FIRE ON THE RIGHT: GOP & Conservative Commentators Slam Ryan Budget
House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers: “There are a lot of things that I’m not happy with, including the overall big number,” he said. “It cuts too much spending, frankly, from the discretionary side of the budget. Most people don’t realize that we only appropriate 1/3 of federal spending … and we’ve cut that by $100 billion over the last two years.” [CN2 KY, 3/14/13]
Conservative Economist Peter Morici: “As long as unbending conservatives like Paul Ryan control Republican thinking on fiscal policy, the GOP will not offer solutions to the nation’s budget woes that attract popular support, it won’t win back the Senate in ‘14, and it faces terrible difficulties winning the presidency in ‘16.” [Fox News, 3/14/13]
Republican Strategist Dick Morris: “Republican strategist and pundit Dick Morris dismissed Budget Chairman Paul Ryan’s new budget Thursday, charging changes to Medicare in the plan will result in a decade of GOP electoral losses. ‘I think he makes one fundamental mistake. Only about 5 to 7 percent of the cuts come from the Medicaid program’ and instead focuses on Medicare, which is extremely popular with seniors, Morris said during a speech at the annual CPAC convention here. ‘Why lose 10 years of elections to mess with those programs. So what if we don’t get to zero?’ he said of the budget, insisting the party will sacrifice its electoral success to produce a budget that quickly balances the nation’s books.” [BuzzFeed, 3/14/13]
American Enterprise Institute’s Michael Strain and Alan Viard: “The harsh cuts to some of the key programs in the social safety net for the poorest Americans are problematic. The plan turns Medicaid into a block grant and sharply limits its growth, a policy that many analysts believe will result in millions of low-income people losing timely access to quality healthcare. The plan block-grants food stamps as well, after employment has recovered. Overall, the proposal cuts nearly $1 trillion - about 20 percent of the total deficit reduction - from entitlement programs other than health and Social Security, most of which aid the poor. While Mr. Ryan proposes big and rapid changes to programs for the poor, his treatment of programs for the middle-class elderly is far more lenient. He doesn’t propose any specific changes to Social Security, although he calls for both the president and Congress to present reform proposals. And his premium-support plan for Medicare would not start until 2024 and, even then, would apply only to new recipients. The plan’s much-needed Medicare reforms should be phased in sooner. The young and the poor should not be asked to sacrifice while today’s middle-income and upper-income elderly are not.” [Daily Caller, 3/13/13]
Former George W. Bush OMB Director Jim Nussle: “Chairman Ryan coming out saying one of the marquee issues in the budget is going to be the repeal of Obamacare. I think we fought that battle,” Nussle said in a “Squawk Box” interview on CNBC Monday. “I think it’s over and it’s been over for some time. Good luck with that one. That doesn’t make it any more realistic.” [CNBC, 3/11/13]