Congressional Enthusiasm for Bush Agenda Tempered by Deficit

[struggle4progress]

Jan. 4 (Bloomberg) -- A new U.S. Congress takes office today, facing an ambitious and controversial agenda including partial Social Security privatization and tax revision, made even more complicated by a record federal budget deficit.

The legislative initiatives are the product of President George W. Bush, who made them the centerpiece of his successful 2004 campaign for re-election. ``I hope we can live up to that agenda,'' Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in an interview yesterday.

Bush's domestic program comes with a big price tag. The plan to create private Social Security accounts may cost as much as $2 trillion, according to his 2001 Social Security Commission; the tax plan will likely include making permanent $1.85 trillion in cuts. <snip>

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=akrIA4vmopyg&refer=us

[atommom]

1. Here's hoping that whatever enthusiasm Congress might have now,

they lose it in the near future (and grow backbones in its place).

[ixion]

2. fear was the centerpiece of the BushCo campaign

but hey, I'm just one of those pesky 'reality-based' people. :eyes:

[indepat]

3. $1.85 trillion reduction in social security benefits to pay for tax cuts

disproportionately benefitting patrons: We the people most surely get the government we deserve.