Well, as we expected, the so-called stimulus package passed the Senate by a 61-37 vote. All 58 Democrats voted yes (even the ailing Senator Ted Kennedy) while 37 of the 40 Republicans present voted no. GOP Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire did not vote, presumably pending his confirmation as Secretary of Commerce, and the disputed Minnesota Senate seat is still vacant.
The three RINO’s who voted with the Democrats were Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and both of Maine’s Senators – Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe. Collins was wavering at one point but obviously decided the bill was worth voting for.
So now it will be up to a conference committee to decide where to iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions; unfortunately since the GOP is slightly complicit as far as the Senate version goes I’ll bet that’s the version which will be closer to the final one. This will be so in order to maintain those three precious (to BHO) votes which give the bill the imprimatur of bipartisanship. It sort of wasted that nice stand the House Republicans made.
As for the state GOP and their elected officials in the General Assembly, they had another take on the stimulus package and its effect on the state’s budget:
At a press conference in Annapolis today, Senate and House Republicans cautioned state budget leaders against using federal stimulus funds to expand new spending programs in the state’s operating budget during the 2009 session.
“We began this session with a serious debate about restraining budget growth and controlling Maryland’s pattern of chronic overspending,” said House Minority Leader Anthony O’Donnell. “Now, with the prospective of a multi-billion dollar bailout from the federal government, the Administration is giddy about starting up new spending programs. If federal funds are used to fuel new operating budget spending, it will have long term negative consequences on Maryland’s budget.”
Senate Minority Leader Allan Kittleman urged that any federal stimulus funds be used only for one-time expenditures in order to prevent growth of the state’s structural deficit. “We need to follow the advice of the legislature’s chief budget advisor, Warren Deschaneaux, and insure that the federal stimulus does not fuel future commitments in spending. Otherwise in three years our state budget will be much worse than it is today.”
Republicans urged adoption of a three-point plan for the legislature’s consideration of the stimulus funds:
- Federal stimulus funds should be used primarily for capital projects and one-time programs instead of to boost on-going spending in the operating budget.
- New spending initiatives should be rejected by the legislature unless accompanied by a new dedicated revenue source.
- Legislators should pass the “Taxpayer’s Protection Act” to establish a higher threshold for the creation of any new or expanded taxes on Maryland hard-working families.
The joint caucus position unanimously supports the “Taxpayer’s Protection Act” which would require a 3/5th majority in each chamber in order to pass any legislation that increases existing taxes or levies new taxes.
Under the current rules in the General Assembly, the only legislation that requires a 3/5 majority are constitutional amendments and emergency bills. A 3/5 majority is 85 delegates and 28 senators. Of the tax increases that passed in 2007 Special Session, none received a 3/5 majority.
“Maryland’s budget has mushroomed to the point where current levels of state spending cannot be sustained,” said Senator Andy Harris, the lead sponsor of the Senate bill. “This legislation is necessary to impose the fiscal self-restraint that is currently lacking in Annapolis.”
“The purpose of this bill is to protect the taxpayers”, said Delegate Steve Schuh, the lead sponsor of the measure in the House. “The bill communicates to taxpayers that if their elected leaders are going to come to them demanding more of their hard-earned dollars, it will be only after reaching a significant level of consensus.”
This release also discusses the TPA that Andy Harris brought up at our Lincoln Day Dinner the other night, and I’m pleased to see the GOP caucus standing united behind it. Unfortunately, it’s doubtful the Democrats will come on board even though they have the 3/5 majority anyway – perhaps they’re concerned about the GOP picking up the 20 Delegates or 6 Senators needed to thwart their big-spending plans in next year’s election.
In either case, the Republicans need to disown those who are in favor of what’s termed “big-government conservatism” and push that group out of the political lexicon just as Whigs or Know-Nothings were a century and a half ago. Otherwise it may be the Republicans who suffer the same fate as Democrats consolidate tyrannical power further.
Thanks for this and all of your great well thought posts. I hope to meet you at a Shorebirds game this season.
tks, John