Politics

Conservatives Are Angry; Blame Dems For Econ Problems

January 23, 2008 / 3:15 PM EST / The Politico

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) thinks poor people shouldn't get the tax rebate because they don't pay income taxes in the first place.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) has blamed the Democratic Congress for the economic downturn without even mentioning the Bush administration's role.

And Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis), says the economic stimulus package won't create a single job.

Such is life in the agitated conservative base these days as Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and President Bush all make nice on an economic package.

Conservative Republicans have been largely been left out of negotiations and believe the $145 billion one time tax rebate and small business tax package goes against fundamental conservative principles.

So far, conservative proposals for much larger, long term corporate, small business and capital gains tax cuts have gotten no hearing among congressional leaders or the Bush administration. Asked by The Crypt at a press conference whether the conservative Republican Study Committee was directly involved in stimulus negotiations, all 11 GOP lawmakers on the dais shook their head.

And maybe that's why they're angry.

Gohmert says tax rebates should only go to those who pay income taxes, meaning a family of four making $25,000 might not get the $800 check being discussed as part of the economic stimulus.

"In order to get a rebate, you have to put some bait in first," Gohmert reasoned.

Pence, a former chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, went so far as to blame Democrats for turmoil in the financial markets, problems in the housing industry and the subprime mortgage crisis _ even though all these issues were brewing long before Democrats took control.

"One year into a liberal Democrat majority, surprise surprise, the economy is struggling," Pence said.

When Republicans go behind closed doors for their annual retreat starting tomorrow, expect fireworks from these conservatives who are itching to break the bipartisan truce prevailing on Capitol Hill.