House progressives offer budget plan:Tax the rich, end the wars, slash oil subsidies, invest in jobs

[OhioChick]

Monday, April 11th, 2011 -- 11:40 am

Liberal Dems claim the plan eliminates deficit by 2021

WASHINGTON – As the focus on Capitol Hill shifts to America's long-run fiscal woes, Congressional progressives are one step ahead of the White House and Democratic leaders in offering a counter-proposal to the House GOP approach.

The broad sketch proposes to end the Bush-era tax cuts on high income earners, enact a surtax on millionaires and billionaires, increase the the estate tax and eliminate corporate tax loopholes and subsidies for oil and coal companies. It also aims to create a public health insurance option, end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and invest $1.45 trillion in "job creation," energy, housing and education programs.

The revenue-heavy proposal (PDF) stands in stark contrast to the spending cuts-oriented plan put forth by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) -- and championed by GOP leaders -- that slashes $6 trillion in federal programs (including Medicare and Medicaid) while significantly reducing taxes for wealthy Americans and corporations.

"This budget is transparent, straightforward and realistic about where we are in America right now," Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), co-chair of the progressive caucus, told Raw Story. "The Ryan plan, for all the credit it gets for thinking big, doesn’t reflect the reality of the American economy. It destroys the successful programs that made this country strong, especially Medicare and education, and doesn't even try to explain how it creates jobs. It reflects a faith that making government disappear will somehow create prosperity."

More: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/11/house-progressives-offer-budget-tax-the-rich-end-the-wars-slash-oil-subsidies-invest-in-jobs/

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Yes! Let's hear more of those ideas!

[Ken Burch]

2. And, if Rahm were still chief of staff

he'd call them "fucking r------d".

[KansDem]

3. Works for me!!!

:woohoo:

[hfojvt]

4. it should be interesting to see how the media reacts to this courageous and serious plan

maybe now Ruth Marcus will see that there is another alternative?


Maybe, but I doubt it.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

11. They'll either ignore or lambaste it. NPR had some teabagger

on Sunday afternoon swooning over Ryan's plan - but of course they did not follow up with a rebuttal or any commentary from a Democrat on the plan - completely one-sided reporting. They followed that segment with a story about prostitutes....aptly.

[ladjf]

19. I can tell you that the media will do everything possible to ignore

and discredit it. But, we shouldn't let that stop the initiative. The "media" isn't the only source of news available. If necessary, time could be bought to advertise it in the media. Those whores will do anything for money.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. With this administration, it can (unfortunately) be put on the "fat chance" shelf.

And, promptly dismissed by the White House as "impractical", "unrealistic", accompanied by the standard complaints about the "professional left" and followed by effusive thanks to Boehner and Co.

[badtoworse]

7. With the Repub's controlling the House, it won't even get voted on.- nt.

[EFerrari]

24. Well, when WE controlled the House, the Republicans' plans

always got more time and noise, too.

[badtoworse]

26. I think if you objectively examine history, ...

... you will find that in the House, the minority party has little say in how bills get drafted and what get voted on. It doesn't matter which party is in the majority - they call the shots. There is really very little the minority can do except whine about it. Unfortunately, that is where the House Progressives are right now.

[EFerrari]

27. I think if you examine recent history, you'll find every crisis

for the last 30 years has been framed by the right wing.

[badtoworse]

31. I agree with that

It's a serious weakness for our side. Framing the debate is equivalent to having the home field advantage and they always seem to have it.

[BrklynLiberal]

42. +10000

[ladjf]

16. Maybe so. But, it's a start. More and more people have got to

be informed that there is a reasonable and equitable solution to the budget problem.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. Indeed. And, hopefully the voices will become louder against the inevitable caving.

[ladjf]

23. There is NO doubt that we do not have any courageous leadership.

That is a given. What ever is accomplished will have to be a work around that obstacle. The challenges to get this enacted are massive. But, the idea is one who's time has come. That could be enough to launch the good plan. I'm in with both feet. Personally, I'm ready to do whatever would be necessary to get this idea launched.

