By FITSNews || Two days after House Democrats in Washington, D.C. raised the specter of middle class tax hikes – and acknowledged their failure to pass a budget for the first time in nearly four decades – S.C. Senator Mick Mulvaney took the fight to House Budget Chairman John Spratt on both fronts.
First, Mulvaney chided Spratt – his opponent in the fifth congressional district race this fall – for failing to do his job as chairman of the budget commitee, reminding taxpayers of the fines and penalties they would face if they failed to pay their taxes on time.
“Mr. Spratt’s budget committee was required to propose a budget by April 15, the same day our income tax returns were due,” Mulvaney said. “It’s now late June, with no budget – and he now says they won’t pass one at all. If we as taxpayers ignored our deadline, we’d be facing stiff fines and penalties. But Washington politicians get to ignore their obligations, without any penalty at all. That’s just another example of Congress playing by a different set of rules, and it isn’t right.”
Spratt said Wednesday that the House would pass the “functional equivalent” of a budget, but acknowledged that the window for passing a budget resolution had closed. This marks the fist time since 1974 that the House Budget Committee has failed to produce a budget – which Mulvaney attributed to Spratt’s lead role in pushing Obamacare through his committee three months ago.
“Apparently, Mr. Spratt was too busy forcing President Barack Obama’s big-spending, Medicare-cutting healthcare plan through his committee to do his job as Budget Chairman,” Mulvaney said. “Now we are dealing with the consequences – in more ways than one.”
Mulvaney also took aim at Democrats’ failure to permanently extend Bush-era income tax cuts to working families. Those tax cuts will expire at the end of the year unless Congress takes action.
“The tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 lowered the average middle-class tax bill by around $2,000 each year,” Mulvaney said. “If we allow them to expire, that’s a big hit our families and seniors can’t afford.”
Mulvaney said he disagreed with recent comments made by Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer regarding the fiscal imprudence of extending the tax cuts permanently.
“Three months ago Congress passed a $2.5 trillion, Medicare-cutting health care takeover,” Mulvaney said. “That’s on top of $3 trillion in deficit spending during the last two years and trillions worth of additional red ink scheduled for the decade to come. There’s a simple way Washington could ‘pay for’ more tax relief – it could stop all of that unsustainable deficit spending and start letting the private sector expand again.”
Specifically, Mulvaney challenged Spratt to join him in opposing any new tax hikes.
“I’ve outlined several budgetary ideas over the course of this campaign, but I’d ask Mr. Spratt to join me in pledging not to raise taxes on our citizens – which includes voting to permanently extend income tax relief that’s set to expire at the end of the year for all taxpayers,” Mulvaney said.
By Andre June 24, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Mick looks like he’s looking at something? What is it boy? Did Timmy fall in the well?
By Florida Watching June 24, 2010 at 7:22 pm
“A legal defense fund set up for Sarah Palin when she was Alaska governor was illegal, an investigator for the state Personnel Board said Thursday.”
Not Palin’s fault…….she has crappy help.
By Groundball June 24, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Most people are tired of the old GOP “pledge” to not raise taxes. Let’s raise fees instead! Why not the good old photo op of all GOP legislators behind the Gov or on the State House steps with grim looks on their faces?
Please Mulvaney, this campaign will need shoe leather and meeting and greeting people, not pledges, “chiding”, and a photo op in front of the State House looking into the horizon. If this is all you’ve got, I guess it’s defeat causing that look on your face, not a “shart” the look on your face would suggest.
By NunYah June 24, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Hey Fits, Ol’ Mulvaney made this challenge up in Lancaster didn’t he?
I’m just axin’ ’cause I hear that’s where U B from. Right or wrong was my hearing? Just curious. (O_~)
By fitsnews June 24, 2010 at 7:47 pm
NunYah-
The Folks family indeed has its roots in Lancaster, SC (by way of Dillon actually). Our founding editor, however, hails from the bureaucratic concrete wasteland that is Columbia, S.C.
-FITS
By debka June 24, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Spratt will cruise to electoral victory in the fall.
It’s all about demographics.
When >50% of his constituents are sucking the government teat, a “Democrat victory” is assured.
By countryboy June 24, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Debka- You are right in that the democrat teat suckers will turn out in force. Not because they have a clue what Spratt has done to the country, but simply because he is a democrat and the “word” (and money) is to vote for him. But he can be beaten this year. There are many people like me who supported Spratt from day one until he went Pelosi/Reid/Obama liberal. I am voting against him for the first time and there are many like me (plus of course all those who never voted for him). Boils down to turnout….
By CNSYD June 24, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Oh yes, Sanfraud clone Mulvaney would be so powerful as a freshman member. I am sure he will chair many important committees, NOT!
By whippersnapper June 24, 2010 at 9:41 pm
This will be a great year for adding the irresponsible, free-spending (with OUR MONEY, NOT HIS) Spratt to the list of defeated incumbents. We can no longer afford to have the “BUDGET, WE DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ BUDGET” Spratt and his fellow Pelosi followers spending our country into bankruptcy.
Do your part to get rid of Spratt — Contribute at:
http://www.mulvaneyforcongress.com/
Your contribution combined with the contributions of many of hardworking taxpayers will help offset the Corporate and Union PAC contributions that Spratt is getting from Washington DC lobbyists.
