Republican leaders in Congress on Wednesday announced their six appointments to the 12-member super committee charged with finding at least $1.2 trillion in debt reduction but facing low expectations for success in an increasingly mired political environment.
House Speaker John Boehner chose House Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling of Texas, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp of Michigan, and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton of Michigan.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell chose Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Rob Portman of Ohio to represent the Senate GOP.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/10/republicans-appoint-their-six-to-super-debt-committee/
Harry Reid picked three of the biggest assclowns in the Dem party, Patty Murray, Max Baucus, and John Kerry. But 3 more still have to be selected to round out the 12 members.
Some background on the economic voting records of the GOP picks:
Jon Kyl
Voted NO on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
Voted YES on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (May 2009)
Voted NO on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Feb 2009)
Voted NO on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
Voted YES on paying down federal debt by rating programs’ effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
Voted YES on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
Voted YES on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts. (Apr 2000)
Voted NO on 1998 GOP budget. (May 1997)
Voted YES on Balanced-budget constitutional amendment. (Mar 1997)
Balanced Budget Amendment with 3/5 vote to override. (Jan 2009)
Biennial budget and appropriations process. (Jan 2009)
http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Jon_Kyl.htmPat Toomey
Voted YES on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004)
Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on making permanent an increase in the child tax credit. (May 2004)
Voted YES on making the Bush tax cuts permanent. (Apr 2002)
Voted YES on $99.5B economic stimulus: capital gains & income tax cuts. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on Tax Cut Package of $958B over 10 years. (May 2001)
Voted YES on eliminating the Estate Tax. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on eliminating the “marriage penalty”. (Jul 2000)
Voted YES on repealing the estate tax (“death tax”). (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business. (Mar 2000)
Reduce the capital gains tax . (Jan 2001)
Phaseout the death tax. (Mar 2001)
Rated 80% by NTU, indicating a “Taxpayer’s Friend” on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
http://www.ontheissues.org/PA/Pat_Toomey_HouseMatch.htm“One of the first things we’ve got to do is clear away the threats that have been imposed by this federal government. Serial bailouts of failing companies, nationalizing whole industries, spending on a staggering scale, deficits and debt that are not affordable, cap and trade, card check and government run health care are preventing us from having the recovery we need. We need to clear away these threats to small businesses and entrepreneurs who might be otherwise starting businesses.”
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=253722Toomey ranked more conservative than 97.9% of all United States legislators since 1995. He had a more conservative voting record than J.D Hayworth, Jim DeMint, and was about as conservative as Jesse Helms. Only Tom Coburn and Tom Tancredo scored further to the right.
http://www.pollster.com/blogs/pat_toomey_conservative_hero.php?nr=1Rob Portman
Budget director for President George W. Bush. (Oct 2010)
Voted YES on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004)
Allow $3 on 1040 form to pay off National Debt. (Sep 2000)
Opposes the stimulus bill. (Sep 2010)
Supports balanced budget amendment & line item veto. (Sep 1994)
http://www.ontheissues.org/OH/Rob_Portman.htmRecent Key Votes:
Budget Control Act of 2011 (Yea)
2011-08-02 – Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that raises the national debt limit and establishes discretionary spending limits….Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Reid Bill) (Nay)
2011-07-31 – Vote to pass a bill that raises the national debt limit and establishes discretionary spending limits….Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Reid Bill) (Nay)
2011-07-31 – Vote to pass a bill that raises the national debt limit and establishes discretionary spending limits….2011/07/22 HR 2560 Vote on Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 (Nay)
Source: http://votesmart.org/
John Hensarling
“Spending 40% of GDP on government causes unconscionable debt.”
Voted NO on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending.
Voted NO on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures.
Voted NO on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package.
Balanced Budget Amendment with 3/5 vote to override. (Jan 2009)
Voted NO on monitoring TARP funds to ensure more mortgage relief.
Voted NO on $15B bailout for GM and Chrysler.
Voted NO on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy.
Voted NO on defining “energy emergency” on federal gas prices.
Voted NO on revitalizing severely distressed public housing.
Voted YES on restricting bankruptcy rules.
http://www.ontheissues.org/TX/Jeb_Hensarling_Budget_+_Economy.htmDave Camp
Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
Voted NO on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (Mar 2009)
Voted NO on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Jan 2009)
Voted YES on monitoring TARP funds to ensure more mortgage relief. (Jan 2009)
Voted YES on $15B bailout for GM and Chrysler. (Dec 2008)
Voted NO on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
Voted NO on defining “energy emergency” on federal gas prices. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on regulating the subprime mortgage industry. (Nov 2007)
Balanced Budget Amendment with 3/5 vote to override. (Jan 2009)
Supports balanced budget amendment & line item veto. (Sep 1994)
Maintain & enforce existing spending caps in the future. (Sep 1998)
http://www.ontheissues.org/MI/Dave_Camp.htmFred Upton
Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
Voted NO on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (Mar 2009)
Voted NO on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Jan 2009)
Voted YES on monitoring TARP funds to ensure more mortgage relief. (Jan 2009)
Voted YES on $15B bailout for GM and Chrysler. (Dec 2008)
Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
Voted NO on defining “energy emergency” on federal gas prices. (Jun 2008)
Voted YES on revitalizing severely distressed public housing. (Jan 2008)
Voted YES on regulating the subprime mortgage industry. (Nov 2007)
Voted YES on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004)
Balanced Budget Amendment with 3/5 vote to override. (Jan 2009)
Require a balanced budget, by Constitutional amendment. (Jan 2011)
Supports balanced budget amendment & line item veto. (Sep 1994)
Maintain & enforce existing spending caps in the future. (Sep 1998)
http://www.ontheissues.org/MI/Fred_Upton.htm
Pay particular attention to the bolded areas. The best pick out of the litter is Toomey, who seems to be a better conservative, especially fiscal, than the rest.
The deadline for recommendations on the deficit is 23 November, the deadline for Congress to act is 23 December. If they don’t enact $1.2 trillion in cuts, the cuts become automatic. What they will affect remains unclear.
If the Republicans on that committee have any guts, they will fight for the principles outlined in the Constitution and in the Cut, Cap, and Balance bill that the Dems trashed in Senate.