[ladjf]

6. The enactment of this plan would solve the bulk of our pressing

problems. So simple, so logical but so difficult to garner enough support. Too much greed, malice and stupidity. Yet, we've got to try. The House Progressives are the main glimmer of hope on our horizon. They are my heroes.

[Laf.La.Dem.]

8. WOW - sounds good to me!!!!

GO - progressive caucus:kick:

[ladjf]

14. Damn. This is more like it. nt

[ProfessionalLeftist]

9. Now I'll get behind that! n/t

[Newest Reality]

10. The Progressive Caucus

has my full support.

I wonder how many people are aware of them and what they have proposed to do? There is a progressive group fighting for our agendas, yet it seems that few have been noticing that light over their, shining brightly.

[ladjf]

17. I'm almost embarrassed to say that until today, I wasn't aware of

their existence. We've got to support these folks.

[mod mom]

39. my full support as well!

[polichick]

12. This SHOULD get as much attention as Ryan's far-right plan...

...but even the WH will ignore it.

[ladjf]

22. It SHOULD get even more than Ryan's idiotic and cruel plant. But,

we all know that it won't. However, there are other ways to spread the news of good ideas.We need to use them all.

[polichick]

25. Yes, if people can pressure centrist Dems with this it's a good thing...

But a Democratic WH should be trumpeting this as the smart choice without a peep from us.

[gratuitous]

13. Wait for the "liberal" media to pick up this ball and run with it

In 3 . . . 2 . . . Never.

There will be no traction for this in the popular media. Nobody will get John Boehner on the teevee and demand to know whether he's considered any of this. Nobody in the Republican camp will even have to notice this, as the plan is tossed down the Memory Hole, never to be seen or heard from again. The proposal's only flaw is that it will work, as has been demonstrated in the past, but workable ideas are not allowed anymore. The popular media are far more enthralled with the "something for nothing" proposals out of the Nitwit Wing of the Republican party.

[ladjf]

20. True, but that doesn't preclude America hearing about it. We just

saw in on the DU. There are hundreds of news blog sites, not to mention other avenues, i.e. iphones,
data phones,and word of mouth. This plan is a Great,simple and logical solution to the deficit problem. It might be an idea whose time has come.

[zbdent]

15. I remember in 1993, the repugs were screaming about how the Clinton budget

would cause financial Armageddon ... not one Repug voted for it ... and yet, when the apocalypse failed to show, and a greater version resembling prosperity than ever occurred under Total Republican Rule started to emerge, they claimed it was due to their actions ... and the "liberally-biased media" failed to focus on the truth, instead, they focused on Clinton's crotch and Gore's fundraising ... along with quotes he never said ...

[Champion Jack]

21. About damn time!

[MichiganVote]

28. Count me in!

[rdking647]

29. show me the actual numbers

as well as a non partisan assement on how it reduces the deficit from the CBO or something similar before I can comment

[ChromeFoundry]

30. Makes too much sense!

Washington could never comprehend something this simple and not filled with pork.

[polichick]

32. I'd like to see the prez speak from the Oval Office, clearly showing the details of this...

...progressive proposal in contrast with Ryan's insane proposal - then I'd like to see a poll showing which plan the people think is wiser.

I'll be surprised if he even mentions it in public.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

33. YES! n/t

[and-justice-for-all]

34. I concur!! nt

[lildreamer316]

35. THIS is what I voted for.

Oh, how I wish it had a chance.

[I Drink Water]

36. Excellent, now lets get some numbers behind it.

[Hawkowl]

37. If Obama only embraced these values

I would vote for him again, if only he espoused these values instead of his craven fawning over the Rethuglican idle rich.

[loudsue]

38. So WHY IN THE HELL don't they take to every news cycle and SAY SO.

81% of Americans WANT THIS. Why don't they say that on teevee, over and over. Radio. Newspapers. Internet. WTF is wrong with them? Do we have too many SHY democrats? If they pushed themselves onto the media outlets, Americans would cheer them on.

But NOOOOOOOOO! We hear about it on DU.

[KoKo]

43. +1

[ck4829]

40. K&R

[BrklynLiberal]

41. Wow! What concepts! Just common sense to most of us, and seen as radical revolution by the right.