By EB June 24, 2010 at 10:08 pm
I live in the Fifth Congressional District and I am out actively campaigning for Mick Mulvaney.
I have campaigned for Mr.Spratt’s Republican opponents in the past, but this year it is different.
This is the first election cycle that I have seen so many people that are openly critical of him and enthusiastic about opposing Mr. Spratt. The issues have come down to the average voter with the passage of the horrendous health care bill, stagnant economic conditions, proposed cuts in Medicare, mounting National debt, etc..etc.. This is the first election that it seems most average people have seen these issues manifesting problems that are persisting with no resolution in the short to medium termits
Most people see all this as a major negative toward Obama and the Democrats.
By Ratfishtim June 24, 2010 at 10:20 pm
There she goes again, or Nikki Haley’s Mama Grizzly buddy breaches ethics laws once again.
http://www.adn.com/2010/06/24/1339431/settlement-of-ethics-complaint.html
Palin to refund most defense fund money
An investigator has determined that former Gov. Sarah Palin’s legal defense fund broke ethics law and said Palin has agreed to settle the matter by having the trust return more than $386,000 to donors.
Tim Petumenos, an Anchorage attorney hired by the state ethics board to investigate, said the legal defense fund violated state law because it “constituted using public office to obtain private benefit.” Petumenos said the legal defense fund, set up while Palin was still governor, inappropriately used the word “official” on its website, suggesting Palin’s endorsement as governor of Alaska.
By James the Foot Soldier June 24, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Does Spratt know his own name anymore?
By Ratfishtim June 25, 2010 at 2:17 am
For a thorough analysis of the finding that Palin broke the law, see:
Palin Guilty of Major Ethics Act Violation: Must Return $386,000 in Contributions
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-dunn/palin-guilty-of-major-eth_b_624863.html
By The Colonel June 25, 2010 at 2:58 am
James – Spratt not only knows his own name, he knows the names of a significant number of his constituents. The only SC Pol I’ve ever met with who was any better at name recollection was Ol’Strom.
I don’t agree with 95% of on Johnny Spratt’s politics but don’t be fooled by the stories; his liberal brain is still sharp as a tack. His seat is at risk for the first time because of his policies and his sycophantic support of a woman I know he despises and a President whose numbers are dropping like a stone.
We’ll see who mobilizes the biggest voter block in November; the demographics of SC District 5 have evolved considerably in the last 3-4 years.
By eggaday June 25, 2010 at 6:48 am
sanfraud’s choice to perpetuate the myth of C Street politics as usual.
no reason to trust this guy. Sanfraud in a suit.
By Florida Watching June 25, 2010 at 8:58 am
State house gals……..staffers………you are in the know, please share. Just alittle.
By Sen. Longstreet June 25, 2010 at 2:38 pm
This effete little fella has a lot of gumption!
By Goober Detector June 25, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Does he not look like the biggest douchebag weenie? Typical little snot nosed, entitled little snot.
By James the Foot Soldier June 25, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Colonel, when the vast majority of one’s consituents are named “Billy-ray” it’s relatively easy to roll them out of one’s drooling mouth…
By Nimrata Nikki Randhawa Haley June 26, 2010 at 12:40 am
What bird brain will put Mulvaney and Haley into office?. That is obsurd and embarrasing these two running for office. I must admit, the government sucks right now- the tea party movement and the conservative movement is popular. Yet, Nikki Haley and Mick Mulvaney are not tea party or conservative.
Nikki if you are all about transparency, then release your tax returns and take a polygraph test about the affairs, also let it air on television too. That way everyone will see the truth, since you are the (trasnparent) woman liberator… Jake Knotts is a man of balls, well I am sure you will like some of that.
p.s.
Sorry about my name above, I am from another land where spicy beans and worship of cows take place a whole lot. I guess I mistake the spicy beans from certain politico balls.
By Jack Tax June 29, 2010 at 5:17 pm
He is yet another part of the problem we are having with the political system here. It needs to be sorted out before all of us are ruined.
By ML August 24, 2010 at 3:09 pm
What is frequently ignored is that Spratt has been extremely effective in funding GOOD military programs of the non-porky variety.
It ain’t “pork” if it furthers the mission without waste.
His support of military programs and useful infrastructure has helped make Shaw AFB a suitable candidate for F-35 beddown (bases without flying missions get the axe, and F-16s won’t fly forever!) as well as the Army tenant unit. His support of the M2A2 Bradley fighting vehicle upgrades ensured the fleet was uparmored thus better able to take IED and RPG hits.
I’m actually a bit pissed off that his campaigners haven’t done more with his Defense record. We are in a long conflict with Jihadists that he’s done a lot to prepare for, even if he wouldn’t put it like that.
We are at war, we are going to stay that way for many years, and the more people like Spratt focus on _practical_ military preparedness the better off the warriors we send to combat will be.
I don’t give a rat’s ass about Obama or Pelosi, but they can be removed without tossing the very useful and militarily clueful Congressman Spratt.
By CHARLES September 1, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Mick,I desparately want you to beat John(Pelosi,Reid,Obams,Franke,etc.)Spratt.But you had best start to make yourself known in my part of the State.People here hardly know who’s running against him,let alone who you are and what you stand for. Chas.