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McCain Offering Budget Alternative -- But Don't Call It Leadership's Proposal
April 01, 2009 5:11 PM
ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: The will-they-or-won’t-they saga over a Senate GOP budget alternative is producing a concrete proposal after all. Sort of.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has been working with several of his colleagues to formulate a full-on alternative to the Democratic budget -- and has it ready to introduce on the Senate floor this afternoon, according to Senate aides.
The move is being made despite Senate leaders’ stated desire that there not be a complete Senate Republican budget alternative; instead, they support making line-by-line changes to the Democrats’ proposal.
The McCain budget, which comes on the same day GOP House leaders introduced their own version of the budget, would spend $229 billion less than President Obama’s budget over five years, primarily by freezing all discretionary spending with the exception of defense and veterans’ services.
It would reduce deficits by an estimated $977 billion more than Obama’s proposal over five years, and would contribute some $2 trillion less to the national debt, according to a fact sheet describing the proposal provided to ABC News.
McCain’s budget would also make permanent the Bush tax cuts, provide a permanent fix to the alternative minimum tax, and set up a special commission on entitlements that would seek to “reduce mandatory spending by at least 4 percent over the next five years, and 7 percent over the next decade,” according to the fact sheet.
McCain has been working with a small circle of allies on the proposal, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.
Noticeably absent from that list are Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and the Senate Budget Committee’s top Republican, Judd Gregg, R-N.H.
McConnell and Gregg have opposed the idea of offering a complete Republican alternative budget. Instead -- as Democrats generally did regarding the budget process when Republicans last controlled the Senate -- they are offering individual amendments on the Senate floor this week.
“We have offered alternatives all along the way and we will offer numerous alternatives on the budget when it comes up,” McConnell told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos last month.
The political end of the leadership argument often is this: Budget votes put all senators in tough spots, and they’d rather keep the scrutiny on the Democrats’ budget instead of forcing moderate GOP members into politically perilous votes on a GOP alternative.
Still, McCain and his allies feel it’s important for members of the Senate Republican caucus to enunciate their ideals in budgetary form. Democrats have mocked Republicans in recent weeks for just saying “no” to Obama’s ideas without offering a complete budget of their own.
If this dance isn’t complicated enough, GOP aides expect most Republican members -- including, most likely, McConnell and Gregg -- to vote for McCain’s alternative budget
Just don’t call it a “leadership proposal.”
April 1, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (186)
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McCain with an economic plan? He's making progress! At least he realizes there is an economic problem now. Of course, his usual cohorts are in tow....except for one.....where's Joe??
Neocon's can come up with an "alternative" budget that is meant to take a good portion on the president's stimulus plan, but from what I hear, The president's budget will pass with or without Republican backing.
Posted by: js45601 | Apr 1, 2009 5:26:54 PM
The Republican party is dieing slowly but surely.
They will fall below the 40 mark in the senate come 2010.
Posted by: Steve_NJ | Apr 1, 2009 5:31:22 PM
Good, I keep hearing about how people are calling the GOP the party of "No" (with good reason at time). Well, here is the alternative, something more than just saying no. Not that anybody will listen...
Posted by: zzzzzzz | Apr 1, 2009 5:37:06 PM
McCain was terrible on economics during the presidential debates. Ron Paul schooled him on several occasions.
Posted by: Huh | Apr 1, 2009 5:38:35 PM
First, from the libs nut jobs, we get "All the repubs do is complain. They have no plan. They are the party of NO". Then we get "Neocon's can come up with an alternative budget that is meant to take a good portion on the president's stimulus plan, but from what I hear, The president's budget will pass with or without Republican backing." The repubs have been handed control of this country come next election. It's in the bag.
Posted by: mojo | Apr 1, 2009 5:41:20 PM
McCain’s budget would also make permanent the Bush tax cuts,
Posted by: Hownice | Apr 1, 2009 5:43:01 PM
It took them THIS long to come up with one!
WOW, what an april fools day this is turning
out to be. Lets see where the corporate welfare
and greed is taking us now.
Posted by: spacerook1 | Apr 1, 2009 5:43:34 PM
Sure Mojo....keep drinking that cool-aid LMAO....too funny !
Posted by: Hownice | Apr 1, 2009 5:45:11 PM
Every time the GOP has something to say you already know what it is. The same garbage that has almost destroyed this Great Nation. Tax Breaks for the wealthy and reduced spending if the democrats are in charge. You can change their name but as soon as they open their mouths you know who they are. 19 more republican senate seats on the ballot in 2010. Arlen Specter is the only one worth saving in that round. GOP could be replaced by a broken record.
Posted by: rightbehind | Apr 1, 2009 5:54:06 PM
Steve_NJ said
"The Republican party is dieing slowly but surely.
They will fall below the 40 mark in the senate come 2010."
The same was said about the Democrats not too long ago. Public opinion is a sliding scale and a good amount of the weight lies in the middle. The only way either party can truly hope to retain power is by playing more to the middle and less to the far left or right. The Dems learned that lesson a few years ago and the Reps will learn it as well.
When that happens, if the Dems are trying to strong arm a far left agenda they will fall. Just like they did in the 90's and just like the Reps did in the most recent elections.
Posted by: dadelus | Apr 1, 2009 5:54:37 PM
lookout 2036, that is the year I predict the GOP will have a fighting chance!
Posted by: jasime sweetness | Apr 1, 2009 5:55:15 PM
Well at least some in here can't keep saying "the repubs have no ideas and are part of the problem"
Posted by: boxcar | Apr 1, 2009 5:56:00 PM
Mojo...you say The repubs will be handed control of this country come next election? That it's in the bag??
LOL!!! In your dreams.
Posted by: Sara | Apr 1, 2009 5:56:49 PM
dadelus | Apr 1, 2009 5:54:37 PM
Good point.
Posted by: boxcar | Apr 1, 2009 5:57:20 PM
7 months after since he said 'the economy is sound' he suddenly realizes maybe it isnt. great job maccain! maybe Palin helped him realize...
Posted by: jasime sweetness | Apr 1, 2009 5:57:27 PM
April Fools, my friends.
Posted by: Mack | Apr 1, 2009 5:58:47 PM
wow, what an ineffective, unimaginative party. They just don't get it.
Posted by: Eric | Apr 1, 2009 5:58:57 PM
The GOP leadership doesn't want an alternative because they know it would end up like the laughable proposal from the House GOP.
Posted by: matt | Apr 1, 2009 6:00:10 PM
Hey there MR. McCain where did that great inspiring concession speech after your presidential loss go. The spirit of serving my president, time to work together, bipartanship. Do you remember Silverado Savings and Loan. Or is this about rich folks like you and your wife losing the handle on the wealth and power you Republican folks so enjoy. You remind me of a phrase my Grandma used to use. John your like a fart on hot skillet. You know jumping here there and everywhere invisible like the deficit in your lack of substance sincerety
Posted by: Subdude8 | Apr 1, 2009 6:02:26 PM
If anyone (regardless of party) has a proposal that would supposedly save us $2 trillion, it's worth at least looking in to it before making judgment. Of course, most of you, who care more about your party than the country, will only look at which party created the budget (whether Obama's or McCain's) and THAT, my friend, is part of the problem with this country. Ignorance at it's finest (and priciest!)
Posted by: AL | Apr 1, 2009 6:04:48 PM
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