Posts Tagged ‘Eric Cantor’

It’s a plan that asks everyone to take responsibility for meeting this challenge — not just government, not just insurance companies, but everybody including employers and individuals.  And it’s a plan that incorporates ideas from senators and congressmen, from Democrats and Republicans — and yes, from some of my opponents in both the primary and general election.  
President Barack Obama
Speech to Congress, September 9, 2009

Harkin: No place for GOP at Senate health-bill table
Des Moines Register

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin said today Republicans will not be at the table when the Senate merges the health-care bills from two committees before sending one to the floor.

 “The people of this country overwhelmingly elected Democrats to the House and Senate.”

EXCLUSIVE: Cantor: Obama’s not met with GOP leaders since May
The Washington Times
President Obama has cut off communication with Republican leaders, going more than four months without hosting the bipartisan congressional leadership at the White House to discuss his health care proposal, the No. 2 Republican in the House said Wednesday.

“No matter what the cry is from the White House, no matter what the president claims, they have not engaged with us,” he said.

You know, it’s great that Eric Cantor understands that the Stimulus Isn’t Working (Real Clear Politics), but not so great that he thinks the solution is another stimulus package.

Cantor: Let’s Talk About a Second Stimulus
NewsMax.com
But Cantor doesn’t want to nix all the spending from February’s stimulus. He is trying to get stimulus money for a high-speed rail line from Washington, D.C., to Richmond, Va., a project he said could generate 185,000 jobs in Virginia, Roll Call reported.
Read more.

Cantor’s Open to Another Stimulus
Tertium Quids
Because the first “stimulus” seems not to be working as was promised, a second “stimulus” is being bandied-about to correct those shortcomings.
Read more.

Cantor open to second stimulus with tax cuts
The Hill
With the economy still scuffling and unemployment approaching 10 percent, Cantor said that Republicans could back new stimulus legislation that focuses on help for small businesses.
Read more.

See, the problem is here that I don’t trust Congress, Republicans OR Democrats, to do the right thing with another stimulus bill. These people didn’t read the last one. Why on earth should we trust them with another?

Cantor’s right that there should be massive tax cuts. But they need to be accompanied by massive spending cuts. Not additional spending.

He’s right that the stimulus bill isn’t working. But the solution is not to redirect the money. It’s not to spend it in the first place.

I’d like to have a Congressman that doesn’t have to explain his votes.

Last week I told you Why I want a new Congressman.  But today, Norm at Tertium Quids offers an idea that might make me interested in supporting Eric Cantor again.  Might.

Here’s a job for Eric Cantor
Given Mr. Cantor’s recent interest in local matters, here’s something he might actually find both worthwhile and useful: helping Pierce Homer privatize Virginia’s rest stops.

An idea that works well in some northern states who had this in operation before the federal ban was passed.

Something like this, rather than a perpetual campaign to be Speaker of the House might make me interested in supporting the Congressman again.

Well, that and term limits.

When Eric Cantor voted for the first bailout monstrosity last September, I gave him some slack.  Under immense amounts of pressure that “something had to be done” he voted for the package and encouraged other Republicans to do the same.

Since then, he’s worked to redeem himself on some issues.

Today, he blew it.

Voting to Tax Bonuses, or, The State Run Amok
Tertium Quids
Moving with lightning speed, the House of Representatives voted 328-93 to slap a 90 percent tax on bonuses paid to employees of firms that received TARP money from the government…namely, those folks getting bonuses from AIG.
Read more.

Cantor, along with the rest of Virginia’s Congressional Delegation, voted yes.

In so doing, he’s seen my last vote.

PowerLine Blog places Cantor on the Wall of Shame
That’s where we put the names of House members who voted for Nancy Pelosi’s silly, unconstitutional 90% tax on the AIG bonuses. The measure passed, 328-93, with Democrats frantically seeking cover against voter wrath. It’s sad to see any Republicans going along with the Democrats’ Know-Nothingism, but, by a bare 87-85 margin Republicans opposed the Dems’ stunt.
Read more.

See also…

Putting on a great show: Kabuki in the House; Update: 328-93, 90 percent bonus tax passes
Michelle Malkin
Barney Frank is shrieking. Jumping up and down over parliamentary procedure. Blaming Bush, Bush, Bush, and then attacking GOP for “partisan attacks.”
Read more.

House passes bill taxing AIG and other bonuses
Breitbart.com
“The Democratic bill brought to the floor today is constitutionally questionable,” said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind. “It’s obviously a transparent attempt to divert attention away from the truth that Democrats in Congress and this administration made these bonus payments possible.”
Read more.

VA Senator Mark Warner Received $5,000 from AIG
The Patriot Room
According to Open Secrets, Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner received $5,000.00 in campaign contributions from AIG in the last election cycle, and is the only sitting member of Congress from Virginia to do so.
Read more.

Back in 2000 when Tom Bliley was retiring I supported State Senator Steve Martin over Cantor in the primary.  I’ve never regretted that.

After today, I never will.