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Will Paul Ryan's First Act as Speaker Be More Debt and Spending?
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2015 at 8:08 PM EST - Item ID: 494
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It is abundantly clear to any casual observer of politics that the GOP leadership and the established organs of the conservative movement inside the beltway don't care much for the transformational issues of our time: sovereignty, society, and security. They have remained largely silent over the war on religious liberty, our out-of-control immigration system, and Obama's release of dangerous felons from prison, including many criminal aliens. In fact, in many cases, they have given Obama tailwinds. But we are told that Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and his ilk are intrepid fiscal conservatives. And to the extent we can survive a collapse of our sovereignty and society (we can't), they will be there fighting for fiscal sanity and save us from an impending fiscal collapse. In that vein, isn't it valid to ask where Paul Ryan stands on the impending fiscal betrayal? Typically, during an election, the voters are left to speculate about the future performance of each candidate on specific issues that may arise during that candidate's potential tenure in office. With Paul Ryan running for Speaker, there's no need to speculate about his positions. His crowning as Speaker is coinciding with some major fiscal fights, battles that threaten to undo even the morsels of success conservatives have secured over the past five years controlling the House. And by all accounts, Ryan is either in the witness protection program or is downright part of the problem. Here are the details of the grand bargain: - Debt Ceiling: They will "suspend" the debt ceiling until March 2017. This will grant Obama another $1.5 trillion in new spending after he has already accrued $7.5 trillion in debt. - Highway Bailout: Pass a 6-year highway bill, sinking another $330 billion into our inefficient and self-defeating federal transportation system. This bill will require an $85 billion bailout from the general treasury and will be offset with notional and intangible savings, often built upon bad policies. This bill will also preclude the next Republican president from making much needed systemic reforms to this failed system because the reauthorization would last until the end of the next president's term. - Budget Increase: After Paul Ryan led the effort to bust the budget caps established in 2011 for the past two fiscal years, the current plan being discussed would essentially lead to the permanent termination of the Budget Control Act - “ the one major fiscal success of the past 5 years. The plan would increase spending by $80 billion and add another $32 billion to the Overseas Contingency Operation account. - Export-Import Bank: They plan to reauthorize the crony charter for another year, undoing the only conservative victory on closing a federal agency in years. What's worse is that there are no discussions of securing any concessions from Democrats on the policy provisions of the budget in return for busting the budget caps. Hence, no fight against Planned Parenthood funding, release of criminal aliens, Iran, or new EPA regulations. Keep in mind that all of these proposed spending increases are occurring amidst the backdrop of record revenue coming into the Treasury - “ as high as $3.24 trillion. If Republicans can't live on $3.24 trillion they should close up shop and incorporate themselves into the Democrat Party - “ if the Democrats are even willing to have them. What is so jarring is that this convergence of fiscal betrayals is transpiring precisely as the House votes to pick the next Speaker. There are several other proposals on the table, including a bailout for the Disability Insurance program under Social Security. Shouldn't members ask Paul Ryan where he stands on all of these critical issues before they are decided and before he is anointed Speaker? He is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and plans to be Speaker of the House in just two days. Sadly, based on past performance, members should already have their answer.
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