What's in McCain's budget?
A quick update on McCain's budget. His office hasn't sent out any related materials yet, and haven't released a statement, but a quick perusal of its terms over at Thomas reveals a few interesting details.
McCain's budget calls for the extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts; it decreases non-defense discretionary spending outlays from FY 2010-2014; it calls for $686,128,000,000 in defense budget authority for FY 2010, increasing to $726,167,000,000 by 2019; it calls for allowing $50,000,000,000 in loans for constructing new nuclear power plants under the Department of Energy's Innovative Technology Loan guarantee Program; and much, much more.
That said, it's still a less radical document than the House GOP Budget, which was widely derided yesterday by Democrats, many of whom laughed it off as an April Fool's Day joke. I've placed a call to Judd Gregg's office to see if anyone there wants to comment on either the existence or the merits of McCain's proposal. Gregg, who's the ranking member on the committee of jurisdiction, had publicly advised against an alternative budget and McCain very blatantly went around him.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Ok, this is the thing on all these budgets from republicans "freezing" or decreasing non-defense discretionary spending. In 2008, that only made up 17% of the whole freaking budget. You can screw around with that 17% all day long and it won't do squat concerning the deficits. The other 83% of the budget has to be addressed. It's the same crap as arguing about earmarks, which make up something like less than 1% of the budget. Get rid of earmarks and freeze non-defense discretionary spending and you still have an incredible deficit. These fools are totally out to lunch.
April 2, 2009 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your post should be clipped by every thinking American and carried in their wallet or purse to remind them what they are listening to every time a Republican politician speaks.
April 2, 2009 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
The math and facts don't matter. Never have, never will. It is perception. When Obama puts out his budget, McCain can release his shadow budget and say, "Blah blah blah entitlement waste blah blah blah no more earmarks blah blah drowining in pork blah military blah small business tax incentives blah PUKE."
It's not like ANYONE in the press will actually ask the bitter prune if his budget has any real merit.
April 2, 2009 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
President McCain's budget is great! None of that Washington insider pork and beans! I'm glad he picked me to be the President's wife! It's because I'm pretty! Yay!
April 2, 2009 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you winking at ME?
Microtrends. Also.
April 2, 2009 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
You betcha!
April 2, 2009 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think I'm in love....
April 5, 2009 7:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
does his budget include getting a free cell tower on your property for every homeowner in america? that'll reinflate those home prices.
April 2, 2009 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
i think its funny that john mccain thinks he's still relevant enough that people will actually care that he put together a budget of his own.
if people wanted to hear more from this guy they would have elected him...
i think now is the time for someone to shout, "get off the stage old man!"
April 2, 2009 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's true. Someone needs to pull him off the stage with one of those old wooden hooks.
April 2, 2009 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
it's true. him and lieberman are to the senate what waldorf and statler were to "the muppet show".
April 2, 2009 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Except that they were entertaining!
April 2, 2009 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
GOP suckers!
http://www.slate.com/id/2215144/
LOL
April 2, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Top ten surprises of John McCain's budget:
10. Earmarks for studying the effects of awkward, creepy smiles and blinkiness.
April 2, 2009 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink