Yesterday, the House voted down a provision introduced by House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) to cut a 2009 welfare expansion program. The introduction of this spending cut was a part of a new program by Cantor’s office called “You Cut”. The programs offers a website where Americans can go and vote each week on one of 5 wasteful programs that will then be put up for a vote in the House. Yesterday’s winner was voted down 240 to 177.
Florida Representative Alcee Hastings took to the House floor Thursday to denounce the entire You Cut program and the nearly 300,000 “so-called Americans” concerned about Washington’s out-of-control spending who participated.
As the title of this post suggests, Representative Hastings even invoked the specter of Osama bin Laden during his speech, warning:
For all we know on YouCut, Osama bin Laden could be voting.
Funny, most of us have likely never considered bin Laden as much of a deficit hawk.
The rest of the Congressman’s remarks were objections to the way in which the Republicans brought the proposed cut up for vote. The irony of Congressman Hastings—one of only six judges in American history to be impeached by the U.S. Senate—voicing concerns about following the rules notwithstanding, the fact remains that this program deserves some credit.
To be sure, these cuts (if enacted) will not solve our massive debt and deficit problems overnight, but any smart reduction in government spending should be seriously considered. However, the best way for us to really rein in government spending and power is through massive overhaul of our entitlement spending and a change in thinking among the wider public about the government’s role in society.
Osama Bin Laden? If only!
Sounds to me like Mr. Hastings wants to keep poor people from living free.
The country needs the opportunities that once existed in the PRIVATE SECTOR! But due to government unfairly taxing and mandating private businesses, opportunities have since been diminishing at a rapid pace. No incentive to start private business as this government makes it difficult beyond any sound reason. Government moves in to keep the poor, poor and from living free. Creating non-productive government jobs that limit mentality.
Youcut. sounds like a good source to address the waste no matter who's voting.
Idiots like Alcee Hastings are the root cause of our problems.
Very good Brandon. It appears Alcee Hastings doesn't understand the role of federal government. Either that or he's one heck of a con artist who feels justified duping American taxpayers and workers. How many more like him are in congress today?
RON PAUL!!!! HELP!!!! we need you to hurry up & get into office so amerika can be America again!
I did not know bin Laden is a citizen with voting rights, let alone 300,000 votes. Do these dems take a stupid pledge when they are elected?