As you guys convene in Florida today for your retreat, I know you are realizing there are probably going to be two bills, not one, to accomplish Trump’s agenda and preserve tax cuts.
Why, though, do they need to go to a "retreat" in FL? Are we on the hook for this trip for hotels, meals, transportation, etc.? There are a number of good buildings in DC, that we fund, for meetings.
Please let's get this economy under control. I would start with a 2% cut across the board on everything except the the military. If someone told me that I had to cut my spending by 2% or go belly up I would absolutely find a way. It's called a budget. Do you actually need that extra 2% to survive? I may be naive, but before you all were in Congress and spending my money you were at home spending your own.
I like the idea of going back to 2019 spending, except for the military. Roll back Medicaid to then. Review the # of people on SS. Leave the old people & truly disabled but there are too many people, in my opinion, in my city who ride the disability SS wagon.
Probably one of the most needed pieces you've written in a long time, Erick. The GOP is on a roll, and even though that roll includes some mistakes, most of us are excited to see ACTION versus lip-service. But if they go down there and quarrel among themselves while calling it "adhering to their values," they will quickly consume whatever equity they've built even among the staunchest supporters. I have a sign on my wall they should read: "Let's keep the dumb#&@*ery to a minimum today."
Given the state of the national debt, we need all the deficit hawks we can get. Maybe we should let the tax cuts expire, cut spending, and reform SS and Medicare while we are at it. As with any budget that is out of control, sooner or later there must be drastic changes, even if they cause temporary pain. Otherwise, the house of (credit) cards collapses.
We learned a long time ago that what the Republicans say they will do and what they actually do is often two different things. The voters want unity and responsible spending. Let’s start with that.
1. Congress must get back to the business of passing an actual budget. Not another continuing resolution.
2. We need a hard look at the actual priorities and prioritization in the budget. National defense has to be priority 1. Rank the others in order, and the lower priority items, especially non-critical, we should consider cutting out altogether.
3. The federal bureaucracy has become too large and to concentrated in high standard of living areas. Moving to lower cost of living locations could allow for reduced salary expenditures
First of all, the preamble of the US Constitution clearly states that one of the proposes of the federal government the provision for the common defense of the several states. Article 1 also clearly lays out the powers and responsibilities of Congress, including funding for the common defense.
Your complaint about the size of the budget could very well be due to ongoing corruption in the procurement process, and a lack of competition among government vendors.
We also continue to have very serious threats from Islamist terrorists/caliphate supporters and china, specifically the CCP.
Russian, under its current autocrat Putin is a threat. He has publicly stated his desire to recreate the Russian/CCCP empire as it existed under Stalin. As long as he is in power, the threat exists.
Hi Luther, my only disagreement is on national defense as priority #1. The US spends more on defense than the next sixteen (16) countries COMBINED. Granted, this expenditure gave us quick victory in Desert Storm (we mopped the floor with the world's #4 army and their elite Republican Guard), the ability to take out terrorist leaders virtually anywhere on the globe, and total American losses of 7,054 in Iraq AND Afghanistan. But that doesn't mean we couldn't cut back a little. Our go-to adversaries - what I consider a "necessary evil" in order to sell the defense budget - often look weak in trial-by-fire (e.g., Russia with Ukraine, including North Korea "helping" by firing on Russian soldiers). While I firmly and absolutely believe in preparedness, defense spending is bloated and could use a little more focus.
Erick, I’d be interested in your thoughts on this.
https://x.com/jokaqarmy1/status/1883844007262114209?s=49
Appreciate the article.
Why, though, do they need to go to a "retreat" in FL? Are we on the hook for this trip for hotels, meals, transportation, etc.? There are a number of good buildings in DC, that we fund, for meetings.
I agree with you. I thought we all wanted our bloated government to go on a diet. This sounds like continued gorging at the trough. It's infuriating.
Putting some distance between them and the folks in DC can remove some distractions and allow them to speak more freely, at least in principle.
Maybe you should go to Florida with them.
Please let's get this economy under control. I would start with a 2% cut across the board on everything except the the military. If someone told me that I had to cut my spending by 2% or go belly up I would absolutely find a way. It's called a budget. Do you actually need that extra 2% to survive? I may be naive, but before you all were in Congress and spending my money you were at home spending your own.
I like the idea of going back to 2019 spending, except for the military. Roll back Medicaid to then. Review the # of people on SS. Leave the old people & truly disabled but there are too many people, in my opinion, in my city who ride the disability SS wagon.
100% agreed
The military budget is nearly a trillion dollars. Methinks there’s enough pork to cut that won’t adversely affect the country.
And remember the Pentagon has not passed an audit in nearly a decade.
https://econofact.org/factbrief/has-the-pentagon-failed-its-7th-audit-in-a-row
Probably one of the most needed pieces you've written in a long time, Erick. The GOP is on a roll, and even though that roll includes some mistakes, most of us are excited to see ACTION versus lip-service. But if they go down there and quarrel among themselves while calling it "adhering to their values," they will quickly consume whatever equity they've built even among the staunchest supporters. I have a sign on my wall they should read: "Let's keep the dumb#&@*ery to a minimum today."
Given the state of the national debt, we need all the deficit hawks we can get. Maybe we should let the tax cuts expire, cut spending, and reform SS and Medicare while we are at it. As with any budget that is out of control, sooner or later there must be drastic changes, even if they cause temporary pain. Otherwise, the house of (credit) cards collapses.
We learned a long time ago that what the Republicans say they will do and what they actually do is often two different things. The voters want unity and responsible spending. Let’s start with that.
Or, what ANY party says, not only Rs
1. Congress must get back to the business of passing an actual budget. Not another continuing resolution.
2. We need a hard look at the actual priorities and prioritization in the budget. National defense has to be priority 1. Rank the others in order, and the lower priority items, especially non-critical, we should consider cutting out altogether.
3. The federal bureaucracy has become too large and to concentrated in high standard of living areas. Moving to lower cost of living locations could allow for reduced salary expenditures
First of all, the preamble of the US Constitution clearly states that one of the proposes of the federal government the provision for the common defense of the several states. Article 1 also clearly lays out the powers and responsibilities of Congress, including funding for the common defense.
Your complaint about the size of the budget could very well be due to ongoing corruption in the procurement process, and a lack of competition among government vendors.
We also continue to have very serious threats from Islamist terrorists/caliphate supporters and china, specifically the CCP.
Russian, under its current autocrat Putin is a threat. He has publicly stated his desire to recreate the Russian/CCCP empire as it existed under Stalin. As long as he is in power, the threat exists.
Hi Luther, my only disagreement is on national defense as priority #1. The US spends more on defense than the next sixteen (16) countries COMBINED. Granted, this expenditure gave us quick victory in Desert Storm (we mopped the floor with the world's #4 army and their elite Republican Guard), the ability to take out terrorist leaders virtually anywhere on the globe, and total American losses of 7,054 in Iraq AND Afghanistan. But that doesn't mean we couldn't cut back a little. Our go-to adversaries - what I consider a "necessary evil" in order to sell the defense budget - often look weak in trial-by-fire (e.g., Russia with Ukraine, including North Korea "helping" by firing on Russian soldiers). While I firmly and absolutely believe in preparedness, defense spending is bloated and could use a little more focus.