Republicans Need to Make More Noise in Congress

On Thursday, November 18, 2010 the Lame Duck Democrat controlled House of Representatives brought to the floor a measure designed to extend jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed. The current authorization for these benefits that was passed during the summer is due to expire on December 01, 2010; an extension would have provided benefits beyond the holiday season.

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As a non-House member observer on the sidelines, I have to wonder at the motivation for such a strategic plan the Democrats approved during the summer that did not continue to cover the jobless benefits THROUGH the coming holiday season. Again, this sidelines observer has the feeling that such a maneuver was very intentional and HIGHLY political. Those crafty Democrats were covering the political posteriors in the event that they would lose their powerful majority in the fall election cycle. Making the expiration date BEFORE the holiday season would give them some political propaganda benefits in the almost assured event of loss of majority in the elections. Not too close to the holidays as that may be too obvious, but a few weeks before so they would also have more time to chastise and condemn Republicans for being cold-hearted to cut benefits before the holidays. Well just as sure as God makes little green apples that scenario evolved on November 18th with the proposition to extend the benefits. And just as sure as Democrats had expected the GOP to oppose the extension of the benefits, it all came about as they planned. But this time, it will backfire on their devious plans. As stated above the Dems last summer were concerned with planning some political hay sowing but should have been more concerned with actually helping the unemployed particularly with the holidays approaching and set the expiration date to January 01, 2011 instead of December 01, 2010. So when the vote was taken, which under 'fast-track' rules of the House, required a two-thirds majority to pass or about 290 'Yea' votes, that would need about 30 Republicans to join them; that did not happen. Quite expectedly, the White House political spin machine went into high gear with spokesman Robert Gibbs, Obama's chief liar and alibier, crying out for all news services to hear, "I don't think we want to leave here having (here comes the spin) fought for tax cuts for millionaires and against unemployment insurance for those that have lost their jobs." It really isn't that the Democrats are pleading for Republicans to "do the right thing and approve the extensions"; frankly they are only making more political hay and are attempting to show the voters of November 2nd that they elected uncaring people of the other party. As stated above, the Republicans just need to make more noise for their side of the debate on this issue. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-LA said, "The fact is, we can both provide this help and pay for it by cutting less effective stimulus spending." And he is right. There are billions of dollars of unspent money from last year's economic stimulus bill that could and should be used to fund this increase of $12.5 billion in benefits instead of adding it to the already bloated deficits and debt for this year. Liberal Democrats, in typical spendthrift fashion, want to add MORE NEW money to the deficits and debt to pay for the extensions. Like the Republicans insist, the funds should come from the unspent BILLIONS in the stimulus package instead of appropriating NEW money. But there should be more Republicans shouting as loud and as often as they possibly can to offset the false and misleading spin the liberal Democrats are spewing. Such as this from Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash. "Without this extension, temporary federal extended benefits will shut down. denying benefits to two million of our fellow citizens over the holiday season." Democrats should be looking to use unspent stimulus funds saving taxpayers some money instead of delivering tripe like Gibbs and McDermott. But that just wouldn't be the Democrat way, now would it? Information and quotes for the above were furnished by "The Daily Caller's Andrew Taylor - AP on 11-18-2010 online.