06/27/2002 Archived Entry: "Bush got his deficit-spending money"
GOP Pushes $450 Billion Debt Limit: Top Republicans spent the day lobbying rank-and-file lawmakers and abruptly brought the bill to the House floor. The measure was approved by a mostly party-line 215-214, with just three Democrats and six Republicans defecting.
I'm always interested in the defectors, especially this time, so I'll get back here when I find out, for further comment.
"We realized we had to do it, and right now there's more team unity that we've had in a long time," said Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., citing GOP support for trade and prescription drug bills. "We're in full battle gear, fall mode."
They should be, as they are clearly on the defensive for this action. As the Gephardt Letter to Speaker Hastert on Debt Ceiling shows, The Democrats were playing hardball. The GOP under Bush has bit the bullet and become the party defending deficit-spending. Fiscal Responsibility, alongside Democrats targeting corporate abuse, is a solid economic offensive upon the GOP.
Health-care costs is the other side to the equation, Playing politics with drugs for the elderly. I don't think anything will come of this in actual passage, unless the Republicans fold, which is entirely possible.
Replies: 6 comments
I am sure you would be interested in this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58543-2002Jun27.html
Posted by G.C. Raj @ 06/28/2002 07:24 AM PST
And hopefully this would bring down Connie Morella:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58489-2002Jun27.html
Posted by G.C. Raj @ 06/28/2002 07:26 AM PST
The Dem defectors on the debt limit were a rather unusual set: Ralph Hall (of course), Dennis Kucinich, and Adam Smith. Notably, Eliot Engel was not present. His vote would have tied it.
The Republican defectors were Bob Barr, Duncan (TN), Virgil Goode (he's a Republican as far as I'm concerned), Walter Jones, Jerry Moran, Ron Paul, and Zach Wamp.
While we're on the subject, the 8 Dem defectors on the prescription drug bill were: Maloney, Boswell, Lucas, John, Colin Peterson, Israel, Hall, and Matheson. The 8 Republican defectors were J. Flake, M. Collins, Manzullo, Hostettler, N. Smith, Gutknecht, Emerson, and Istook. The non-Traficant Dems who failed to vote were Jefferson, Clay, and Towns.
Posted by PBS @ 06/28/2002 12:13 PM PST
There seems to be no rhyme or reason for the way that Hall votes, other than Republican.
The Dem defectors on the prescription drug bill looks like a who's who of the vulnerables.
Posted by myDD @ 06/28/2002 03:11 PM PST
One name missing from the GOP defectors is Connie Morella, who showed her true colors by backing the Tom DeLay plan. People should stop kidding themselves by saying that Connie Morella is really a Democrat at heart. She voted for the DeLay "Deficit Creating" Tax Cut. A vote for Morella is a vote for DeLay and his cronies. IT IS TIME TO DEFEAT CONNIE MORELLA!!
Posted by G.C. Raj @ 06/29/2002 02:14 PM PST
NH Polls:
Both Smith and Sununu under 50...actually dangerously under 40. Just look at the trends and the number of undecideds. If things stay as it is until mid october, I would say NH and AR are sure Dem pickups and SD is a sure GOP pickup. But, I think Torch is in more serious trouble in NJ than Carnahan in MO.
http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp18f.html
Posted by G.C. Raj @ 06/29/2002 02:27 PM PST
