OK, enough of the DC pissing contest, it's time for good government, where are the adults? (Poll)

[Man With A Plan]

Most members of Congress are millionaires.

They could care less about missing a paycheck.

WW

Which brings us to my next issue with Congress! It's time we made it illegal for people in Government to make millions trading stocks with insider information.

 

[kyzr]

Which brings us to my next issue with Congress! It's time we made it illegal for people in Government to make millions trading stocks with insider information.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1908/text

H. R. 1908
To prohibit stock trading and ownership by Members of Congress and their spouses and dependent children, and for other purposes.

 

[Foxfyre]

The Federal government shutdown has been going on for more than a week with no end in sight.
Republicans say pass the "clean CR", period.
Democrats say "put back the $1.5T of spending that was cut by the BBB, including restoring the ACA subsidies", period.

The problem is that we have too many lawyers and not enough "genius" in congress, we need "Problem Solvers", not "ideologues".

If congress was working in private industry there would be no shutdown, that wastes money, a deal would have been cut already, "one way or another".

Republicans are the majority, they need to push for a solution to end the shutdown:
1. Go nuclear and say "CRs only need 51 votes". A very wimpy solution, it just guarantees more CRs
2. Go nuclear for CRs, Appropriations, and Rescission Bills. A less wimpy solution, but it may bite them in the ass in the future.
3. Publish a proposed deal, let the MSM grade it, and dare the democrats to walk away.
Go for a "WIN-WIN Grand Bargain" that solves several of the major problems, Republicans should put these on the table:
a) Fix Social Security by raising the cap and adding 2-years to the early & full retirement ages
b) Fix Medicare (going bankrupt)
c) Give the ACA subsidy at 50% of the current Covid subsidy (half a loaf)
d) Pay for the subsidy by raising the top tax rate to 40%, Trump agrees, it helps balance the budget.
e) Appropriations Bills and CRs only need 51 votes to pass. (solves future unnecessary shutdowns)


If the democrats don't put up a suitable counter offer, just go with option #2. End the shutdown now.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/government-shutdown-news-10-09-25

Stand-off continues more than a week into the government shutdown​

Basically a responsible Congress passes a budget by October 1 so that no CRs are necessary. But if they do not, a CR should be just enough to keep the government going until a budget is passed and signed into law.

That should be the hard and fast rule.

I think President Trump might be willing to negotiate just a wee bit on the healthcare issue to break the current impasse, but I will be very disappointed if he caves to the Democrats' self-serving and irresponsible demands.

 

[Man With A Plan]

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1908/text

H. R. 1908
To prohibit stock trading and ownership by Members of Congress and their spouses and dependent children, and for other purposes.

They need to include family members and "significant others" in that prohibition! They'll just have their brother or nephew or girlfriend or boyfriend make the stock trades for them. There is no shame in these people.

 

[Man With A Plan]

Basically a responsible Congress passes a budget by October 1 so that no CRs are necessary. But if they do not, a CR should be just enough to keep the government going until a budget is passed and signed into law.

That should be the hard and fast rule.

I think President Trump might be willing to negotiate just a wee bit on the healthcare issue to break the current impasse, but I will be very disappointed if he caves to the Democrats' self-serving and irresponsible demands.

Barack Obama and the Democrats assured the American people that the Affordable Care Act would "bend the cost curve" after a few years and healthcare costs would go down significantly! That was YEARS ago and the costs of Obamacare are still going up and going up sharply! Now Democrats are demanding we spend Billions of dollars to make Obamacare affordable. Were we all supposed to just forget what they told us ten years ago?

 

[Foxfyre]

Barack Obama and the Democrats assured the American people that the Affordable Care Act would "bend the cost curve" after a few years and healthcare costs would go down significantly! That was YEARS ago and the costs of Obamacare are still going up and going up sharply! Now Democrats are demanding we spend Billions of dollars to make Obamacare affordable. Were we all supposed to just forget what they told us ten years ago?

In my opinion, they don't want it affordable. They want all of us to be dependent on THEM for what we need so they can regain and keep power indefinitely. Serving the public's needs is the last thing on their agenda.

 

[kyzr]

In my opinion, they don't want it affordable. They want all of us to be dependent on THEM for what we need so they can regain and keep power indefinitely. Serving the public's needs is the last thing on their agenda.

Democrats and communists want "single-payer" or Medicare for everyone, like the bankrupt EU countries tried.

The Mirage of Swedish Socialism: The Economic History of a Welfare State (Parts 1 and 2)

www.fraserinstitute.org

The Brits also tried socialism, and went back to capitalism.
As the "Iron Maiden" aka Maggie Thatcher said, "sooner or later socialists run out of other people's money".

A British Lord's Warning: Steer Clear Of Single-Payer Health Care

If Democrats have their way, the United States will follow Great Britain down the path to government domination of the healthcare system.

www.forbes.com

 

[initforme]

No hard working middle and lower class workers healthcare costs should increase. They cant afford larger deductibles and plans. Otherwise the end goal is simply dont get sick?

 

[kyzr]

No hard working middle and lower class workers healthcare costs should increase. They cant afford larger deductibles and plans. Otherwise the end goal is simply dont get sick?

True, but Republicans aren't "raising premiums", the Law that subsidized premiums during Covid expires the end of 2025, so premiums for Obamacare are going back to normal by the existing law.

