Despite McCain’s Comments, Senate GOP Not Offering Detailed Budget
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Much has been made in recent days about divisions inside the House Republican caucus over how to frame the party’s opposition to President Obama’s budget. On Thursday, House Republicans did wind up offering the frame of an alternative budget — but then they were widely panned for not releasing a more detailed alternative to the Democratic proposals. That’s what made an exchange Sunday with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” intriguing. DAVID GREGORY: “Do you think that Republicans should provide a detailed budget alternative?” McCAIN: “Yes.” GREGORY: “With numbers?” McCAIN: “Yes.” GREGORY: “Will that happen in the Senate?” McCAIN: “We’re working on it, working very hard on it.” So — are they? Actually, no. According to a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the Senate GOP’s plan remains the same: Republicans are planning to offer individual amendments to the Democratic budget but not a detailed, comprehensive budget of their own. Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., the top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, has pointed out that if the GOP amendments are accepted en masse (which will not happen), the amended budget would be the Republican alternative. Senate GOP leaders have also pointed out that Senate Democrats didn’t offer a detailed alternative budget in 2005 and 2006, when Republicans last controlled the Senate. In any event, a full budget alternative may be what McCain wants, but it’s not going to be what happens. This is far from the first time that McCain is wandering beyond the boundaries of the party line. But it does suggest that, as Democrats brand Republicans as the party of “no,” the splits over in the House GOP may emerge in the Senate, too.
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The party of No. Just good talking point and lies.
Posted by: Su35driver | March 30, 2009, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
The PARTY OF NO is exposed.
Now that the wind is blowing really hard and lifting their chicken feathers, the real behind of the Repugs is being exposed.
Posted by: Steve_NJ | March 30, 2009, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
The PARTY OF NO
Is Bankrupt! no new Ideas, Their party is in Shambles. Before they can help Fix the Country they Need to Fix their Sinking Party hahah lololol hahahah
Posted by: Angie In PA | March 30, 2009, 4:42 pm 4:42 pm
A full detailed budget wouldn’t make a lot of sense – no one would go into that much detail. But offering an “alternative” without a single number is just cowardly. Obama put out there the unpopular part of his proposal (tax increases, a bit $$$ pot as a down payment for future health care plant)and took his hits. The Republicans are just putting out there the popular bits of their proposal – everyone like lower taxes, but SPECIFICALLY HOW DO YOU PAY FOR THEM?
Republicans are just putting out re-election slogans at this point, not alternative governing options.
Posted by: jhw539 | March 30, 2009, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
The Republican themesong is the one Groucho Marx sang in the movie Horse Feathers:
“No matter what it is, I’m against it”
Posted by: Howard Beale | March 30, 2009, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
The GOP is so stupid that they’ve painted themselves in a one-way corner when they were getting by with nothing but mindless criticism of Obama. The moment they promised a detailed alternative budget, the expectations were set.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | March 30, 2009, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
Pathetic, incompetent, shameless behavior
Posted by: Holly 65 | March 30, 2009, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
There sure won’t be many repubs posting on this thread.
….hehe.
Posted by: JoAnne | March 30, 2009, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm
The only things that the GOP is for are Nos. No taxes (= no military, no FBI, no Federal prisons to hold terrorists etc) No restrictions on business (yes to pollution, dangerous or ineffective products) No services to the insignificant classes (i.e. anyone earning under a million.). The GOP has fallen into the bad habit of relying on spin to cover bankruptcy of character and ideas.
Posted by: Jim H | March 30, 2009, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
Republicans …the part of no..not the party of “KNOW”. they have no idea how to govern or how to fix a problem..which is why they left it to this administration..willing to take on the tough problems.
Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm
When all the GOP’s can say is a big NO, what do you expect them to come up with?? Party of no ideas, no honor and no character, all you will get is still a resounding NO. So forget about asking them to come up with anything when they have NOTHING. It’s a No, No, no.
Posted by: Karen | March 30, 2009, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
You don’t need a budget if all you do is reduce taxes and stop spending. Failure of the American system is what the GOP wants. It is not about individual representation, it is about corporate representation. It si that simple.
Posted by: Thinking | March 30, 2009, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
Gregg is right that when the Democrats were the minority they did not offer detailed budgets to counter Republican policies. However, one thing was clear,they were against the Bush tax cuts, wanted out of Iraq (Biden even suggested dividing Iraq into three to satisfy the three largest ethnic groups) wanted better healthcare, etc. They weren’t mindlessly criticizing Bush–they offered clear, if liberal alternatives to what Bush offered. The Republicans have offered nothing but more tax cuts for the wealthy while railing against Obama’s spending. You can’t close the deficit by only cutting taxes. You are depriving the Treasury of income to meet the government’s operating needs. Bush did that in 2001 with a $1.2 trillion tax cut…It doesn’t work anymore.
I read the 19 page “budget” the Repubs put out and the only policy it offered was a 10% tax bracket for under $100K and 25% for over that with “generous exemptions.” Obama is spending money to build the US–the money will benefit us vis the middle class tax cut and infrastructure and making sure business aren’t saddled with high health care costs. Repubs are still on “starve the beast” Americans have moved on and seen that while you mean starve the gov’t, they will starve too…Just like America moved on from Jimmie Carter and went to Reagan. The pendulum will go back again, but it won’t if Repubs are stuck on stupid. Stop being Henny Penny screaming Marxism, socialism and not offering any solutions. It only makes you look stupid. If and when you finally have a good idea, no one will want to listen to you anymore.
Posted by: Arghdkla | March 30, 2009, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm
Its pretty funny, that all but 3 republican govenors are on board with the presidents budget and stimulus package..it appears those who actually run something besides their “mouth”, have more common sense…they know their states and their constituents need help..
Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
Now that the President has offered a responsible budget that puts us on the glide path to lower debt and greater prosperity, will he find time to release a copy of his original birth certificate on file in Hawaii? Why would he send lawyers into court to block the release of such a basic document? Could he be hiding something?
Posted by: Terry | March 30, 2009, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm
no comment….
wait, one comment
First to produce a non-budget, then for McCain to lie and say the Senate Re-Re’s
are working on one, then to find out from another GOP party member they are not working on a budget…
no comment
Posted by: clarity | March 30, 2009, 10:31 pm 10:31 pm
One should not have to hesitate if he had not made the mistake, if one is guilty, should be sorry for that and should accept in front of all. But here the case is somewhat different, he denies to show the budget as well as hiding the reports. This will be forcing to action against him.
Posted by: Used Car Dealers | March 31, 2009, 2:11 am 2:11 am
I used to be a Republican. But quite some time ago, the GOP ceased to be interested in governing. My Republican friends seem most concerned with: (1) eradicating taxes, and (2) turning back the social clock 60 years. They want to stop change (e.g., immigrants, world trade, technology . . . loss of national, racial and religious dominance) — but “change” has already occurred! How do we manage where we go from here? The GOP isn’t stepping up to the plate–and it’s a loss to the whole country.
Posted by: Sophie in VA | March 31, 2009, 10:39 am 10:39 am
Why offer anything constructive when you can snipe from the sidelines?
Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | March 31, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am
GOP = liars with no ideas. Yawn.
Posted by: Jon Chinn | March 31, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am
John Boy……….this is exactly why you and your Republican pals lost the election. Can you Republicans do anything except run your mouths?
Posted by: Sammy | March 31, 2009, 11:56 am 11:56 am
so john mcstain is a crinic liar and the entire repuglitard party can’t fit into a single clown car, at the present time
but they’re working on it
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