WP, p1:Budget Impasse Reflects GOP Schism (taxes,spending)

[DeepModem Mom]

Budget Impasse Reflects GOP Schism
Tax Cutters in Standoff With Advocates of Fiscal Restraint
By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 30, 2004; Page A01


A deep rift in the Republican Party has left Congress unable to pass a budget this year, raising the probability that, for the third time in three decades, lawmakers will not agree on a detailed blueprint for government spending and tax policy.

The budget meltdown was triggered by a feud between conservative Republicans who favor continuing to cut taxes in the face of record budget deficits and GOP moderates who are pushing for curbs on tax cuts and are reluctant to slash spending. Even a face-saving effort in the House to impose federal spending curbs blew up just after midnight Friday when 72 Republicans joined a united Democratic Party to torpedo the leadership-backed bill.

The collapse of budget negotiations is more of a political embarrassment than a practical problem for GOP leaders, who only two years ago sharply criticized Democrats for failing to pass a budget when they controlled the Senate. But some Republicans fear that this year's impasse reflects an irreconcilable division within their party that will imperil the government's ability to set tax policy and address ever-widening deficits as the baby boomers begin to retire.

"For a majority of Republicans in Congress, tax cuts are now more important then budget constraints, and they've gotten themselves between a rock and a hard place because you can't have both," lamented former senator Warren B. Rudman (R-N.H.), a prominent advocate of fiscal restraint....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15997-2004Jun29.html

[Merlin]

1. Very important story. Repub split in offing. KEY POINT FOR US:

(emphasis mine)

There are limits to the effectiveness of spending cuts. Even if Congress had eliminated every penny of the $438 billion in domestic discretionary spending this year, every education and health program, every homeland security effort, national park, interstate highway and federal prison, the government would still find itself in the red.

"When it comes to budgetary matters, we can't operate on ideological whims," (Sen Olympia) Snowe said. "Numbers tell the truth." <.b>

[Merlin]

2. Kick. This is important. No kidding! n/t

.

[Dhalgren]

3. Republican meld down! Love it!

Snow - "Ideological whims"! The "moderate" repubs are standing up to the godnazis! It is about time! Party loyalty does not equal patriotism, and in the case of the repubs it may even be polar opposites. Maybe there is a light at the end of this tunnel, after all...

[Moderator]

4. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=655093