Republicans Have No Viable Plan to Balance the Budget

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Led by newly empowered firebrands, Republicans in the House are working on a plan to slash spending and balance the federal budget within 10 years. According to The Washington Post’s Catherine Rampell, there are several problems with this effort, not least the fact that Republicans seem to have no idea how they can accomplish their goal.

“They say they want to reduce deficits,” Rampell writes in an op-ed Tuesday, “but meanwhile have ruled out virtually every path for doing so (cuts to defense, cuts to entitlements, wiping out nondefense discretionary spending, or raising taxes).”

Some GOP lawmakers have said that everything is on the table for possible cuts, but others have quickly pulled whole sections of the federal budget back from the chopping block. For example, both House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) have said they are open to reductions in defense spending, but House Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) and Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) have said no to that idea.

Instead of military cuts, Waltz said lawmakers need to look at “entitlements programs,” which would include Social Security and Medicare. But Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and former president Donald Trump, among others, have ruled that option out. “Under no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security,” Trump warned last week.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/column-day-republicans-no-viable-000029359.html

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. I know, adopt the Democratic plan on Taxation!

That will get you to a balanced budget. What, no Republican sponsers?

[phoenix75]

2. Agreed 👍

Thank you.

[Skittles]

3. they don't have a VIABLE PLAN for anything

unless it somehow benefits their billionaire benefactors

[republianmushroom]

4. they never have had.

[dlk]

5. Democrats should be demanding, "Show us your cuts!"

It’s doubtful Republicans would ever be that straightforward, though.

[louis-t]

6. They can never accomplish it. They have had many opportunities.

2009. That's the year given as the year the national debt would have been paid off if Bill Clinton's fiscal policies had been left in place.

[jmowreader]

7. Here's the big problem Republicans face

Unless they're planning to revert to Nixon's tax policy and get rid of the Marine Corps, they have no hope in hell of balancing the budget.

[Grins]

8. They won't cut defense & Trump TOLD THEM not to cut Soc. Sec.

So they’re hosed.

The one thing they could do - raise taxes - they will NEVER DO. Because they are Republicans who don’t want to pay for anything!

[The Jungle 1]

9. I heard repukes are gonna release their healthcare plan for America soon.

They have been promising for decades.