Forex Go!

In December, the Republican Party threatened to halt unemployment payments to more than 5 million Americans unless the Bush Tax Cuts were extended.  As Congress tries to settle upon cuts for the remaining six months of the 2011 budget, the Republicans are now taking aim at the operations of Planned Parenthood facilities and are prepared to not pay our fighting soldiers until they get what they want.

The Democrats have agreed to more than $34 billion in cuts and are anxious to begin discussions of the 2012 budget, which will be the most critical initiative on this year’s agenda.

Two major reports have served as guidelines for the 2012 budget.  The Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction committee put a strong budget on the table late last year.  The 18 man panel consisted of many financial gurus as well as four Republicans and four Democrats.

Just this week, the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Jack Ryan, circulated a proposed budget from House Republicans.  Both Bowles-Simpson and Ryan have addressed the severity of the debt crisis. Doubtless, these two reports will serve as guidelines for the ensuing budget.

The matter at hand is finalization of the 2011 budget.  The rhetoric and political posturing has reached the point of ridiculous.  At stake are big considerations. 

• U.S. military will not receive pay as scheduled.  This affects every man, woman and child connected to our fighting forces.  These loyal citizens need the money they have earned and their should be absolutely no disruption to the military payroll. What kind of message does this send to those who serve and those who are considering service? 
• Planned Parenthood is in the Republican line of fire.  Apparently there was an original misconception that abortions were being funded by the federal government, which is not true.  Closing Planned Parenthood is a popular Republican theme and the Democrats are prepared to fight over this item. Planed Parenthood provides may health services. 
• The furlough of 800,000 government employees.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced today that the two parties has agreed upon $38 billion in cuts but Planned Parenthood was the last bridge to be crossed. 

In these exhausting discussions, House Majority Leader John Boehner seems to have lost control of his caucus.  The Tea Party sector of the Republican Party seems to be calling the shots.  Public opinion is mixed about the shutdown but Tea Party members are far less popular than President Obama.

If there is a shutdown more than 800,000 government employees will be out of work.  Many services and federal facilities will be closed and many services provided in the Washington D.C. area will be halted.

The economy is on a roll but laying off more than 800,000 consumers is bound to have dire consequences.  Soured taxpayers are exhausted by the rhetoric and posturing.  The shutdown, or slowdown, as the Republicans call the layoff of 800,000 workers, sends a common message to taxpayers.  That message is that this Congress does not know how to legislate.

Global markets have a close eye on what is happening in the States.  Gold and oil are both hitting high marks.  There is a war in Afghanistan and a peacekeeping agenda in Iraq and a NATO action in Libya.  There is the crisis in Japan.  And, do not forget about Haiti. There is more unrest in the Middle East.  There are also millions of unemployed Americans.

At a time when the world needs the U.S. and when we should be leading, we cannot get our own house in order.

The Tea Party needs to understand that their constituents did not vote for them so that American soldiers would not receive timely pay or so that women would be denied the valuable services of Planned Parenthood.

Gentlemen, it is time to get to work.  Make a deal and keep government working.  Then get started on the 2012 budget immediately.  That is what we are paying you to do.

Similar Posts:

• Employment News All Bad
• The Debt Ceiling And Howard Beale
• Senate vs Obama
• S&P Slashes US Economic Outlook
• Who Will Say What?