Obama Threatens to Shut Down Govt with Veto

NewsNM note (Spence) - Last week officials in the Obama administration said repeatedly that the failure to raise the $14.3 trillion debt limit would be an unprecedented event that would lead to default and economic catastrophe. Yesterday the president threatened to veto a bill that would avert an economic catastrophe if it was less than 90 days. -
Washington Times - President Obama declared Monday he would veto a short-term extension of the nation’s debt limit as he tried again to pressure congressional Republican leaders to accept tax increases in a long-range plan to reduce deficits by $4 trillion over the next decade. “I will not sign a 30-day, or a 60-day, or a 90-day extension,” Mr. Obama said at a news conference in the White House press briefing room.

“That is just not an acceptable approach. This is the United States of America. We don’t manage our affairs in three-month increments.” As the deficit-reduction talks dragged on with little progress, some congressional leaders have suggested a short-term deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling of $14.29 trillion before the Aug. 2 deadline. But Mr. Obama said he is insisting on an agreement that will cover government borrowing beyond the November 2012 elections. “If we think it’s hard now, imagine how these guys are going to be thinking six months from now in the middle of election season,” Mr. Obama said of congressional lawmakers. “We might as well do it now. Pull off the Band-Aid. Eat our peas. If not now, when?” Read full story here: News New Mexico

Obama Threatens to Shut Down Govt with Veto

Justice Department 2009: We're Doing Gun "Tracing"

Eric Holder

It would seem that the U.S. Department of Justice has now found itself knee deep in the burgeoning story of incompetence now becoming known as the "Fast and Furious" scandal. The stories of the participants and suspected participants at DOJ and ATF are beginning to diverge. Take a look at this video of Deputy U.S. Attorney General David Ogden back in 2009. In it he explains to the media that "The president has directed us to take action to fight these cartels, and Attorney General Holder and I are taking several new and aggressive steps as part of the administration's comprehensive plan," with economic stimulus funds. View the video here: News New Mexico

Justice Department 2009: We're Doing Gun "Tracing"

55% Say Reduced Gov't Spending Good for Economy

Rasmussen - President Obama and Congress are currently debating how deep to cut government spending and whether to include some tax increases as part of a budget deal. But voters feel more strongly than ever that decreasing government spending is good for the economy and think tax increases of any kind are bad economic medicine. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters now think decreases in government spending help the economy. Twenty-four percent (24%) believe decreased spending hurts the economy, while 11% say it has no impact. Read full story here: News New Mexico

55% Say Reduced Gov't Spending Good for Economy

Doan: Entitlement Abuse Everywhere

Lurita Doan

Townhall - The budget debate in Washington, and Team Obama’s insistence, that entitlements must be preserved ignores 22 years of GAO fraud reports. Once Americans have conducted an informal “Handicapped Parking Experiment”, they are going to become convinced that instead of expanding entitlements, more effort needs to be made towards uncovering the fraud now embedded within the system. Tackling the issue of entitlement fraud and eliminating entitlement scams could well be the quickest and best short-term solution with long-term results that the government could implement. Whether talking about Obamacare or Medicaid, Food Stamps, home mortgage loan insurance or SSI, at a minimum, perhaps it’s time for our government to do an honest audit of who is receiving the benefits. Before any further expansion of entitlements, the government needs to prove to the American taxpayer that their dollars are being spent wisely and as intended, before trying to bilk taxpayers for even more funds for these flawed programs. Read full column here: News New Mexico

Doan: Entitlement Abuse Everywhere

Obama Proposes Tax Hikes On Low Income Families

From boston.com -Proposals under consideration include raising taxes on small business owners and potentially low- and middle-income families. You won't hear about that from Obama. Instead the president focuses on the very rich, and speaks euphemistically. Here are a few of the phrases the president has used of late to talk about what amounts to raising taxes for some: "What we need to do is to have a balanced approach where everything is on the table." "We need to take on spending in the tax code." "The tax cuts I'm proposing we get rid of are tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires; tax breaks for oil companies and hedge fund managers and corporate jet owners." More News New Mexico

