PAYGO=Fiasco?

Congressional leadership is ready to wrap it up for the year, but business isn’t finished and that’s causing something of a stir on Capitol Hill. On December 17th the House voted on a resolution to adjourn the session before Christmas. However, the unfinished business of AMT relief is holding things up. The Senate and House have passed bills that would keep middle class families from getting hit by the Alternative Minimum Tax next year, but the Senate version doesn’t include a way to offset the predicted loss of revenue.

The attempt to pass a resolution adjourning for the year failed because some House Democrats voted against their leadership and voted to stay and finish the job.

The gripe that some House Democrats have is that if they vote on and pass a Senate version of the AMT relief bill, they will break the pay-as-you-go rules instituted by the new majority at the start of the session. By not offsetting the tax relief with either new taxes (as Blue Dog Democrats want) or spending cuts (which would be the wiser course of action), the Democrats will break a promise that they made to the American people: we will be fiscally responsible by instituting a rule that requires us to pay for what we are buying.

All three of Indiana’s Blue Dog Democrats voted in favor of adjourning before Christmas even if it means not covering the cost of AMT relief either through tax increases or spending decreases. Baron Hill, Joe Donnelly, and Brad Ellsworth voted in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer to violate their promises to constituents. That’s the same kind of rubber stamping each of these congressmen accused their opponents of doing.

In 2006 the American people elected a Democratic majority that promised to be fiscally responsible. Now the Democratic Congress is proving that they can’t control spending. Middle class families need to be protected from the AMT, and Congress needs to take a long hard look at its spending priorities.