The Heritage Foundation wonders when Obama’s rhetoric is going to catch up with reality:
Just last week, the President addressed his debt commission, claiming that in order to achieve its objectives, everything—tax increases, spending reductions, and even the recently-passed health care overhaul—must be on the table.
But is everything on the table? The President’s budget for 2011 included a recommendation to cut discretionary spending to create $10.3 billion in savings. Since these won’t go into effect until October, Republican leaders suggested the President use his rescission authority to enact the cuts immediately. And just last week, they upped their recommendation by offering a list of rescissions that would increase savings to $375 billion.
These represent real savings that could be obtained with no action from the questionably effective debt commission. If the President were serious about cutting spending to reduce the deficit, this would be the place to start, but thus far, no response has been given.
But is everything on the table? The President’s budget for 2011 included a recommendation to cut discretionary spending to create $10.3 billion in savings. Since these won’t go into effect until October, Republican leaders suggested the President use his rescission authority to enact the cuts immediately. And just last week, they upped their recommendation by offering a list of rescissions that would increase savings to $375 billion.
These represent real savings that could be obtained with no action from the questionably effective debt commission. If the President were serious about cutting spending to reduce the deficit, this would be the place to start, but thus far, no response has been given.
Remember when the president promised to go through the budget line by line? We’re still waiting on that promise.
