Dec 2, 2011
What Flake really means
Today, Jeff Flake told Roll Call that "unless we have the courage right now to address entitlement reform, we shouldn’t be extending the payroll tax holiday."
Sounds reasonable right? Well, here's the thing -- what Jeff Flake means by "entitlement reform" is deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Flake would do all of this while cutting taxes for the rich.
So here's how to translate Jeff Flake:
What he says: "Unless we have the courage right now to address entitlement reform, we shouldn’t be extending the payroll tax holiday. We don’t have the courage to do that."
What he means: "I don't have the courage to stand up for a $1,500 tax cut for the middle class. But I do want to slash Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and give more tax breaks to the wealthy."
BACKGROUND:
Flake Worked With Republican Study Committee To Spearhead Cut, Cap, Balance Legislation. The Hill reported, “Meanwhile, Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and sophomore Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) told The Hill that they briefed their leadership on the “Cut, Cap, and Balance” measure Wednesday afternoon. . . . Fiscal conservative Reps. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) and Andy Harris (R-Md.) are spearheading the effort with Chaffetz and Jordan.” [The Hill, 7/14/11]
Cut, Cap and Balance Would Force Deep Cuts to Social Security and Medicare. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “The measure does not cut Social Security or Medicare in 2012. And it does not subject them to automatic cuts if its global spending caps are missed. It is inconceivable, however, that policymakers would meet the bill’s severe annual spending caps through automatic across-the board cuts year after year; if they did, key government functions would be crippled. Policymakers would have little alternative but to institute deep cuts in specific programs. […] Reaching and maintaining a balanced budget in the decade ahead while barring any tax increases would necessitate deep cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.” [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/16/11]
Flake Voted for “Cut, Cap, and Balance” Bill That Would Raise the Debt Ceiling If a Balanced Budget Amendment Is Passed. In July 2011, Flake voted for passage of the “Cut, Cap, and Balance” bill that would make an increase in the debt limit contingent upon the passage of a balanced-budget constitutional amendment. It also would set fiscal 2012 discretionary spending at $1.019 trillion and enforce statutory caps that limit spending as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) in fiscal 2012 through 2021. The bill passed 234-190. [HR 2560, Vote 606, 7/19/11]
Balanced Budget Amendment Would End the Medicare Guarantee and Slash Services While Giving a Tax Break for the Wealthy. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “The balanced budget constitutional amendment (H. J. Res. 1) recently approved by the Judiciary Committee is a masquerade designed to foster the policy choices of the Republican budget: to end the Medicare guarantee for seniors and slash vital services while providing tax breaks for the wealthy. This balanced budget amendment would have dire consequences on the economy, on Medicare and other government guarantees to our citizens, and on Congress’s ability to respond to changing needs.” [Democratic House Committee on the Budget, 6/27/11]
Flake Voted For Republican Budget Blueprint For FY 2012 That Ends Medicare As We Know It. In April 2011, Flake voted for the House Republican budget blueprint drafted by Paul Ryan that effectively ends Medicare. The budget would allow $2.859 trillion in new budget authority for fiscal 2012, including up to $1.019 trillion in non-emergency discretionary spending. It calls for $659 billion in security spending and $360 billion in non-security spending. It proposes converting the federal share of Medicaid to a block grant to states. It calls for converting Medicare for persons currently younger than 55 into a "premium support system" through which the government would pay private insurance companies directly for each enrollee. It also proposes consolidating the current six tax brackets and cutting the corporate tax rate and the top individual tax rate to 25 percent. It assumes the extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts beyond 2012 and projects that the budget deficit would be reduced to $391 billion by fiscal 2021. The resolution was adopted 235-193. [H Con Res 34, Vote 277, 4/15/11]
