A number of interesting things to comment on since last week’s blog. First of all, after votes wrapped up in Washington last week, Republican Members of Congress took the train from Washington to Williamsburg, Virginia for our annual strategy retreat. (I particularly enjoy when the yearly event is in Williamsburg, as I’m a graduate of the College of William and Mary, and I use my break time to walk around the campus and remember my old college days.)
Lots of discussion at the retreat about what went right, and what went wrong (mostly wrong) last year politically and legislatively. And more importantly, how we can get things back on the right track.
One of the first orders of business is dealing once again with the debt ceiling. Rather than take things to the brink again, cave at the last second, and accomplish nothing, Republicans have come up with a strategy that just might work.
Harry Reid and the Democrat-controlled Senate have gotten away with failing to pass a budget for four years now. This is one of the main reasons it has become virtually impossible to rein in the out-of-control spending in Washington. The Republican-controlled House passes a budget every year. The Democrat-controlled Senate doesn’t. So the irresponsible spending continues unabated.
This time Republicans in the House have said, no increase in the debt ceiling unless the Democratic Senate passes a budget. And if they don’t pass a budget, THEY DON’T GET PAID. No budget – no pay.
And the debt ceiling increase Republicans will allow, will only be short term – for three months. Here’s why that makes a difference. During that three months, two other things will happen. First, automatic cuts in spending (sequestration) are scheduled to kick in (a trillion dollars over ten years.) And the Continuing Resolution expires. (I know, sounds like Washington gobble-dee-gook.) What it means is that money funding the Washington bureaucracy itself runs out. And if House Republicans are willing to stay tough, and stick together, significant reductions in Washington spending are actually possible – for the first time in a long time.
At least that’s the plan.
Another thing that happened since last week – Inauguration festivities took place, and Barack Obama was sworn in for another four years as President. I was there – about a first down or so from the podium. Estimates are a million people came to Washington to participate in the pomp and circumstance.
Although I’m sure some thought President Obama’s speech was wonderful (MSNBC’s Chris Matthews compared it to the Gettysburg Address!) I thought it was, for the most part, a missed opportunity. Inaugural addresses are usually an occasion for our Presidents to reach out to political adversaries, to emphasize working together, to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
Well, there was none of that. The speech was a laundry list of liberal policy goals. It was a call for more gun controls, weakened immigration laws, gay rights, climate change (i.e. more Solyndras), and bigger government. In other words, “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you.” Right.
And finally, one other thing since last week’s blog. I turned 60 yesterday. The only downside – I couldn’t be with my family, since I’ve been in Washington all week. That being said, it continues to be a tremendous honor, to represent you and your family in the United States Congress (even though we’re apparently less popular than head lice, cockroaches, and France, according to a recent survey. The good news is, we’re still more popular than the Ebola virus.)
Anyway, keep the faith, and I’ll see you next week.
