VITTER’S PLAN TO MAKE THE SENATE EVEN MORE DYSFUNCTIONAL…. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) has a credibility problem, and not just because he’s a family-values conservative who enjoys the company of prostitutes. His record on fiscal responsibility is arguably just as humiliating.
The Louisiana Republican voted for the Bush tax cuts, none of which were paid for, and all of which were added to the national debt. Vitter also voted for finance the war in Afghanistan by adding the costs to the national debt. He then supported putting the costs of the war in Iraq onto the national debt. As it turns out, Vitter even supported a massive expansion of the government’s role in health care, Medicare Part D, and voted to pile all of its costs right onto the national debt.
All told, David Vitter directly helped add $5 trillion to the national debt in just eight years. Yesterday, however, Vitter tried something new. Apparently hoping everyone will forget all about his record of fiscal recklessness, the right-wing senator said he’ll bring the entire Senate to a halt unless policymakers agree to do more to clean up the mess he made.
Nine Republican Senators are threatening to block all legislation in the chamber not related to the federal debt.
The lawmakers sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday saying they will object to bringing up any other legislation while the need to increase the national debt limit looms. The group, led by Sen. David Vitter (La.), said it would relent if Reid guaranteed ample time for debate before the debt limit vote.
“Our objections would be withheld if the Senate agrees to dedicate significant floor time to debate this issue well in advance of the federal government reaching our statutorily mandated debt limit,” the Senators wrote.
Vitter apparently thinks he has credibility of debt reduction, the way an arsonist might think he has credibility on fire safety.
Why he isn’t just laughed out of the room is an ongoing source of frustration.
For his part, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) blasted Vitter and his little gang, saying, “After ignoring jobs for months, Republicans are making it official by vowing to block every bill that creates American jobs.”
It’s a good point. When might we hear a Republican threaten to block all Senate actions that aren’t related to job creation?
