Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Will they...

Will the Federal Government have a "shut down" ?  

Hopefully.

We need hundreds of billions of dollars cut from spending.  The Republicans want to cut $100 billion (for the entire fiscal year), Democrats...seriously, they have moved from nothing, to half way.

Shut it down!

The Democrats believe the Republicans will pay for this - the MEDIA has pushed this over and over, that is all you hear.  It is possible (especially with the media's help), but only if the Republicans let it happen.  Obama is so ripe to be painted as The One who can't fix this...not to mention he is in hiding since Axelrod and Emanual left.

One website pointed out that the government has shut down many times, but the standoff in 1996 was skillfully played by Clinton when he published the 'costs':

•Lost Dollars: The six-day shutdown cost taxpayers about $800 million, including $400 million to furloughed federal employees who were paid, but did not report to work and another $400 million in lost revenue in the four days that the IRS enforcement divisions were closed.
Inconvenienced Citizens (While its totally true that furloughed employees will get paid, they shouldn't! And it is a total play on numbers to say that IRS enforcement lost $400 million in revenue, do you think the IRS forgave money owed?)

•Medicare: Some 400,000 newly eligible Medicare recipients were delayed in applying for the program. (Delayed...the government shut down for a week, stop depending on the government for everything.)

•Social Security: Claims from 112,000 new Social Security applicants were not processed. 212,000 new or replacement Social Security cards were not issued. 360,000 office visits were denied. 800,000 toll-free calls for information were not answered. (Again, it was shut down for a week - this is a good example of government controlling too much of people's lives)

•Healthcare: New patients were not accepted into clinical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) clinical center. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ceased disease surveillance and hotline calls to NIH concerning diseases were not answered. (Thanks, we have Google now...)

•Environment: Toxic waste clean-up work at 609 sites stopped as 2,400 Superfund workers were sent home. (And nobody died, or got sick, as most of these are just money making boondoggles for the people that were sent home)

•Law Enforcement and Public Safety: Delays occurred in the processing of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives applications by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; work on more than 3,500 bankruptcy cases reportedly was suspended; cancellation of the recruitment and testing of federal law enforcement officials reportedly occurred, including the hiring of 400 border patrol agents; and delinquent child-support cases were delayed. (Note the use of the word "reportedly" - it didn't happen, and it won't happen...the DOJ and other law enforcement entities already have a hiring freeze in effect....and what child-support cases are federal?)

•US Veterans: Multiple veterans' services were curtailed, ranging from health and welfare to finance and travel. (This is a needed service...but folks, it was 6 days, congress did and will fund emergency spending for military and national security)

•Travel: 80,000 passport applications were delayed. 80,000 visas were delayed. The resulting postponement or cancellation of travel cost U.S. tourist industries and airlines millions of dollars. (Good - stay home, spend your money here.  80,000 in a week? Sounds high.)

•National Parks: 2 million visitors were turned away from the nation's national parks resulting in the loss of millions in revenue. (Open the gates - its our park!)

•Government-backed Loans: FHA mortgage loans worth more than $800 million to more than 10,000 low-and-moderate-income working families were delayed. (Awesome - cancel the program altogether!)

Hopefully your still reading (this means you Pat!)...

Isn't this what the 2010 elections were all about?!  The new Republicans need to stand up - no more continuing resolutions, no half measures.  Tow the line!  Shut it down!

If not, if we get that half measure - throw them out! All of them!

2 comments:

LL said...

The House of Representatives (The source of ALL spending originates there) can selectively de-fund programs and the Executive Branch can't do much about it. Why don't they simply target garbage programs and worthless spending - get their $60B or whatever, and then get on with the $3 trillion cut in the next budget?

Race Bannon said...

You got my vote.

I hear Republican's talking abou this. 'The House has passed a budget, that's what you get.'

...they do not have the spine to stick to that.