Mitch McConnell leads deep state GOP forces in opposition to the conservative budget.
So-called conservatives like Marco Rubio, Rick Scott and Richard Burr voted against a plan to cut spending and balance the budget.
And now Donald Trump’s reelection chances have been crushed by this GOP Senate vote.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate voted down the motion to proceed on the “Penny Plan” proposed by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) by a 22-69 margin.
The roll call vote shows just how far the deep state reaches and Mitch McConnell led a majority of Republicans in joining Democrats in killing the move.
Liberal Republicans such as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Roger Wicker and Susan Collins were joined by self-described “conservatives” like Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) and all Democrats to vote down the fiscally conservative measure.
Sen. Rand Paul’s “Penny Plan” would balance the budget within five years by reducing spending by two pennies on the dollar for every dollar spent by the federal government from one year to the next.
It is a rather modest proposal that any member of Congress who is actually a conservative budget hawk would support.
Clearly there are 22 Senate Republicans who, while they claim to be conservative, do not believe in any fiscal restraint.
In a press release just before the vote, Senator Paul said, “I ran for office to put a stop to Washington’s out-of-control spending and skyrocketing debt. It’s time for conservatives to govern like conservatives, and my budget plan gives our Republican-controlled Congress a chance to prove to the American people that it is serious about getting our fiscal house in order.”
Based on yesterday’s vote, Republicans are not serious at all about governing like conservatives, cutting spending or actually doing the job they were elected to do.
The continued failure of the Mitch McConnell-led Senate GOP to keep even one promise, has threatened not just GOP control of the Senate, but the presidency as well.
Paul’s proposal would have reduced projected increases in spending by $404.8B in fiscal year 2019 and would reduce spending by $13.35 trillion over the next decade. It would have put America quickly back on the road toward fiscal solvency.
The budget proposed by Paul included provisions that would have expanded Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) so Americans could more easily budget for their own healthcare. It also would have provided reform for Congress’ reconciliation and budget processes without impacting Social Security.
“A balanced federal budget isn’t a pie-in-the-sky dream or empty rhetoric. Once again, I am introducing a concrete plan that is achievable and allows Congress maximum flexibility to prioritize spending. It leads the way toward fiscal responsibility, an even stronger economy, and a future full of opportunity for the American people,” Dr. Paul continued in the press release.
Sen. Paul’s “Penny Plan” was an excellent opportunity for the GOP to finally live up to at least one promise they made to be the fiscally conservative party, and it was a chance for Trump to live up to his campaign rhetoric on federal spending.
Unfortunately, the vote this week proves once again that no matter who is in control, the deep state still has long tentacles.
With the failure of Republicans to keep this promise as well as failure to repeal Obamacare, defund Planned Parenthood, or make real tax cuts, it is becoming more apparent the GOP is in real danger of losing the Senate and the presidency next year.
Unless Republicans begin to nominate solid conservatives to stand with Rand Paul, Mike Lee and Thomas Massie, they are destined to fail.