 

[BackAgain]

The Federal government shutdown has been going on for more than a week with no end in sight.
Republicans say pass the "clean CR", period.
Democrats say "put back the $1.5T of spending that was cut by the BBB, including restoring the ACA subsidies", period.

The problem is that we have too many lawyers and not enough "genius" in congress, we need "Problem Solvers", not "ideologues".

If congress was working in private industry there would be no shutdown, that wastes money, a deal would have been cut already, "one way or another".

Republicans are the majority, they need to push for a solution to end the shutdown:
1. Go nuclear and say "CRs only need 51 votes". A very wimpy solution, it just guarantees more CRs
2. Go nuclear for CRs, Appropriations, and Rescission Bills. A less wimpy solution, but it may bite them in the ass in the future.
3. Publish a proposed deal, let the MSM grade it, and dare the democrats to walk away.
Go for a "WIN-WIN Grand Bargain" that solves several of the major problems, Republicans should put these on the table:
a) Fix Social Security by raising the cap and adding 2-years to the early & full retirement ages
b) Fix Medicare (going bankrupt)
c) Give the ACA subsidy at 50% of the current Covid subsidy (half a loaf)
d) Pay for the subsidy by raising the top tax rate to 40%, Trump agrees, it helps balance the budget.
e) Appropriations Bills and CRs only need 51 votes to pass. (solves future unnecessary shutdowns)


If the democrats don't put up a suitable counter offer, just go with option #2. End the shutdown now.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/government-shutdown-news-10-09-25

Stand-off continues more than a week into the government shutdown​

I’d vote for the so-called “nuclear” option.

America is governed by a Constitutional republic which grants the law making to the Legislative Branch. They (unlike the electorate) thus get to make our laws, provided the President signs the law and also provided that the laws so passed comply with the Constitutional limits.

The legislators should be able to pass laws, within those constraints, on the basis of the majority rules. And except where there is an override attempt on a Presidential veto or where the Constitution otherwise says so, the democratic standard of majority rule is all that should be required.

 

[kyzr]

I’d vote for the so-called “nuclear” option.
America is governed by a Constitutional republic which grants the law making to the Legislative Branch. They (unlike the electorate) thus get to make our laws, provided the President signs the law and also provided that the laws so passed comply with the Constitutional limits.

The legislators should be able to pass laws, within those constraints, on the basis of the majority rules. And except where there is an override attempt on a Presidential veto or where the Constitution otherwise says so, the democratic standard of majority rule is all that should be required.

All very true. The filibuster exists to prevent the "tyranny of the majority", like in the House. A constant food fight.
The senate thinks they have more class than the House by requiring 60 votes to end debate. That also prevents major swings in laws by simple majorities of whichever party controls the senate.

I prefer simple majorities for temporary laws, like appropriations, rescission, confirmation of personnel, etc., but 60 votes for major legislation like a balanced budget requirement, or changing the number of supreme court justices.

 

[Foxfyre]

No hard working middle and lower class workers healthcare costs should increase. They cant afford larger deductibles and plans. Otherwise the end goal is simply dont get sick?

The goal is totalitarian control over all the people so that they can stay in power in perpetuity. Then they'll throw the people just enough bones to keep them working for that government and those in power who will become incredibly more wealthy while the people hope to just survive.

 

[toobfreak]

The Federal government shutdown has been going on for more than a week with no end in sight.

Simple way the Fed could speed things up:

1. All income lost due to shutdown is income never received. No back-pay for anyone in the party holding out refusing to pass a budget.
2. Over a period of time, these people are eventually fired as government MUST have continuity.

You'd see the congress get something together real fast then if it were actually personally costing any of these people!

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

I tend to disagree. The US military, air-traffic controllers, and other low paid families need their pay.
Republicans look / are incompetent by not negotiating, or at least threatening the nuclear option, my #2 in the OP.

We will NEVER accept taxpayer dollars for illegals. Possibly put back some of the ACA subsidy, but its that or get nuked.

The Democrats are more than welcome to make that argument AFTER they pass the CR and restart the pay for government employees and programs. No one has ever said they cannot!

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Time for a new Constitutional amendment then...

You get right on that and get Congress to vote to restrict their own pay. Good luck with that pipe dream.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Basically a responsible Congress passes a budget by October 1 so that no CRs are necessary. But if they do not, a CR should be just enough to keep the government going until a budget is passed and signed into law.

That should be the hard and fast rule.

I think President Trump might be willing to negotiate just a wee bit on the healthcare issue to break the current impasse, but I will be very disappointed if he caves to the Democrats' self-serving and irresponsible demands.

Why would he do that? He has the high ground.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

They need to include family members and "significant others" in that prohibition! They'll just have their brother or nephew or girlfriend or boyfriend make the stock trades for them. There is no shame in these people.

Not if they don't own any stock!

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

No hard working middle and lower class workers healthcare costs should increase. They cant afford larger deductibles and plans. Otherwise the end goal is simply dont get sick?

That is not happening Methusaleh! Get a grip of the details!

 

[kyzr]

The Democrats are more than welcome to make that argument AFTER they pass the CR and restart the pay for government employees and programs. No one has ever said they cannot!

True. But the democrats are pricks. They think they have more leverage now than after a CR is passed. They just say no.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

True. But the democrats are pricks. They think they have more leverage now than after a CR is passed. They just say no.

Then they will never get another vote from their government workers.