FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Turns out some lawmakers are all about fiscal restraint - as long as the cuts don't affect their constituents. Not in my backyard, right?
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/03/art.deficit.jpg caption="Pres. Obama speaks on the 2011 budget in the White House Grand Foyer. The budget includes billions of dollars for job programs and mandates deficit cutting. "]
Politico reports about fiscal hawks who are now balking at Pres. Obama's proposed budget cuts. For example:
- Republican Sen. George LeMieux of Florida: He called the president's proposed freeze on some federal spending too little-too late. But now he says the president's proposed $3.5 billion cut in the NASA budget makes no sense. LeMieux says there should be "cost-cutting everywhere;" but apparently that doesn't include NASA.
- Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu - often against big government - is criticizing the proposal to end tax breaks for oil and gas companies in her home state of Louisiana.
- Republican Sen. Jim DeMint - one of the most fiscally conservative of the bunch - says raising taxes on corporations as a way to trim the deficit is the quote "coward's way out."
And on it goes... Missouri's senators - one Democrat and one Republican - are against the president's plans to cut out spending on the C-17 aircraft... the manufacturing represents lots of jobs in St. Louis. And coal-state lawmakers are unhappy with the president's call to eliminate tax breaks for that industry
With midterm elections sneaking up around the corner - once again, politics will trump all. To hell with the nation's skyrocketing deficits. These lawmakers talk a good game about cutting spending, but at the end of the day, that's all it is: Talk.
Here’s my question to you: How can the U.S. reduce deficits when most lawmakers won’t support budget cuts in their own backyards?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Greg from Minneapolis writes:
Jack, The first order of business in reducing the deficit comes with the next election. Voters nationwide should vote AGAINST any incumbent, with the message that it is time to clean out Congress and replace them with people who are fiscally responsible. And in 2012, do the same for those incumbents who remain, along with the current occupant of the White House, who has the gall to complain about what he "inherited" and then proceeds to bust the budget with even MORE deficit spending!
Michael writes:
Flat Tax, Flat Tax, Flat Tax, Jack.
Angie writes:
If conservatives of both parties were serious about cutting spending in Washington, then they would support the budget cuts in their own backyards.
Mike from Oklahoma City writes:
Good luck getting the gerbils in Washington to do anything for the good of the country. Republican or Democrat, it doesn't matter. They are concerned with staying in their cushy job first and foremost. And, as long as they can keep that as a possible lifetime gig, they will continue raping the country to pay for garbage we don't need.
Sue from Idaho writes:
Why not contact your backyard congressman and tell him/her how the cow eats cabbage? You can only wring your hands for so long. If they don't listen, don't put a check by their name in the next election.
John from Vermont writes:
Jack, In a word they can't. There are no rewards for a congressman who doesn't bring home the pork.
Jimmy from Greenville, North Carolina writes:
We cannot reduce deficits until the administration takes a stand. And the only stand they take now is spending. When you talk out of both sides of your mouth, you get gravy on your tie.