Report: Freedom Caucus Members Are Ready To Cave On Fiscal Austerity

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Republicans in the House Freedom Caucus may be shifting their uncompromising, tough budget stance under President-elect Donald Trump, according to a report in the National Review. According to the piece, there is discussion underway to accept that just 50 percent of Trump's infrastructure bill would have to be offset with spending cuts elsewhere– a precedent that they never would have accepted under President Barack Obama.

After Trump was first elected, members of the House Freedom Caucus were vocal about their opposition to some of Trump's costly legislative priorities like a $1 trillion infrastructure bill.

"If Trump doesn’t find a way to pay for it, the majority of us, if not all of us, are going to vote against it," Raul Labrador (R-ID) told reporters, according to the National Review piece. Now, the mood has shifted dramatically.

"According to several members, there has been informal talk of accepting a bill that’s only 50 percent paid for, with the rest of the borrowing being offset down the road by “economic growth.” It’s an arrangement Republicans would never have endorsed under a President Hillary Clinton, and a slippery slope to go down with Trump," Alberta said.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/freedom-caucus-members-are-ready-to-cave-on-fiscal-austerity

[sharp_stick]

1. The hypocritical fucks

I can only hope their constituents take notice but anybody that would vote in these scumbags in the first place probably can't be bothered by something as small as betraying their major election platform.

[LonePirate]

4. Their voters only care about power, abortion and guns. They don't care about consistency.

[dhill926]

9. You, sir or madam...

Have pretty much nailed it.

[LonePirate]

11. Actually, I think I need to amend my statement.

The rank and file Republican only cares about abortion, guns and the party being in power. The wealthy elite Republicans in DC and elsewhere only care about power and money. They use issues like abortion and guns to keep their minions distracted. I don't think the Republican elites (except for a few) give a damn about abortion or guns.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. GOP Red Ink when in power

is fine with them. They crash everything then let the Democratic
President clean up the mess while they bitch about deficits all the time.

They flip ideologies whenever it suits their quest for power. Now they're in
control, so deficits and free markets aren't so bad anymore, because they
help their popularity with the public.

Always cutting themselves the long end of the stick.

[Aimee in OKC]

13. Fixing things ... can barely catch up in the cycle ... .

[img]
LOOT ... REBUILD ... LOOT ... REBUILD ... LOOT ... REBUILD
GOP... DEMOCRATS... GOP... DEMOCRATS ...GOP... DEMOCRATS [/img]

[exboyfil]

3. Deficits only count when a Democrat is President

Silly mortal.

Just like Reagan who will never be able to separate the supply side economic impact with the Keynesian spending.

[Dream Girl]

5. Maybe they can carve out an exception to social spending...as long as it doesn't benefits

AA or Hispanics, it's okay. It should only benefit "worthy Americans"

[Warpy]

6. With a GOP in office? You bet your ass

Those bastards always get a blank check because the austerity hawks know they won't spend a dime on helping people.

Mostly that blank check goes to fatten the military so rich assholes can sleep at night.

[JHB]

7. Well there's yer problem. It's full of shitgibbons!

[Angry Dragon]

8. Down the slippery slope into the bowels of hell

[hatrack]

10. Or, to paraphrase Dave Bowman:

"My God, it's full of bullshit!"

[PhilosopherKing]

12. The Dems need to draw a line in the sand.

No deal if it's not FULLY paid for.