What happened to balancing the budget?

[Jack Sprat]

The falling value of the dollar and the grim outlook of future financial solvency had our attention before the election. Yet, the new 110th Congress that we helped elect is increasing defense appropriations and adding pork projects beyond that of the 109th it replaced.

Are they dismissing the reasons for the public dissatisfaction that led to the 06 election turnover? The war drones on with more money consumed by it and only the offer of a Sept 08 deadline, which is likely to be vetoed anyway. If we compromise with this president, his slime will only drag us down with him.

What happened to the "Pay as you go" budget? If Shrub doesn't want to end this debacle in the desert, then make him pay with a budget of tax increases to pay for his war. So far, I would label the new Congress as timid and weak. The investigations are the only positive so far.

[izzie]

1. I sort of lost it with what the Dem are doing but I can see their point.

I wish they would get back to doing things better than how the GOP ran things. Both spending like jack asses is hardly going to help anyone. But the war takes so much I think they have to get rid of that cost first.

[JDPriestly]

2. Could you please identify some of the pork projects?

If you think some expenditures should not have been included, please be more specific. I'm not flaming. I am serious.

[Jack Sprat]

3. 20 billion dollars worth

to peanut storage in Georgia
to menhaden in the Atlantic Ocean
to new office space and furnishings for the members
to spinach growers in California

Shrub asked for 105 Billion
We have offered up 124 Billion

I would bet that those are not the only sources of pork, but it is the ones cited in the Washington Examiner.

[papau]

4. 99% not pork - Katrina relief and other promises unkept by prior Bush Congress - the 10 million

here and there for odd crap does not make the $20 billion into pork - IMHO

[papau]

5. The balanced budget rules say new spending requires new revenue or canceled old spending - and that

rule is alive an well.

The Pentagon could be cut 200 billion and intel could be cut 10 billion, but that is not going to happen.

Meanwhile national health which is a 300 to 400 billion saver to the economy that will require on paper $100 billion or a bit more to get started - and if a Democratic Party victory in 08 includes the Presidency, the "balanced rules will be waived so as to get it passed - since passing it will actually - and is actually the only way to - get a balance budget in the future.