Would a threat to cut off the pay of lawmakers in either the House or Senate if their chamber fails to pass a budget this year prod senators and reps to fulfill their duties?

lorexxx, don't you understand that the President of the United States in 2011 isn't responsible for the actions of his own pen?

Well, his supporters don't think he's responsible. Because the only thing they have chanted in unison about those tax cuts is that they were Bush's and not his, even though the President's signing made them effective once again.

Frankly, if the President hadn't signed in 2011, the tax cuts would have expired. No, really.

Absolutely amazing. Whenever I sign something, I am culpable, responsible, accountable for whatever it is I'm signing. Period.

Only in an alternate universe would I get to blame somebody else other than myself for signing on the dotted line...

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The difference between the projected and actual debt in 2011 can be largely attributed to:

$3.5 trillion – Economic changes (including lower than expected tax revenues and higher safety net spending due to recession) $1.6 trillion – Bush Tax Cuts (EGTRRA and JGTRRA), primarily tax cuts but also some smaller spending increases $1.5 trillion - Increased defense and non-defense discretionary spending $1.4 trillion – Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq $1.4 trillion - Incremental interest due to higher debt balances $0.9 trillion - Obama stimulus and tax cuts (ARRA and Tax Act of 2010)

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JayBird, there's more in your posts than idle curiosity. Admit it.

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So, JayBird, what do you do with your hate and anger? Direct it at ND conservatives?

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Hey XXX...Is it possible to plagiarize yourself? Yes, I think so and I believe henryjay would agree.

lorexxx Jan-19-13 4:47 PM "No respectable Republican can admire Obama for anything he has said or done"

Little early for 2014 & 2016 Campaign slogans but here it goes....

No respectable Republican will allow a Tea Party member into it's caucus.

The American people will reject fringe politics and see this as the real obstacle for "fulfilling their duties"

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Lets see...Bush "takes" office with a SURPLUS in 2001...9/11 event occurs..military industrial complex ***** 10 trillion out of the taxpayer for PHONY wars....who's to blame for the DEFICIT?

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For those who only watch CNN or MSNBC and such. The Senate has passed a budget, control Repulicans. The House has not passed a budget in the last 4 years, Control Democrats. So who is holding everything up. That would be the Dems. You have those on here who want to blame the Republicans and Bush for all the problems with the deficit. It is the Dems and Obama who control it and have failed to act.

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Jaybird, yawn, peas and or what else you were in a past life...when you are banned again.,., what name will you choose? Whatever it is, it won't take long for us to know you wayde1.

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JayBird, if you come up with some scintillating schtick, we'll applaud.

Until then...

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"HOW WE GOT HERE During FY 2012, CBO's preliminary estimates indicate the federal government..."

Google this phrase and you'll get wikipedia.

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The propaganda minister for Pravda has spoken and is working overtime again. Worried American has been praised by Pravda for his fine Copy and Paste jobs and is aiming to replace the Editor of the Minot Daily News.

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OOOHHHHH, he should have waited till AFTER the inauguration. That's whats got your goat.

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HOW WE GOT HERE During FY 2012, CBO's preliminary estimates indicate the federal government collected approximately $2.45 trillion in tax revenue or 15.7% GDP, up $148B since 2011, with tax receipts rising across all major categories.

During FY 2011, the federal government collected approximately $2.3 trillion in tax revenue or 15.4% GDP. Primary receipt categories included individual income taxes (47%), Social Security/Social Insurance taxes (36%), and corporate taxes (8%). Other types included excise, estate and gift taxes.

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Tax revenues averaged approximately 18.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) over the 1970-2009 period, generally ranging plus or minus 2% from that level. Tax revenues are significantly affected by the economy. Recessions typically reduce government tax collections as economic activity slows. For example, tax revenues declined from $2.5 trillion in 2008 to $2.1 trillion in 2009, and remained at that level in 2010. During 2009, individual income taxes declined 20%, while corporate taxes declined 50%. At 15.1% of GDP, the 2009 and 2010 collections were the lowest level of the past 50 years.

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Much of the costs for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have not been funded through regular appropriations bills, but through emergency supplemental appropriations bills. As such, most of these expenses were not included in the budget deficit calculation prior to FY2010. Some budget experts argue that emergency supplemental appropriations bills do not receive the same level of legislative care as regular appropriations bills. During 2011, the U.S. spent more on its military budget than the next 13 countries combined.

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The difference between the projected and actual debt in 2011 can be largely attributed to:

$3.5 trillion – Economic changes (including lower than expected tax revenues and higher safety net spending due to recession) $1.6 trillion – Bush Tax Cuts (EGTRRA and JGTRRA), primarily tax cuts but also some smaller spending increases $1.5 trillion - Increased defense and non-defense discretionary spending $1.4 trillion – Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq $1.4 trillion - Incremental interest due to higher debt balances $0.9 trillion - Obama stimulus and tax cuts (ARRA and Tax Act of 2010)

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McConnell statement stated clearly what EVERY election is about. Trying to keep the opponent to one term. So, it seems stupid to keep repeating what he said. Why have elections every four years if it is not to remove the incumbent? If we want to change DC we must get rid of the staffers that 'train' the newbies in how things are done. That is how long termers control the Senate and the House.

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h4c angry gun toting white guys need not apply! :-)

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Republicans are trying to agree on extending the debt ceiling for an additional three months and kick the can down the road! Now they are thinking about working on a budget! They just realized that they have lost the Presidential election and have to work with President Obama for the next "Four More Years!" :-)

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We couldn't do much worse if we sent retired farmers and businessmen/women to Congress...people who have run a business, made payrolls with little to gain; but passing on to our future generations real hope and not change.

Lawyers need not apply either for 99% give the other 1% a bad name.

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Jaybird, really? I think both parties are to blame here since they each control one side of Congress. As for voting them out, it's a nice thought, but once you vote one out, the new one comes in, drinks the Kool-Aide and continues on like the rest of them. Let's just clear it and start over, that way there are no bad habits that act as a cancer going through those halls. Dreaming, I know.

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ANTI-LOBBYIST bill proposal for DC!

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TERM LIMITS & EXPULSION!!! KICK THEM OUT FOR NON-PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES!!!!!

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Animal, you beat me to it. Exactly, as it would be nice to hold that over their heads, how do you do it? Who would vote the law in to make that happen? Oh yeah, Congress has to pass it, good luck, these bastards are untouchable. Any other job would have fired them for non-performance already but...

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Rugby--take another toke,sit back and try not to hurt yourself!but on the subject at hand, how are you going to cut off their pay? We have absolutely NO control over these people, they do as they*****please, they surely don't represent the tax payers!

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