House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill (AP)(MyFoxBoston.com March 15, 2011) The Republican-controlled House of Representatives approved a three-week extension of a stopgap federal spending bill containing $6 billion in cuts Tuesday, despite defections from many Republican members who were disappointed in passing yet another short-term stopgap measure. Tuesdays bill, dubbed H.R. 48, passed the House by a vote of 271-158. It must also pass the Senate before Friday in order to avert a federal government shutdown. Senate leaders of both parties have expressed confidence they will pass the bill on time.
Tuesday's resolution extends federal spending authorizations until April 8, at which point the two parties will need to agree on a new funding measure to last through the end of the fiscal year on September 30. Congress has been forced to pass a series of temporary spending bills as agreement on a longer-term bill between te parties has proved elusive. Prior to Tuesday's vote, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) expressed confidence that the bill would pass and sought to reassure skeptical Republicans that the bill was a necessary prelude to a longer-term solution. "This short-term measure is necessary because Democrats are divided and haven't crafted a serious long-term plan that cuts spending," Boehner said, arguing that with Tuesday's passage, Republicans will have enacted "$10 billion in cuts in just five weeks with more cuts to come." Several high profile Republicans such as Jim Jordan, Mike Pence, Louie Gohmert, Steve King, and Michelle Bachmann announced prior to the vote that they would oppose the bill.
"By giving liberals in the Senate another three weeks of negotations, we will only delay a confrontation that must come," Pence said in a statement outlining his opposition. "I say, Let it come now. It's time to take a stand. Nobody wants a government shutdown, but unless we take a stand, we will shut down the future for our children and grandchildren."
The latest stopgap bill follows a two-week extension negotiated in Congress and signed into law by President Obama earlier this month. The bill contained $4 billion in spending cuts and passed the House in a 335 to 91 vote.
I would like to know where are the Republicans who promised they would rein in federal spending? Last year the Republicans in the House and Senate as well as the freshmen Republicans campaigned on controlling the national debt. Hence they're defecting from their promise to the American people. It appears that House Speaker Boehner made some kind of deal with Obama, Pelosi and Reid to raise the debt ceiling for the next three weeks. Six billion dollars in cuts is chump change when you consider we're running deficits in the trillions. I've even heard both Congessman Steve King (R-IA) and Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) claim that there was money placed into the budget for Obamacare. Why aren't Republicans refusing to fund Obamacare? What are they waiting for? I recall House Speaker John Boehner late last year say he would use whatever tactic he could use to stop the implementation of Obamacare, which would include defunding it. I believe when the final budget is passed there will be funding for Obamacare. I can't trust the Republican leadership in the House. John Boehner, Eric Cantor, and Kevin McCarthy don't appear to be serious about reducing the deficit. If the Republicans don't stand up and rein in federal spending and defund Obamacare, then we better vote them out come November 2012. We Americans don't have time for this foolishness from the Republicans. The Republicans in the House are in the majority in the House and they need to lead and produce a budget which issues massive cuts in spending. If they refuse to do that, then our nation is finished--pure and simple. We can't afford to ignore the deficit anymore.
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