With a hat tip to Drew Ryun for the title of the post, Tim Carney brings word this morning that some Republicans think they are too important to have their budgets cut.
The Republican Study Committee, the organization of conservatives in the House of Representatives, is proposing further cuts in spending to Congress’s budget. Some Republicans are flipping out and going to 12 on a 1 to 10 scale fo hyperbole. The latest among them is Dan Lungren of California.
Here’s Tim Carney:
RSC member Dan Lungren, however, is chairman of the Committee on House Administration, and he says no. Here’s a bit from his public “Dear Colleague” letter:
This amendment would severely restrict the U.S. Capitol Police’s ability to secure the Capitol complex by slashing its budget 11%. A cut of this magnitude would force Capitol Police to face today’s ever-growing security threats with significantly fewer resources and officers.
The Amendment would also hamper the House’s ability to conduct effective oversight and impede on Members’ ability to serve their constituents by cutting committee and Member budgets an additional 11% on top of the 5% cut adopted last month.
As Carney goes on to note, Dan Lungren’s Chief of Staff says that if the RSC amendment passes, Lungren will cut what he pays to fund the RSC. I don’t think the RSC would have problems with that.
If Congress is unwilling to make cutbacks to its own budget, it will never get serious about real spending cuts. And to use the Capitol Police as an example is silly. Can we never cut those budgets? Not even administrative costs?
Sure we can. But not if Dan Lungren has his way.
Ultimately, Lungren is probably worried about re-election in 2012. I’m sure he is concerned about constituent services and outreach. But what he ought to be concerned about is the appearance of a spoiled congressman telling others to make cut backs as long as he doesn’t have to.
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
Dan Spencer
Jeff Emanuel
Neil Stevens
Embarassing that he's a Republican.
bcochran1981 Friday, February 18th at 11:57AM EDT (link)The first thing I thought of when I read this was old school Soviet Communism. Everybody is equally poor…except for those in power at the top.
You can fool all of the people some of the time, some of the people all the time and liberal voters every time.
One of the very first things
RottDawg (Diary) Friday, February 18th at 12:13PM EDT (link)that the 112th did was to cut their own budgets by 5% from the previous year. Not 5% from the proposed budget… Staff has not been expanded since I believe the 80′s while constituent services and call volume is at a record high.
Man is not free unless government is limited.
Ronald Reagan
With an approval rating in the teens,
Tbone (Diary) Friday, February 18th at 12:17PM EDT (link)Congress isn’t going to get much sympathy if its security is cut 11%.
Ya see, Lungren is what is wrong with Congress, he actually thinks he is better than I am. He is wrong.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
Another example of the importance of symbolism
YnotNOW (Diary) Friday, February 18th at 1:12PM EDT (link)Sure the Congressional budget is small potatos compared to the overall federal budget deficit, but if anyone says “cut somewhere else but not me” then nothing significant will be cut.
And saying that budgeted programs are “valuable” is not an excuse. Cuts are painful – grow up and deal with it. We cannot give the expectation that “easy” cuts can be found. Everyone must share in the pain. Leadership means taking your share as an example and symbolism to your commitment to follow through.
YnotNOW
If not me, who? If not now, when?
Another example of the importance of symbolism
YnotNOW (Diary) Friday, February 18th at 1:12PM EDT (link)Sure the Congressional budget is small potatos compared to the overall federal budget deficit, but if anyone says “cut somewhere else but not me” then nothing significant will be cut.
And saying that budgeted programs are “valuable” is not an excuse. Cuts are painful – grow up and deal with it. We cannot give the expectation that “easy” cuts can be found. Everyone must share in the pain. Leadership means taking your share as an example and symbolism to your commitment to follow through.
YnotNOW
If not me, who? If not now, when?
Lungren must go
Darin_H (Diary) Friday, February 18th at 7:30PM EDT (link)Simply for arguing like a Democrat.
A visionary coward says that anger can be power, as long as there’s a victim on TV – Flat Top, Goo Goo Dolls
It's Not Just Lungren, It's Many of the So Called New "Young Guns"
NHConservative0227 (Diary) Friday, February 18th at 8:00PM EDT (link)The following RINO’s are against it too:
First and foremost the #2 and #3 in the house with Cantor and MyCarthy. So much for the new Young Guns of the party. I new that Pledge was a joke as soon as they said cut spending to 2008 levels! Sad thing is they don’t even have the guts to do that.
Eemerson -sound the cuts go too far!!
Kkingsto the guy that Erickson got me all riled up to support as head of the appropriations since he wasn’t a RINO like Hal Rogers said that he was agaisnt the additional $22B in cuts beacue it would put obama in charge of cuts!! Are you kidding me?? JUST MAKE THE CUTS!!!
But have no fear, the RINO whoBoehnor and his establishment pushed to head the appropriations committe , hal rogers also opposed the $22B in cuts. So did the supposedly Tea Party conservative Kristy Noeme from North Dakota. Guess it’s time to go back to the farm and beg for some subsidies Kristy!
None of the RINO”s who were against the $22B in cuts should be reelected, period !