’ is pointedly going to look at Medicare and Medicaid .. he’s talking about reducing benefits to seniors and the poor, but he made sure the whores are getting their free abortions, he won’t defend our borders and turn away the illegals that are sucking our system dry. Obama is completely untrustworthy. I hope Mr. Boehner and the other conservatives remember this when he’s trying to talk nice to get the upper hand..
Like when he finally did give in to the 38.whatever billion spending cut, Obozo went right out and took credit for the biggest spending cut in US history..
We need to go after Obozo’s documents … bust him out … he is a fraud and he is dirty and he is vulnerable, but most won’t push it for fear of being labeled and derided as a tea bagger, or a birther..
Pray for Donald Trump, he seems to be the only one who will push the issue.
What’s he supposed to do? If you demand they cut PP, NPR and the EPA, you can’t complain when they don’t come up with enough funds.
I didn’t hear about any widespread conservative push to force cuts in military spending. There’s your goldmine of cuts right there.
Spend as much as the worlds next 6 militaries combined = you’re bankrupt
Spend as much as the next 4 = you’re not and you’re flush.
Apart from pundits who get paid to scream that the sky is falling no matter what happens, nobody believes your current spending prevents China invading Idaho anymore than reduced spending would. Nobody believes spending this much and having a 5 year deployment of 135,000 troops in Iraq should have senior brass complaining about “breaking the military” is a reasonable result for your buck.
Your F22 ain’t busting any more skulls in a 3rd world country than the previous 2 gen of jets have. In fact, it’s never been flown in combat. It’s been just as useful as a solid gold Air Force One. I guess if Obama wants one of those to keep in a hanger forever all he’ll have to do is put some stripes on the side so it never comes up for debate or criticism.
@ Boehner…YOU LIED!!!! I will not forget.
You have to eat the elephant one bite at a time.
It took 70 years for the progs to get their utopia…why would you think the Tea Party could solve it in 7 days?
we have been lied to and used.
The Repubs are pussies and the Democraps are devils.
Obama is a Communist.
That is all you need to know.