The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Your View

Related Photos

  • Jentges,Bob

    Jentges,Bob

February 12, 2013

My View: Partisanship not as important as leadership on budget issues

By Bob Jentges

—  Free Press Editor Joe Spear's column in Sunday's Free Press quotes Rep. Tim Walz as saying, with respect to the U.S. House, "... There's more bipartisanship activity than I've seen in a long time." That is encouraging to many of us, and makes for a good political sound bite in the district. But it can be read two ways, depending on whose ox is being gored. For the time being I am more skeptical about increased bipartisan activity than is Walz, but I will follow the votes.   

The article cites as an example of increased House bipartisanship Walz's yes vote on last week's Republican bill demanding the president's budget specify when the federal budget will be balanced, and his plans for doing so. The bill passed 253-167. As the column further states, the U.S. Code already requires the president to release a budget by the first Monday in February, which causes me to wonder what the 167 that voted no on the bill were thinking.

Last year the Republican-controlled House passed a budget proposal to reduce federal spending from about 24 percent of the fiscal year 2012 gross domestic product, to close to the 40-year historical average of about 20 percent of GDP by 2015, while prioritizing national security, lowering tax rates for individuals, businesses and families, with programs designed to reform and save Medicare and Social Security, and more. The vote was 228-191, mostly along party lines. The Democrat-controlled Senate voted it down 57-40. The Senate has not proposed or passed a budget in about four years.     

Almost daily somewhere in the media one can find a report suggesting that if sequestration happens next month there will be "draconian/massive" spending cuts -- others have called them a pittance, relatively speaking. If I recall correctly the administration and Democrats proposed sequestration when a comprehensive agreement on tax increases and spending cuts could not be reached during last year's negotiations. The sequestration across the board discretionary spending cuts essentially involve the areas of defense, which Republicans oppose, and non-defense which Democrats oppose. Apparently it was designed that way to promote a responsible bipartisan agreement on what programs should be cut, and how much each should be cut.

Subsequently, in January 2013 Republicans agreed to raise income tax rates which, according to the CBO, will generate $620 billion in revenue while raising taxes $41 for every $1 cut from spending. Not what I consider balanced.

Yet last week Walz also voted yes for the Democrats' motion to replace sequestration, combining still more revenue increases with targeted reductions in discretionary spending. I think the primary reason for the motion was to raise taxes. The motion was not necessary to negotiate targeted reductions in discretionary spending; they could and still can be negotiated to avoid sequestration. The motion failed 194-229. All Republicans and one Democrat voted no.   

Even a weak economic recovery will generate revenue without additional tax increases. So the way I see it there is no good and valid reason to kick the spending cuts can down the road, so to speak, any longer while holding out for more tax increases. The answer lies in leadership, not partisanship.     

From a somewhat different approach, before the sequestration proposal I read studies by a respected economist -- 2010, 2011 and January 2012 -- all based on the most current CBO projections at the time, suggesting the budget could be balanced in 10 years if federal spending were simply limited to a 2 percent increase annually.  

Based on past and current positions of each side, including concessions already made, I am not optimistic about increased bipartisanship to avoid sequestration. Unfortunately it may take public opinion to force them to reach common ground after sequestration. The problem with that is, from my experience, public opinion does not always recognize the historical context of how we got where we are, and/or what is the right thing to do going forward.   



Bob Jentges is a former teacher, coach and insurance claims superintendent and is part a team of Free Press readers invited to comment more frequently on issues of the day. He considers himself a conservative.

 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Your View
  • mfp jentgesmug Many counter-argue global warming Like Leigh Pomeroy (Act now on Earth Day, April 27) I try to do what I can as an individual to protect the environment, and encourage others to do likewise. But I do not subscribe to the alarmist idea that man made climate change (f/k/a anthropogeni

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • mfp maertens mug Republicans natter about 'I' word

    Mitt Romney first politicized the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, only hours after the event, by claiming the president sympathized with terrorists

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • mfp yezzimug ACA benefits ignored by writer

    Bob Jentges’ May 8 My View strikes me as being like a football coach trying to frighten players into quitting when the game has barely begun. His wholly negative piece reads like a catalog of scare tactics.

    May 21, 2013 1 Photo

  • Apology in abuse case was not accepted

    I am the mother of the victim in the Miguel Beltran child abuse case. I would like to clarify one thing in regards to the recent article that was printed.

    May 21, 2013

  • Highway cleanup crews priceless at 100 degrees As I was driving home from work in the late afternoon on the first 100 degree spring day, I saw, proudly wearing their bright, neon green safety vests and picking up garbage in the ditches, were the Adopt a Highway volunteer crews. When I honked my h

    May 19, 2013

  • mfp dekruifmug DFL budget leaves out reform The 2013 Minnesota Legislature started facing a projected budget shortfall of $635 million and by state mandate must balance the budget. The new DFL controlled government has a "fix" for this shortfall; raising taxes and fees for all Minnesotans by a

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Bell of Honor sign of respect for heroes Recently, I had the opportunity to go to the North Mankato Funeral Home for David Sandmeyer's military visitation. It was a very moving experience. Sandmeyer was the young man who was a 21-year-old Marine from Mankato. He was stationed in North Carol

    May 18, 2013

  • MSU falls while coach Hoffner will win again Attention MSU Alumni You and I have just learned of the decision that the Minnesota State University leadership, i.e. Dr. Davenport, Mr. Kevin Buisman (and probably others) have made concerning Todd Hoffner, the former MSU Football Coach. This firing

    May 17, 2013

  • Minnesota deserves lawmakers with a clue Our senators, Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken were part of a group to vote for and pass Obamacare. You know the overwhelming law that the Democratic leadership (Reid and Pelosi) said you'll have to pass it to find out what's in it. Exactly what they did

    May 17, 2013

  • Laws of life essays were inspiring essays inspired What a pleasure it was to read the Laws of Life essays in the May 5 edition. It is this kind of reporting that makes The Free Press our hometown newspaper. And congratulations to Shane Price and Fahad Qureshi. Your writings were a good read. Bruce Bi

    May 16, 2013