Obama Proposes Tax Hikes On Low Income Families

Bingaman Reverse: "Ethanol Subsidies Should End"

Pulaski note: Bingaman has obviously had a change of heart when it comes to ethanol subsidies. In Feb. 2009 he was pleading to congress and the public for more financial assistance. The article can be seen here. WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman voiced his support for the end of a subsidy of ethanol – an additive to gasoline aimed at reducing pollution. Today, Bingaman voted in favor of an amendment introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Tom Coburn that would immediately end the subsidy, which is set to expire at the end of the year. The amendment passed 73-27. Bingaman has said he would prefer to allow the subsidy to expire rather than to surprise businesses with a mid-year elimination. But he voted in favor of the amendment to make it clear he wants the ethanol subsidy to end. More News New Mexico

Bingaman Reverse: "Ethanol Subsidies Should End"

King Spokesman Calls Marshall an Extortionist

Gary King

Capitol Report New Mexico - One day after Capitol Report New Mexico reported on the calls from attorney Victor Marshall and his client, Frank Foy, for Attorney General Gary King to recuse himself from a multi-million dollar investment lawsuit involving the state because of campaign contributions from former Gov. Bill Richardson, King’s spokesman accused Marshall of extortion and said the media are “choosing to blindly report Mr. Marshall’s accusations.” Phil Sisneros, the director of communications for the Office of New Mexico Attorney General, sent an e-mail Friday to Capitol Report New Mexico pointing to reponses filed by the attorney general’s office to calls from Marshall and Foy for King to be disqualified from taking part in the state’s lawsuit aimed at recovering money from an alleged “pay to play” scheme in the State Investment Council (SIC) because of what they claim are conflicts of interest. Read full story News New Mexico

King Spokesman Calls Marshall an Extortionist

Redistricting Committee Gears Up

Sander Rue

Alamogordo Daily News - The Legislative Redistricting Committee will hold public hearings throughout New Mexico to gather public input on various proposed plans to redraw the boundaries of New Mexico's three U.S. Congressional seats as well as all state Legislative districts, Public Regulation Commission districts and the Public Education Commission districts. After the U.S. Census is tabulated every 10 years, redistricting of various governmental seats takes place. The Redistricting Committee will recommend new boundaries for the various seats to a special session of the State Legislature which will approve the new boundaries. The special session is expected to be called this September after the public hearings are held in July and Aug.. The committee will make their recommendations based on the 2010 decennial census, the redistricting guidelines adopted by the New Mexico Legislative Council on Jan. 17 and testimony received from people interested in the issue. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Redistricting Committee Gears Up

Geithner Makes Talk Show Circuit

Tim Geithner

Bloomberg - Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said the Obama administration wants the most comprehensive deficit-cutting deal possible and reiterated that failing to raise the debt limit could have “catastrophic” consequences. “We have to find a way to pass an agreement, but the president is going to keep working toward the largest deal we can do, because that’s the right thing for the country,” Geithner said today on NBC’s “Meet the Press” program. Obama and congressional leaders are seeking a deficit- slashing deal to pave the way for a vote in Congress to increase the government’s $14.3 trillion debt limit, a move the Treasury Department says is needed by Aug. 2 to avert a default on the nation’s financial obligations. Geithner said Congress has no alternative to raising the debt limit and there are no “constitutional” delays available. A default resulting from failure to raise the ceiling could do “catastrophic” damage to the U.S. economy, he said. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Geithner Makes Talk Show Circuit

Spending/Debt Reduction Deal Stuck in the Mud

Speaker Boehner and President Obama

Washington Times - President Obama and congressional leaders ended a Sunday night session of deficit-reduction talks at the White House without announcing any progress, but they agreed to meet again Monday. The president also scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m. Monday at the White House on the negotiations, in which he is still pushing to include tax increases as part of a $4 trillion deal over 10 years. House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, announced Saturday night that he won’t agree to the president’s $4 trillion target if it included tax increases. On Sunday, his office said he reiterated that point at the meeting, saying that he favors a deal closer to the $2 trillion in cuts floated by a bipartisan commission led by Vice President Joseph R. Biden. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Spending/Debt Reduction Deal Stuck in the Mud