A bipartisan budget bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week. It offered something no Democrat or Republican is willing to do - dramatically cut spending and also raise taxes. It projected $4.2 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years.
The bill was defeated 382 to 38. Yes, you read that correctly. Only 38 Congressmen had the cojones to seek a bipartisan solution to the absolute mess of this country's finances and debt.
A total of 16 Republicans and 22 Democrats voted for the bill. Sources said that another 100 or so Congressmen wanted to vote for it but then they were met by fierce opposition from lobbyists from the political left and the political right.
I would like to publicly acknowledge the 38 congressmen with the sense to do what is right, even if not popular. Here is a list of the 38 representatives voting in favor:
The bill was defeated 382 to 38. Yes, you read that correctly. Only 38 Congressmen had the cojones to seek a bipartisan solution to the absolute mess of this country's finances and debt.
A total of 16 Republicans and 22 Democrats voted for the bill. Sources said that another 100 or so Congressmen wanted to vote for it but then they were met by fierce opposition from lobbyists from the political left and the political right.
I would like to publicly acknowledge the 38 congressmen with the sense to do what is right, even if not popular. Here is a list of the 38 representatives voting in favor:
16 Republicans:
Charles Bass, N.H.
Ann Marie Buerkle, N.Y.
Charlie Dent, Pa.
Robert Dold, Ill.
Chris Gibson, N.Y.
Timothy Johnson, Ill.
Steve LaTourette, Ohio
Cynthia Lummis, Wyo.
Patrick Meehan, Pa.
Tom Petri, Wis.
Todd Platts, Pa.
Tom Reed, N.Y.
John Shimkus, Ill.
Mike Simpson, Idaho
Frank Wolf, Va.
Don Young, Alaska
22 Democrats:
Robert Andrews, N.J.
Dan Boren, Okla.
Leonard Boswell, Iowa
John Carney, Del.
James Clyburn, S.C.
Jim Cooper, Tenn.
Jim Costa, Calif.
Henry Cuellar, Texas
Chaka Fattah, Pa.
Jim Himes, Conn.
Ron Kind, Wis.
Rick Larsen, Wash.
Dan Lipinski, Ill.
Ed Perlmutter, Colo.
Collin Peterson, Minn.
Jared Polis, Colo.
Mike Quigley, Ill.
Kurt Schrader, Ore.
Allyson Schwartz, Pa.
Heath Shuler, N.C.
Pete Visclosky, Ind.
Mel Watt, N.C.
Well, it took William Wilberforce about 20 years to get the slavery abolition law through parlement, so let them not be discouraged but keep pursuing.
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