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House Republicans appear to be retreating from the idea of an absolute cap on government borrowing, which could be obtained by simply doing nothing regarding the nation’s statutory borrowing limit of about $14.3 trillion. But it’s clear that the Obama spending plan remains a target for them as they try to address the government’s massive spending.
While 34 members of the House GOP said in a new WND survey that they like the idea of simply freezing the nation’s debt ceiling and cutting spending until the government complies, there were another 171 who said they could support an increase in the debt ceiling as long as there are significant new restrictions on spending.
Those include such proposals as a balanced budget amendment that would forbid future deficit spending, massive spending cuts and other fiscal reforms.
The same survey two months ago revealed that about 100 of the Republican representatives, who hold the majority in the House with 240 seats, were in favor of an absolute cap.
Those who are undecided plunged from 65 to 24, and those who think it’s a good idea to simply raise the debt ceiling and let the Obama administration borrow more money fell by almost half, from 20 to 11.
Most of those votes now have moved into the category where lawmakers say they believe some increase in the debt ceiling is needed and will be approved, but it’s going to happen right alongside massive cuts, mandatory spending reductions, mandatory spending limits or some other limit that effectively will be a “ceiling” for the nation’s spending.
That’s not quite what voters have said. A recent WND-Wenzel Poll asked specifically about the debt ceiling and what should be done.
“The United States federal government is nearing the limit of how much it can borrow to pay for its operations, and Congress must soon choose what to do. Its three main choices are to vote to increase the debt limit to allow the government to borrow more money; make cuts in the federal government to stay below the debt limit; or increase taxes to help pay down the debt. Which of these three main choices would you prefer Congress choose?”
The results of the scientific poll actually revealed nearly 64 percent of Americans say they want Congress to “make cuts in the federal government to stay below the debt limit.”
That included a whopping 84.1 percent of the GOP, 69.6 percent of independents and even 38.6 percent of Democrats. The sentiment was nearly uniform across the country, with 61.3 percent of those in the West, 70.9 percent of those in the Midwest, 59.5 percent of those in the South and 64.3 percent of those in the East advocating for less government spending. In age categories, only those under age 30 let their support for a solid debt ceiling falter, with only 40 percent supporting that move. Add a few years and the result changed. Those in their 30s by an 80 percent majority said government should stay under the debt ceiling.
Remarkably, among those who get government benefits, 60.3 percent said spending should be cut. Among those without government benefits, 66.9 percent agreed. Likewise, 66.4 percent of those in the private sector and 65.7 percent of those in the public sector said government spending needs cuts.
The same poll said 55.5 percent of Americans are very concerned that the federal debt will have a harmful effect on the U.S. economy and an even higher number, 57.6 percent, were very concerned that the federal deficit would have a negative effect on them personally or a member of their family.
The newest survey of GOP members of the House showed only 11 agree with the idea of simply raising the debt ceiling, 34 simply said it should not be raised at all, and 24 were undecided. The vast majority – 171 – said it could be raised with those conditions of accompanying spending cuts, spending reforms, balanced budget amendment, and the like.
Texas Rep. John Carter said the solution is “drastic” spending cuts, and Rep. Kenney Marchant, also of Texas, said the cuts essentially need to match dollar-for-dollar any increase in the debt ceiling.
A month ago, there were 20 members of the House GOP in favor of raising the debt ceiling without conditions, 65 undecided and 102 against raising it. Fifty-three could have agreed then to raising the limit with conditions.
The technical debt limit of $14.3 trillion was reached a few weeks ago, and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner began borrowing money from a new source – government worker retirement funds, to continue fund the Washington spending frenzy that has existed over the past few years.
But the organizer of the grass-roots “No More Red Ink” campaign, which is lobbying to simply cut off the government’s credit card, said that’s a political maneuver to try to force an increase in the debt ceiling.
“The goal of Barack Obama and Geithner is to force Congress’ hand to raise the debt limit,” said Joseph Farah, who created the “No More Red Ink” campaign. “The latest trick by Obama and Geithner is to steal money from retirement accounts that must be repaid. They’ll do anything not to curtail current and future spending levels. It’s a shell game designed to coerce Congress to allow unlimited borrowing.”
A recent CBS News poll paralleled the result for the WND/Wenzel Poll. There, it said Americans 63 percent to 27 percent oppose any increase in the federal debt limit.
“The only reason to raise the debt limit is to continue business as usual in Washington,” said Farah. “There is no necessity to do it. The prudent and responsible move would be to run the government with the trillions in revenues it takes in. No individual, no business and no state or local government can just keep borrowing to justify uncontrolled spending. It’s time the federal government starts operating like the rest of us do.”
In recent weeks, a number of high-profile commentators also have come out in favor of simply calling a halt to the borrowing – estimated at some $5 trillion since Obama took office.
Radio host Michael Savage blasted House Republicans for even considering allowing the Obama administration to pile up more debt:
“Where did all the ‘fiscal conservatives’ go?” Savage asked in a recent e-mail to WND. “Of course we should not extend the debt limit! What kind of insanity is this?
“If a family is broke and dependent on loans,” Savage continued, “what bank would extend a new credit line until the family 1) sold assets; 2) worked out a repayment plan for existing loans? We will become a bigger ‘banana republic,’ like Argentina 20 years ago, if we increase our national debt.”
Rush Limbaugh also has hammered the idea of a debt-ceiling hike.
Members of the media who would like to interview Joseph Farah about this story can email [email protected].
Previous reports:
Shutdown? House GOP moving toward freezing debt limit
Incensed voters ‘repudiate’ Washington’s leadership
Republicans ready to call Geithner’s bluff on debt ceiling
Debt limit reached! ‘Treasury’s latest debt scam’
Listen up Congress! People want debt fixed
Everyone now arguing over Obama’s credit card
Tea partiers issue warning to House ‘RINOs’
GOP warned to knock off ‘smoke and mirrors’
GOP plan: No more borrowing and no default
Americans don’t want debt hike – by 2-to-1 ratio
Republicans getting cold feet on stopping debt-ceiling hike
Rush Limbaugh hammers against debt-ceiling hike
Dirty little secret: GOP budget means more borrowing
Is House Republican leadership selling out tea party?
Shutdown? House GOP moving toward freezing debt limit
Why are any Republicans for debt limit hike?
‘Tide is turning against raising debt limit’
Revolt! Most House Repubs buck leadership on debt limit
5 weeks left to locate 218 debt-revolt warriors in House
58% of Americans want government shut down
Want to get mad? Watch this debt clock
Will it be a government shutdown over debt limit?
Want to stop U.S. bleeding? Go to NoMoreRedInk.com
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Another House Repub joins no-more-borrowing club
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WND Staff