Quick Hits: 10/29/09

Spending, schmending...

The Wall Street Journal has a great op-ed out today looking at government spending, as in how high it already is, and how much more the DC crowd wants to pile on top of it.

"The White House disclosed the other day that the fiscal 2009 budget deficit clocked in at $1.4 trillion, amid the usual promises to do something about it. Yet even as budget director Peter Orszag was speaking, House Democrats were moving on a dozen spending bills for fiscal 2010 that total 12.1% in more domestic discretionary increases. "

Yep, you read that right.  12.1%  And how much of that do you think is "one time only" spending, instead of "systemic"?  (hint: none)

They point out that from 2001-2008, the GOP raised spending at about double the rate of inflation...while the current crop of Democrats are besting inflation by six to one.

Quote of the Week:

The big spending ways of Congressional Democrats brings us to this quote of the week from New York's Chuck Schumer on Meet the Press.

He stated that:  "Barack Obama and we Democrats—this is counterintuitive but true—are really trying to get a handle on balancing the budget and we're making real efforts to do it."

No shame.

Poll: 33% Say U.S. Is Heading In The Right Direction (67% really paying attention...)

Believe it or not, according to the latest Rasmussen poll, 33% of the people in this country actually believe we are "heading in the right direction".  Which pretty much identifies either hard core Obama supporters and/or people who don't pay taxes.  Just think of it as a Democrat voter ID project.

Twenty Questions for the "opt out"

The Heritage Foundation has put together a list of twenty questions on Harry Reid's "opt out" version of Obamacare.  Probably the most important is number 18:

"If a state opts out of the public plan, will the citizens of that state still be required to pay the requisite federal taxes that would subsidize the citizens of other states?"

(three guesses and the last two don't count)

AP confirms abortion covered by Obamacare

The Associated Press has finally confirmed what people in the pro-life movement have been saying since the first version of Obamacare rolled out of a congressional committeee - that the current legislation which stops federal funding for abortion (the Hyde amendment), doesn't apply to any of existing versions of Obamacare.  (via Lifenews)

"Currently a law called the Hyde amendment bars federal funding for abortion - except in cases of rape and incest or if the mother's life would be endangered - and applies those restrictions to Medicaid," AP writer Erica Werner reports. "Separate laws apply the restrictions to the federal employee health plan and military and other programs."

"But the Democrats' health overhaul bill would create a new stream of federal funding not covered by the restrictions," AP confirms.