TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross
AP: f61b2571-d32f-416a-8cb1-9872346c5967
So this time around, top Republicans are digging in. Republicans like Eric Cantor are saying they don't like this meat axe approach, not one bit. (AP Photo/File)

Bring on the deadline!

BY Dave Ross  on February 11, 2013 @ 5:30 am (Updated: 10:33 am - 2/11/13 )

Our latest national spending deadline is March 1, when $85 billion in federal spending is scheduled to disappear like Cinderella's coach at midnight.

We've tried this before - back in May of 2011. We cut $37.8 billion. It was the biggest federal budget cut in history. Both parties supported it. Except the Washington Post discovered that $23 billion of that was cut without losing a single federal employee.

Because those cuts included highway projects that had already been canceled; and included $6 billion saved by not conducting a census in 2011, which they weren't going to do anyway since the census was in 2010.

So this time around, top Republicans are digging in. Republicans like Eric Cantor are saying they don't like this meat axe approach, not one bit.

"Clearly this is not the best way to go about trying to control spending."

By all indications, come March, they're going to let the clock strike midnight and see what happens. They don't believe Democrats are capable of cutting anything.

Top Democrats like Dick Durbin go on Meet The Press and say 'of course we're willing to cut.'

Except, "Think about this for a second," says Durbin. "cutting back on psychological counseling for the members of the military and their family?"

We will make some tough cuts, "But listen, do we really want to base our spending cuts on reducing medical research in America?"

And are you really going to insist, "On eliminating 70,000 children from HeadStart?" asks Durbin.

That, my fellow Americans, is how everyone can agree that SOMETHING must be done… and then still not do it.

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
More Dave Ross

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (46)


  • Add A Comment

  • HLC wrote...
    WSUalum
    February 11, 2013 8:59 am
    That peanut gallery comment was rich coming from you. Have you been missing your AA meetings lately? Isn't that included in your diploma from wsu? I'm sure thats all you studied there. It's against the law to be a conservative prof at wsu so how you be expected to learn anything useful?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    HLC
    February 11, 2013 6:10 pm
    You and your "peanut gallery" will be out in full force tomorrow night after the presidential speech. Against the law to conservative at WSU? Apparently you know nothing about WSU. Many students from the east side and agriculture majors.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    I don't like the current approach either....
    February 11, 2013 9:19 am
    Look I get it, we need to reduce spending, and i understand that going over this cliff is one way to do it, the problem is they're essentially saying, lets just jump off... why not take a parachute instead? The purpose of these budget talks should be to find a way to SAFELY reduce spending, not just allow certain departments to go bankrupt... Why is it so hard for Repubs and Dems to sit down and say, we are going to be more fiscally responsible, lets cut spending... lets prioritize our approach and do our best to spread the cuts across the different departments... It's almost as if the current approach from Republicans is, fack it, lets just stop funding anything that comes up and needs renewal. I get it, they don't trust Dems to cut anything but you can't simply ignore what harm may come of allowing certain programs to go unfunded... really? you're going to cut mental health programs for returning vets? seriously? BECAUSE THOSE are the people that deserve to be cut off? come on Rep's and Dem's should know they can do better than that....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Cbrew, I want to agree with you but
    February 11, 2013 11:11 am
    but until we figure out overnment isn't supposed to be the cure all for everything and anything, politicians will keep spending taxpayer funds to buy votes. It's all about ginnie, gimmie, gimmie.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    mnpat
    February 11, 2013 2:16 pm
    I don't think it's the cure all for everything either, but I also believe that there are many things it should do. It should provide/oversee education, should provide for our defense, Should be involved in protecting/preserving our natural resources, there's a balance of what the Government should do and what the Private Citizens/private sector should do... We can't just sign everything off to private companies because many companies have private agendas that do not necessarily line up with the best interests of the United States, consider having Schools run by corporations? Imagine how that could/would lead to our Children being taught specifically what a specific corporation would want those children to believe, or consider that some corporations would destroy vast tracts of our natural resources to benefit their pocketbook in the short term... We can't afford to let the private sector run too much of our country but we also can't let the Government run too much of our country... As we all know, they do not necessarily get the job done right either... a fair balance is what we should be looking for, the biggest problem from my perspective is Dems and Repubs are no longer willing to sit down and hash out these issues together, they have instead decided that it's either the Dem way, Repub way, or absolute boycott of the process which i believe is worse than either party's plan... they need to figure this out... don't just throw the country into a deeper recession because they won't get their way.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Cbrew, I agree with most of what you said,
    February 11, 2013 2:54 pm
    especially about the two parties, unfortunately today they seem to feel the party circumvents the republic....sad comentary.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    This is one thing both sides agree on
    February 11, 2013 10:34 am
    when it comes to slopping at the Taxpayer trough both sides are pretty adept at removing funds from the taxpayer kitty.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    I'll take the "Pelosi approach" to the sequester
    February 11, 2013 2:12 pm
    We have to pass it (let it expire) to see what's in it. It might just provide the moment of clarity American citizens need to reach over and jerk the steering wheel hard right and get us back onto the road!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Progressives seem intent on crashing the economy
    February 11, 2013 4:35 pm
    Except the Washington Post discovered that $23 billion of that was cut without losing a single federal employee.

    Because those cuts included highway projects that had already been canceled; and included $6 billion saved by not conducting a census in 2011, which they weren't going to do anyway since the census was in 2010.

    So this time around, top Republicans are digging in.

    So over 60% of the "cuts" were just a sham. The republican response seems reasonable given the dishonsty on the part of progressives as to the reality of these claimed "cuts".

    And even if the 37 Billion were real it's still nothing. That's less than 1 half of one percent of the trillion dollar deficit the US is running in excess each year. Instead we are borrowing over 40% of every year's expense. The left is famous for calling for sustainable this and sustainable that...what a joke. How about a sustainable government? Nah...let's just crash the whole thing appears to be the progressive's plan.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }