House Passes Debt-limit Deal

House Passes Debt-limit Deal

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) makes a surprise return to Congress to cast a "yes" vote to raising the debt ceiling.

Another picture of Giffords casting her vote

House Speaker John Boehner after the vote was cast to raise the debt limit.

Yesterday evening the House voted to raise the country's debt ceiling in exchange for supposed spending  cuts, which I project won't happen.  The vote that took place wasn't a vote on a budget bill.  It was a vote to raise the debt ceiling.  It was a vote to give Congress an excuse to go deeper into debt.  The House tally was 269 in favor of the bill and 161 in opposition to the bill.  John Boehner, the House Speaker, read the final vote tally on the final vote to raise the debt ceiling.  "Ayes are 269, 'nay' are 161" said Boehner.  "The bill is pased, and without objection a motion to reconsider is laid on the table."  The bill is headed to the U.S. Senate.  They will vote on this bill today, which is supposedly the deadline in which the country could "default" if no debt ceiling agreement is reached.  Two Democrats who voted for the bill are House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer.  Pelosi and Hoyer both stated they weren't necessarily happy with the bill, but they felt it did some things that needed to be done.  I believe they voted for the bill so they could have an excuse to raise the debt ceiling once again.  The very fact they voted for this bill tells me it's no good.  Some "conservative" Republicans who backed the bill were House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and Tea Party backed Republican Allen West of Florida.  The $2 trillion in cuts that are supposed to happen over a 10-year period will include cuts in the entitlement programs and 50% cuts in defense spending.  The debt ceiling is also supposed to be raised by $2 trillion.  A debt commission is also to be created to explore ways to make "deeper" cuts in spending?  What then was the purpose in the Bowles-Simpson debt commission last year whose purpose was to look for spending cuts in the budget? 

Yesterday evening the House received an unexpected suprise visit from wounded Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ).  Giffords made a surprise appearance on Capitol Hill to cast her vote to raise the debt ceiling.  She voted "yes" to raise the debt ceiling.  Nancy Pelosi and Giffords good friend Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz knew that Giffords might be making an appearance on Capitol Hill.  Giffords husband was going to be in Washington so she decided to make an appearance to cast her vote on this particular issue.  Once the vote was cast the spotlight was placed on her.  Many were thrilled at her surprise appearance on Capitol Hill.

This debt ceiling vote is a scam.  There aren't any cuts in government spending, only reductions in the increases in government spending.  Also, the $2 trillion in spending cuts that are promised are to happen over a 10-year period.  From what I heard yesterday evening according to talk show host Bill Cunningham, the cuts aren't slated to happen until 2013.  We don't need so-called deep spending cuts taking place over a 10-year period.  We need deep spending cuts at this moment.  The House Republicans could've used their power in the house to cut off spending in many areas, including defunding Obamacare.  They have refused to do so.  Instead, Boehner and McConnell have been in closed-door sessions with President Obama making deals that's not good for America.  The Democrats have been looking for an excuse to raise the debt ceiling and the Republicans have caved in the House.  The Democrats have no intention in shrinking the size of government.  Instead, they desire to continue growing government and the Republican Party are willing accomplices in this effort.  As I mentioned earlier, there was an agreement made to reduce defense spending by 50%.  If that's the case, then our governments needs to stop sending our troops to the Middle East to fight wars in which there is no committment to winning.  These wars have stretched our military thin.  If Congress is going to reduce military spending by a substantial amount, then they better send our troops home as soon as possible.  They also better pull our troops out in other parts of the world they are stationed such as Germany and Japan for example.  Tomorrow the Senate will vote on raising the debt ceiling.