Serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis. © James Conner.

 

19 October 2013

Rep. Daines explains why he voted to reopen the government

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Late yesterday I received a gracious letter from Rep. Steve explaining his vote to end the shutdown and raise the debt ceiling. He did not explain why he thought it necessary to shut down the government, probably because there’s no reasonable explanation for that behavior.

Here’s his rationale for voting for the Reid-McConnell compromise:

  1. …the federal government needed to reopen and I don’t believe we can risk default on our obligations;

  2. …the measure retained the largest spending cuts in a generation that were achieved in the Budget Control Act of 2011;

  3. …it will prevent individuals from fraudulently receiving ObamaCare subsidies by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to verify that these individuals are in fact eligible to do so.

The eligibility verification clause requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to certify twice a year that those receiving subsidies qualified for them. It’s a rather diaphanous fig leaf covering a fear akin to the GOP’s paranoia of voter fraud.

Although Rep. Daines is glad the government reopened and the U.S. didn’t default, he’s unhappy the GOP’s extortion tactics failed:

I am deeply frustrated that this vote virtually guarantees that in just a few short months, we’ll be back at square one, facing another debt ceiling crisis. This was a missed opportunity to address our nation’s debt crisis and engage in a much-needed conversation about meaningful solutions that address unsustainable federal spending and balance the budget.

There will be another debt ceiling crisis only if the Republicans manufacture one. There is neither a debt crisis nor a deficit crisis. The last time the budget was balanced and a surplus generated, Bill Clinton, a Democrat, was President. But there is a political crisis: one generated by extremist Republicans, teabagger Republicans, the Cruzafiction Caucus, who ascribe high moral purpose to blackjacking democracy and committing national economic suicide just to lower taxes on wealthy individuals who selfishly resist paying their fair share.

Rep. Daines is at a fork in the Republican Road. Will he take the path of traditional conservatism, or will he turn right down the Cruzafiction Trail?


Full text of letter from Daines

Dear Mr. Conner:

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for the recent legislation (H.R. 2775) that reopened the federal government thru January 15, 2014 and prevented our country from hitting the debt ceiling until at least February 7, 2014. I value your point of view and appreciate the opportunity to respond.

I voted in favor of this legislation because the federal government needed to reopen and I don’t believe we can risk default on our obligations. Further, the measure retained the largest spending cuts in a generation that were achieved in the Budget Control Act of 2011, and it will prevent individuals from fraudulently receiving ObamaCare subsidies by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to verify that these individuals are in fact eligible to do so. The Obama Administration had previously announced that they would rely largely on an honor system when determining income eligibility for subsidies in states that create their own exchange, which I believe simply invited widespread fraud and waste into the program.

With that said, as I’ve talked with the people of Montana, it’s clear that another band-aid is not the solution to our country’s long-term fiscal problems. I am deeply frustrated that this vote virtually guarantees that in just a few short months, we’ll be back at square one, facing another debt ceiling crisis. This was a missed opportunity to address our nation’s debt crisis and engage in a much-needed conversation about meaningful solutions that address unsustainable federal spending and balance the budget. I promised the people of Montana that I would work to solve the tough problems facing our country, and I remain focused on these goals. As Congress revisits these and related issues in the coming few months, please know that I will keep your thoughts and concerns in mind.

Again, thanks for contacting me. It is my number one priority in Congress to represent the values and interests of the people of Montana, and your input is very helpful as I do. I invite you to visit my website, www.daines.house.gov, to sign up for periodic email updates on the issues important to you. I won’t flood your email box, but I will provide you with updates once in a while about activities in Washington that affect our lives in Montana. I hope you will sign up so that we can stay in close touch, and I look forward to hearing from you again in the future.

Sincerely,
Steve Daines
Member of Congress

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