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Government Reform: Take an Axe to the Federal Budget, Mr. President
March 9, 2003
The Washington Budget battle heats up with the latest report from the Congressional Budget Office. Showing that they still don't get it, the Democratic Leadership is quick to blame tax cuts for the coming budget deficits and call for President Bush to roll back or cancel planned tax cuts. The Democratic leadership is acting quite predictably, and the Republican leadership, with the president, can act predictably themselves. Or they stake out a bold position on the deficit, and rather than repeating the mistakes of 1990-91, win both the policy battle and the political battle.
The Moose remembers all too well how Bush senior was rolled by the Democrats into accepting the budget deal of October of 1990. Bush lost both the political battle, when an all-but-likely congressional win for the GOP was turned into a loss of seats, and the policy battle was lost because taxes were increased and the capital gains tax cut promised by Democrats was killed in the Senate under the leadership of Senator George Mitchell, the Majority Leader.
Washington DC always needs new ideas, and I have a simple but revolutionary idea on how the Congress and President Bush might solve this latest deficit crisis. It's really simple, but it's so out-of-the-ordinary, I may have to repeat myself. Here it is…
Cut Spending.
That's right, don't reduce the rate of increase in federal spending, but actually cut spending. Cause the federal government to spend less this year than it did last year. If the deficit is going to be $287 thousand million, as says the Congressional Budget Office, simply reduce federal spending to balance the budget. The Moose knows this idea is so revolutionary to the politicians inside the Beltway, and the K Street crowd that lives off of federal pork, so a repeat is in order.
Cut Spending.
It's that simple. The Democratic leadership, the special interest groups, and those addicted to government largesse will protest. Mr. President you can establish moral clarity on this issue; make it clear that tax cuts are needed for economic growth and the ONLY route to a balanced budget this year is spending cuts. If the Democratic leadership, the K Street Crowd, and the government addicts want to stand in the way of this, they can take responsibility for thwarting a balanced budget. The Moose says, by taking a firm stance on this issue, the president will likely win both the political debate and the policy battle. The worst the president can do is show the people where the real impediments to government reform lie and the people can make the appropriate changes on Election Day.
Previously from The Moose
Culture and Society: Let Us Now Praise Joe Camel
The Bull
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