MSNBC’S O’Donnell Hits Gregg On Budget Reconciliation: ‘Are You Flip-Flopping Around?’
MSNBC’S O’Donnell Hits Gregg On Budget Reconciliation: ‘Are You Flip-Flopping Around?’
Recently, the White House has said that it may use budget reconciliation to pass key portions of its budget, such as health care or cap-and-trade. Reconciliation allows some legislation to be protected from filibusters and passed by a simple majority.
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) has been an outspoken critic of reconciliation, saying that it would “create real consternation, be regarded as an act of violence” against Republicans, and likening it to “running over the minority, putting them in cement and throwing them in the Chicago River.”
It’s been noted before that Gregg was not so wary of reconciliation when President Bush was in office. Today, MSNBC’s Norah O’Donnell pushed Gregg on his apparent double standard, brandishing a list of the instances in which Gregg voted for legislation passed through reconciliation and asking him “are you flip-flopping around?” Watch it:
Gregg argued that the reconciliation process should only be used for adjusting existing programs “at the margins.” But then how does he square his support for using reconciliation to approve drilling for oil in ANWR? “The president asked for it, and we’re trying to do what the president asked for,” Gregg said at the time.
Gregg also voted for the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts, both of which were passed through reconciliation. In fact, the 2003 cut passed with only 51 votes. Does Gregg really think a tax change adding about $1.7 trillion in deficits while overwhelmingly benefiting the wealthy was an adjustment “at the margins”?
But even if we apply Gregg’s standard to health care reform, then it too could pass through reconciliation, as Obama’s reforms simply build on the current system. So, yes, Norah. Gregg is indeed “flip-flopping around.”
5 Responses to “MSNBC’S O’Donnell Hits Gregg On Budget Reconciliation: ‘Are You Flip-Flopping Around?’”
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That’s why they’re known as Repugnicants. Filibuster, reconciliation, up or down vote, no attacks on Bush watch (other than 9-11), drill here/drill now…
They have zero credibility for anyone paying attention. The Blue team played a mean game of imitation under Bill Clinton. Rahm and company continued the centrist, corporatist blue line. Sad days, indeed for America.
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:53 pmI think the best thing would be to actually follow Gregg’s advice about “running over the Republicans, putting them in cement, and throwing them in the Chicago River”. Except that I’d skip the part about running them over. Throwing them in fully aware would seem the only way to get their attention, and it would save wear and tear on the bus…
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:25 pmAre we ever going to get any reasons why cap-and-trade is superior to floating wind subsidies before cap-and-trade is ratified by the vast majority of the developed and developing world? Are there even any such reasons? Are the OMB and CBO figuring the cost of having to bail out flood insurers over and over under the cap-and-trade scenario with more regressive effective taxation, greater pollution, stronger storms, and fewer people employed in the windmill construction and lithium mining industries?
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:33 pmRepubli”chant”: Do as I say, not what I do.
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 pmNew Hampshire people are smarter than this. Why do they have a GOP moron representing them in the Senate?
March 24th, 2009 at 8:44 am