One Day After Obama Promises to Curb Spending – Dems Pass Largest Debt Increase in US History

After tripling the national deficit in one year, last night Democratic President Barack Obama promised he would not leave Americans with a mountain of debt.

Rather than fight the same tired battles that have dominated Washington for decades, it’s time to try something new. Let’s invest in our people without leaving them a mountain of debt. Let’s meet our responsibility to the citizens who sent us here. Let’s try common sense… To do that, we have to recognize that we face more than a deficit of dollars right now. We face a deficit of trust -– deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years. To close that credibility gap we have to take action on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue — to end the outsized influence of lobbyists; to do our work openly; to give our people the government they deserve.

Today ALL 60 democrats in the US Senate voted for the largest increase in debt in US history.
The Hill reported:

Senate Democrats passed a $1.9 trillion increase in the federal debt limit Thursday, seeking to push off another politically painful debt vote until after the midterm elections.

All 60 Democrats and no Republicans voted for the debt limit increase. The measure, which the House has yet to vote on, would put the debt ceiling at roughly $14.3 trillion.

Of course, this surprises no one.

Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) urged the president to veto this record increase in debt:

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today issued the following statement on Senate passage of legislation to increase the nation’s debt limit by $1.9 trillion – from $12.4 trillion to $14.3 trillion:

“It took this country 230 years to reach $10 trillion in debt. Now, in just 15 months we’ve added more than $2 trillion more. The president was right last night when he said we should not leave Americans with a ‘mountain of debt.’ To hold Congress to that challenge, he should veto this debt increase, which is larger than the size of the entire federal budget in 1999. If this increase in the national debt becomes law, it will leave our children and grandchildren a country they cannot afford and a government they cannot control. Until Congress and the president take steps to bring this alarming debt under control, we should not increase the debt limit.”

Axis of the Right takes a closer look at today’s record debt increase.

#1 January 28, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Jeff commented:

What else is new. Give them the branches of government and they go to town with it. We are so ready for November.
#3 January 28, 2010 at 3:04 pm
garrettc commented:

I thought the interim Senator from Massachuttes was not able to cast a vote? Should the Republicans bring suit?
#4 January 28, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Living in The Twilight Zone commented:

Nancy Pelosi, aka The Wicked Witch of the Waste.

#5 January 28, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Agent 99 commented:

The HealthCare Bill…”Looking at Reconcillitation” Dems will ADD at least 300 Billion…probably ONE TRILLION when House and Senate HC Bill is “reconciled” From http://www.politico.com/livepulse/0110/House_sent_Senate_300billion_reconciliation_package.html?showall “”House Democratic leaders have sent their Senate counterparts a package of changes to the Senate bill that would add $300 billion to the legislation’s cost, an “irrational” proposal that has Senate Democrats questioning whether the House is setting their chamber up to fail, according to a senior Democratic Senate aide.

But a House Democratic source pushed back against the claim, saying the numbers are constantly changing and the $300-billion figure is too high.

For instance, it was unclear whether the $300-billion number presumes that the elimination of some taxes from the bill would not be replaced with the addition of others.

Still, the in-fighting between the chambers underscores the growing tensions as Democrats struggle to pass President Obama’s top domestic priority.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said last week that she does not have the votes to pass the Senate bill unchanged so she and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have been working on changes that could entice liberal House members to support it.

But Senate Democrats were floored by Pelosi’s list of demands and frustrated by a proposal that they said would send the cost of reform north of $1 trillion………..”
#8 January 28, 2010 at 3:13 pm
seven commented:

Obama shows ignorance in public. The congress forms the budget. It sounded last night like he was the only source of spending. He also voted for every penny to spend when he was in the Senate. Does he know that? was he mentally present?
Bush didn’t draft the last budget. No mo earmarks. So now he wants another stimulus with earmarks. Does he think people can’t check what he says?
#10 January 28, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Tom63010 commented:

Here is the quote from the article in Fox News:
“The idea passed by a 60-40 party-line vote. It attempts to curb the spiraling budget deficit by requiring spending increases or tax cuts to be “paid for” with cuts to other programs or tax increases. If the rules are broken, there would be automatic cuts to programs like Medicare, farm subsidies and veterans’ pensions.”

spending increases or tax cuts to be “paid for” with cuts to other programs or tax increases.

So if Tax Cuts, which have been proven to increase revenue NOT reduce it will have to cut the most popular programs.

In addition why was this vote taken before Scott Brown was seated.

As far as I am concerned none of the Republicans should have any voted on this bill in protest.
#11 January 28, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Agent 99 commented:

NO Republicans Voted for this. See in the Article. Straight Dem Party Line vote.
#12 January 28, 2010 at 3:31 pm
olm commented:

This is incredible. Odumbo spews a lecture on spending and deficits and they vote today to raise the limit.
Do they have any idea how big of a joke they are?
I know the answer is no. I also do not think Obama is going to complete one full term at this rate.
#13 January 28, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Chris Vehr commented:

Tom63010 #10 — “As far as I am concerned none of the Republicans should have any voted on this bill in protest.”

Tom — it’s tempting to agree with that, but those Republicans have a better chance of being re-elected if they show up as a “no” vote on the debt limit increase. If they don’t vote on it, it could be used against them in a future campaign.

Nice thought though!
#14 January 28, 2010 at 3:50 pm
S. Wolf commented:

garrettc
January 28th, 2010 | 3:04 pm | #3

That’s a good question. Kirk’s appointment ended when the MA special election did, he is not a senator and cannot vote on bills.
#15 January 28, 2010 at 3:53 pm
enoxo commented:

This would not have passed had Democrats followed the law and seated Scott Brown. Paul Kirk is still voting in Brown’s duly elected seat, beyond the limits of his interim abilities.
#16 January 28, 2010 at 4:17 pm
John in the Land of Loui commented:

I sense the markets realize we are going nowhere now. There is no direction clear or fuzzy in Washington and this will not change now that the Senate is deadlocked.
#17 January 28, 2010 at 4:31 pm
TaSS commented:

Another pork filled spending…oops, I mean jobs bill.
So how many Americans are actually stupid enough to fall for the name change?
#19 January 28, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Scotty Starnes commented:

Not only did they pass the $1.9 trillion dollar debt ceiling, after Obama attack lobbyist (still laughing about that) he invited them to a “private briefing.” Say one thing and do the opposite. That’s liberalism 101.
#20 January 29, 2010 at 1:18 am
Tom commented:

If Senate Republicans want a balanced budget, why did they all vote against Pay-as-you-go?