No Cuts for Me, No Cuts for Thee

The Senate once again prevailed in preventing cuts to the Federal Government to take place. From Politico:

The decades-old farm and food stamps coalition held in the Senate on Wednesday, as 13 Republicans joined Democrats in blocking a tea party-led effort to cut nutrition funding almost in half and shift control back to the states.

The 65-33 roll call came just minutes after a much narrower 50-46 vote in which sugar beet and cane growers beat back a bipartisan effort to phase out the farm bill’s sugar support program, which has long been criticized for shifting costs on to American consumers.

Here, too, Republican votes for the tabling motion were pivotal. Fifteen GOP senators — including Western state conservatives — joined in support of the growers and Agriculture Committee leadership.

The food stamp vote was significant because the amendment, offered by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), mirrors a proposal by House Republicans that would also convert the program to a state block grant and cut funding — albeit not as much as the tea party conservative proposed.

Following past heroic acts by Congress (like the heroic effort to protect funding for Cowboy Poetry!), the Senate Democrats once again have managed to protect vital government spending. Of course, the Democrats are not alone. Many Republicans are willingly supporting Harry Reid and his ways out of fear of upsetting special interests that provide them with valuable campaign donations.

One can only imagine what Harry Reid tells his merry gang of spenders to keep them happy. On Friday nights he might treat them to a case or five before leading them in a chant. Perhaps something like this:

Reid: What will we cut?

Democratic Caucus: Nothing!

Reid: When will we cut?

Democratic Caucus: Never!

Reid: What will we do?

Democratic Caucus joined by the White House and Paul Krugman; Spend! Spend! Spend!

How long will Americans leave these loons in charge until they realize that the country is about to crash off the edge of the cliff?