10 Democrats Stand Up for Fiscal Discipline–Will Leadership Follow?
Posted October 15th, 2009 at 12:25pm in Entitlements 
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Ten democratic Senators recently issued an important call to action for Majority Leader Harry Reid to support efforts to get America’s long-term fiscal imbalance under control. One can only hope Senator Reid listens.
As the letter notes, America is already $12 trillion in debt and, in the next decade, will dig itself even deeper by adding $10 trillion in deficits.
In the coming months, Congress will be required to increase the debt limit so that America can continue to afford to pay its bills. But the true disaster starts in the coming decades. Baby boomers have already begun to retire and collect Social Security and, soon, Medicare, and in today’s terms the amount of money required to pay those benefits is equivalent to adding another $46 trillion to America’s debt.
Recognizing the need for urgent action, the Senators state:
“We believe Congress needs to adopt a special process to deal with our nation’s long-term fiscal imbalances. We do not believe that action on these important issues will occur under the regular order in Congress.”
Indeed, part of the reason action will not occur under the “regular order” is that Social Security and Medicare grow on auto pilot. The programs are not debated during the annual budget process, nor are their long-term costs reflected anywhere in the 2,000+ pages of the federal budget. As a left/right coalition of economists brought together by the Brookings-Heritage Fiscal Seminar has noted, this process must change to effectively manage the long-term fiscal situation.
One place to start—which many of the Senators signing the letter have already proposed—is to create a commission to examine the long-term budget problem and recommend action to address it.
Such efforts would not only give members of Congress cover to address these pressing issues, but they are also desperately needed for America to get its fiscal house in order.
Hopefully the words of Joe Lieberman (I – CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Mark Begich (D-AK), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Mark Udall (D-CO), and Mark Warner (D-VA) will not be ignored by Leader Reid.
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6 Responses to “10 Democrats Stand Up for Fiscal Discipline–Will Leadership Follow?”
Freedom of Speech TX on October 15th, 2009 at 12:25pm said:
Utterly amazing. These senators are NOW concerned about fiscal discipline?
Is this AFTER health care reform, cap n’ trade, stimulus 2, and alien amnesty is completed?
Or, is it going on record so they can cover themselves come reelection time?
Their actions cause my pessimism and sarcasim.
I sincerely hope this is true. Maybe sanity is kicking in – finally.
I’ll try to be positive on this BUT I will be watching HOW they vote, for that is the REAL indicator.
Leon, Durango, CO on October 15th, 2009 at 12:25pm said:
It is not “representation” when the Congress doesn’t read Bills. This whole government is illegal in its face, prima facie. It is illegal what has been done in Washington, but of course the Left has been laughing at the Constitution for decades. No surprise they have fundamentally changed the law making process. This is RICO country but does anybody dare to bring it?
fiftyfifty on October 15th, 2009 at 12:25pm said:
10/15/09 by mjb
Loyalty of Club 535 ==== ( there motto is protect within ) Holding a Legacy of betrayal and falsifiability of we know whats best for America attitude.
So right in front of our eyes in 1999 The 106Th Congress Senate side acquitted President Bill Clinton of both articles of impeachment. ==== Perjury and Obstruction of justice.
Without a doubt Clinton was guilty as guilty could get and still These Senators voted not guilty and coward there Oath of office in a smug manner and a halo of arrogance.That was 1999,
Its ten years later 2009. Club 535 is holding true (protect within) Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid Corruption still ways heavy the ones who are corrupt are being protected.
Its amazing we vote people to Washington to be Representatives of the people,
They come with five dollars in there pockets and somehow leave as millionaires a great pension plus health care for life.
We also learned that this 111Th Congress of 2009 don’t read or write these days.Those 1000 plus pages bill. There’s know accountability only civilian casualties mainly our kids
In a bipartisanship way Republicans and Democrats voted themselves a raise.
Obama’s got his nine finger enforcer Rahm Emanuel locked up with his old friends in Congress to help dial in the lies on health care.
Congress and the White House, what part of == no == don’t you understand // stop printing money // stop health care idea’s // stop cap and trade.
Here’s the most dangerous Obama czar.
“The plan was advancing well until the first week of January 2009, when Carol Browner, not yet a government official, tried to kill the effort, telling the two parties that the Obama administration would not support any coal technology development. Undermining and attempting to subvert senior officers is part of Browner’s character.
Driving the push for this massive power grab and circumvention of the elected branches is a key White House official who avoided Senate confirmation by being installed not as EPA director, but instead as White House Climate Czar: Carol Browner
Paul Agostino Wilmington Ma 01887 on October 15th, 2009 at 12:25pm said:
I do not see congress doing anything that helps to voters Reid,Pelosi,BoxerFinestien, see a way to con the American voters into thinking they care about us.
in the 20 th century a very evil man made the statrement “Give me a man who is hungary and let me feed him and his family then he is mine forever”I see new cars, mortage relief, bonuses to the people who have caused our current debacle ,and a goverment that promises us everything ,sounds like a recipe for trouble to me in my humble opinion. Paul J Agostino Wilmington Ma 01887
Chris, Tampa, Iraq Veteran on October 15th, 2009 at 12:25pm said:
I think this is good, MAYBE. I mean they can’t just continue this spending. China is going for a World Currency because of how utterly irresponsible the Dem’s are. I know it sound’s nice in theory to spread some wealth around and help people. But the hard facts are it hasn’t ever worked, does not work and will never work. Money is produced one way. 50 years ago you know what people did to get money? They didn’t borrow it and spend it, THEY GOT A JOB.
Jeanne Stotler, Woodbridge on October 15th, 2009 at 12:25pm said:
Don’t trust any of them, they know if the bills go through they most likely will not be re-elected. Pelosi and Reid are down in their own state polls. Obama has an agenda, not sure what it is, but it sure isn’t for the good of this country, he has Chicago Mob mentality all around him, his belief is “My way or the highway”. Any member of congress that finds it too hard or too much time to read a proposed bill should resign, they were elected to “Serve the people” somehow the mentality is that they are in congress to tell us what we should do and they became the step-parent to tell us.