"Pledge to America": The New Republican Agenda
House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio gestures after addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010.
/ APIt is also a clear pledge to the Tea Party with its focus on Constitutional principles and government spending. "With this document, we pledge to dedicate ourselves to the task of reconnecting our highest aspirations to the permanent truths of our founding by keeping faith with the values our nation was founded on, the principles we stand for, and the priorities of our people" the members say in the opening. "This is our Pledge to America."
The GOP plan is to stop the Bush tax cuts from expiring for all Americans, not just the middle class as many Democrats would like. Republicans would allow small businesses to take a tax deduction equal to 20 percent of their income. And they would repeal and replace health care with "common-sense solutions focused on lowering costs and protecting American jobs."
The Pledge also promises to reform the way Congress works by requiring each bill to have Constitutional citations and by giving members at least three days to read legislation before it comes to the floor for a vote.
On defense, they promise to fully fund the troops, missile defense and to enforce sanctions in Iran.
Critical Contests: Interactive Map with CBS News 2010 Election Race Ratings
House Democrats were already busy Wednesday afternoon working up a fact sheet to pan the Republican pledge. In a draft version of the fact sheet, Democrats question the GOP's small business credibility given that Republicans are expected to return from the event to DC tomorrow to vote against a small business lending fund with tax breaks.
"Ironically, the party that's voted against small business tax cuts enacted into law by this Congress is actually holding their press event at a small business just outside Washington--and then racing back presumably to vote against the Small Business Jobs Act--crucial to get small businesses hiring and $300 billion in private sector credit flowing," said Nadeam Elshami, a spokesperson for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The Democrats' draft also says that the GOP plan will "blow a $700 billion hole in the deficit to give tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires" and "take away patients' rights" by repealing the health care bill.
The Republican plan would take spending back to 2008 pre-TARP and stimulus spending levels and would put in place strict budget caps. But it's unclear how much money would actually be saved given the funding promises in the GOP pledge on extending and adding tax cuts, repealing but replacing health care, and increasing defense spending.
GOP's "Pledge" Gets Mixed Reviews from Conservatives
Rep. Mike Pence Defends the "Pledge to America"
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SOS, I' afraid and not a single tenet less than 25 years old.
YAAAAAWWWWN.
It is nice that just like the legislation we got, there is not even a fly fart's attempt at cost control or nationwide negotiation of costs. LET THE GOUGING CONTINUE.
Republican answer for what if I get sick w/o insurance? QUICK DIE AND GET OUT OF THE WAY. THAT'S A GOOD SERF.
You're an idiot.
Imagine an election and no one came.... Those who did vote cast write-ins for "none of the above" or "abolish the office".... What a message that would be to those who seek to rule!
Next, the questions can and should be asked, "Why does the individual still need to be ruled by others? Is there not a better way now to achieve social order than by some centralized governing body to which an individual can, at best, only have an effect if part of a majority casting votes for a particular candidate/bond/referendum in a particular election?"
The nature of human beings does not automatically lead to the conclusion that individuals must be ruled by others in order that there be orderly interactions between them. Society, just like any other natural system can be naturally self-regulating by means of interactions between its members, if only humans seek to discover and are allowed to implement the methods by which such self-regulation can be effective, rather than continuing to embrace social systems that need to be constantly held in an unnatural (and very unoptimal) state of balance by the operations of their rulers and other influencers. Individual self-order without rule by others is the social system whose members are fully adult (particularly meaning self-responsible) humans. Just as people can become physical adults, so can they become psychological and social adults - if only they are allowed (and even required in the sense that they will not achieve their desires unless they do) to socially mature sufficiently.
Understanding the social interaction methodology by which more individuals would progress to become fully socially mature adults requires a paradigm shift in thinking about human interactions.
Kitty Antonik Wakfer
Republican supporters fall for it every time, time after time,...
1 - Jobs continue to go overseas.
2 - Two wars costing lives and $$
3 - Economy and infrastructure a shambles.
What happens when an Australian Muslim cleric calls for the beheading of a Dutch politician?
Not much.
What happens when an American pastor no one ever heard of threatens to burn a Koran?
It ignites an international outcry.
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Now imagine if ANY American Muslim cleric calls for the BeHeading of ANYONE - what do you suppose would happen ?? - do you see how dumb your arguments are, yet ?? You don't compare America and the roles we're currently playing in the muslim world for dumb statements like that not to have consequences - besides the dumb cleric would have simply DISAPPEARED under the Patriot Act ........ Dumb dumb repugs !!
Yes sir, extend Bush tax cuts for wealthy people who don't need them, that'll get the deficit down.
Discriminate against gays.
Ruin health care reform.
The GOP certainly has a lot to offer.
1 - Jobs continue to go overseas.
2 - Two wars costing lives and $$
3 - Economy and infrastructure a shambles.
I don't like the Republicans, but as a Christian, I think I'm going to have to vote for them because the Democrats won't get off the "gay rights" train-wreck. The Republican oppression of the middle class and poor can someday be reversed, but once you allow society to accept social evils such as the "homosexual lifestyle" there's never any fixing that.
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knowerseeker,when was the last time you were attacked by homosexuals?
You are a one trick pony.