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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > December > 18 > Entry
Editorial: Boehner, Republicans have plan to do nothing
In evaluating President Barack Obama’s next efforts to create jobs, it’s useful to look at what his opponents propose. Enter John Boehner.
Nobody’s happy about the jobs situation. Jobs might have stopped shrinking dramatically in number, but they’re not rising dramatically, to offset recent losses. And they’re not expected to.
What the president wants to do isn’t entirely clear. But he’s talked of more infrastructure spending, tax breaks for small businesses, a version of “Cash for Clunkers” for home energy conservation projects and for using money that banks are paying back to the government for more stimulus.
He has also asked Republicans to weigh in.
Rep. Boehner, of West Chester, in his capacity as leader of the House Republicans, responded with a column printed by The Washington Post. He used the phrase “job-killing” four times to describe the president’s policies.
“Democrats’ job-killing agenda is making matters worse,” he wrote. “Americans are asking where the jobs are, but all they are getting from Washington is more spending, more debt and more policies that hurt small businesses.
“Republicans,” he said, “have offered common-sense solutions to break down barriers to economic growth … starting with a recovery plan focused on encouraging investment and allowing families and small businesses to keep more of what they earn.”
The column (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/10/AR2009121003436.html) did not get more specific than that. When you look at the specifics of the package he’s talking about (gopleader.gov/UploadedFiles/GOPNoCostJobsPlan.pdf) you can see why.
The “Republicans’ No-Cost Jobs Plan” is mainly about what shouldn’t be done. It would “halt any proposed rule or regulation expected to have an economic cost, result in job loss or a have a disparate impact on small business.”
It would “eliminate job killing federal tax increases.”
It would ban increases in “domestic discretionary spending” (meaning it would exempt Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ benefits, the bulk of domestic spending from the ban).
On the positive side, there isn’t much.
The plan would make changes in the unemployment compensation system and in tax rules relating to depreciation of property.
It would “remove unnecessary barriers to domestic energy production” and “provide an incentive for companies to repatriate earnings back to the United States.”
And it would push for passage of three pending trade agreements.
The package is mainly a collection of long-standing proposals pulled off the Republicans’ shelves. Some of the ideas have always had merit, including the push for free trade.
But this is not an energetic response to a crisis. Can anybody really believe that the next year or two would be dramatically different — as to job creation — if this package alone were enacted?
What’s most striking is what’s missing: major tax cuts. For the last generation or so, when Republicans have turned to economic activism, they have called for tax cuts.
Now they are turning away from activism, if this list is any indication. What Rep. Boehner is really saying is that, in the short run, the government should just let nature take its course, unimpeded by government action.
That’s easy for the party that’s out of power to say.
The absence of major tax cuts is presumably attributable to the country’s astronomical deficits. But, after all, in the past, conservatives argued that tax cuts reduce the deficit by increasing revenues. If that faith is giving way to reality, good.
But the disappearance of major tax cuts seems to have left the Boehner Republicans lacking in big legislative ideas. These proposals are not much different from sitting still.
Permalink | Comments (35) | Post your comment | Categories: Economy, Editorials, Martin Gottlieb, Miami Valley Politics, National Politics
Comments
By RETIRED SGT
December 18, 2009 3:44 PM | Link to this
So, what I am getting is that the DDN says the Repub plan offers nothing, but BHO’s plan “is not entirely clear,” and the DDN blasts the Repubs. Seems to me from teh links tha tthe Repubs are against wildly spending money, YOUR TAX DOLLARS, for more “Cash for Clunkers” that didnt help anything, programs that went nowhere and a looming healthcare program that will kill small business. Additionally, he recently offered another 100 Billion for global warming incentives to the world, WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS, and an energy plan based on windmills, tire inflation and double pane windows that are already installed in 70 percent of all windows. If he really wants to put peole to work, build nuclear plants, allow drilling along the gulf and pacific coast, and build more refineries. that will put millions to work. The Dept of energy was created in 1977 to wean us from forein oil. It is a burocracy filled with over 100,000 employees and a budget in teh billions…So, how are they doing? getting out of a depression is putting people to work long term. Allow private industry to thrive in teh energy market and we will come out of this quicker..And th eDDn blasts the repub plan…typical
By RETIRED SGT
December 18, 2009 3:49 PM | Link to this
Sorry for the typos, I tried to recall it before it posted…
By Leslie
December 18, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this
I read an analysis today that showed the stimulus money went mostly to democratic districts. Had no connection to unemployment and went mostly to high income areas. I guess the author of this piece would like to see more tax dollars wasted and no jobs created like the last stimulus. If everyone works for the government where will the money come from to pay everyone’s salaries?
By The Real Bob
December 18, 2009 3:58 PM | Link to this
I love the “no action” comment, like it’s a negative, but of course it much more fiscally responsible to spend $250,000 to create a “Green Job” what a joke, what the hell has happened to common sense in this country? Thanks God Obama is exposing himself and his ilk for the hypocrits that they are.
By RETIRED SGT
December 18, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/18/democratic-districts-won-twice-stimulus-gop-districts-study-shows/ How YOUR money has been spent…
By Every DDN editorial ever
December 18, 2009 4:26 PM | Link to this
Public spending and taxes, that’s what creates private sector jobs. Favors and tax breaks to select groups help, too.
By Harry Streichler
December 18, 2009 9:34 PM | Link to this
John Boehner’s plans are mild mannered and like a kitty cat compared to the “Controlled Environment” the Obama people want to create for America. The wonderful country we have is in the hands of people who have a vision of a huge government dominating our lives down to small details. We must stand against the healthcare bill, the cap and trade bill, the global warming plans, all of which are designed to socialize our cities, towns and farms. Tell your senators you want these bills defeated! Obama,Pelosi, Reid, Cass Sunstein and all of like minded characters must be monitored until our next Presidential election!
By Harry Streichler
December 18, 2009 9:35 PM | Link to this
John Boehner’s plans are mild mannered and like a kitty cat compared to the “Controlled Environment” the Obama people want to create for America. The wonderful country we have is in the hands of people who have a vision of a huge government dominating our lives down to small details. We must stand against the healthcare bill, the cap and trade bill, the global warming plans, all of which are designed to socialize our cities, towns and farms. Tell your senators you want these bills defeated! Obama,Pelosi, Reid, Cass Sunstein and all of like minded characters must be monitored until our next Presidential election!
By Harry Streichler
December 18, 2009 9:35 PM | Link to this
John Boehner’s plans are mild mannered and like a kitty cat compared to the “Controlled Environment” the Obama people want to create for America. The wonderful country we have is in the hands of people who have a vision of a huge government dominating our lives down to small details. We must stand against the healthcare bill, the cap and trade bill, the global warming plans, all of which are designed to socialize our cities, towns and farms. Tell your senators you want these bills defeated! Obama,Pelosi, Reid, Cass Sunstein and all of like minded characters must be monitored until our next Presidential election!
By Harry Streichler
December 18, 2009 9:38 PM | Link to this
John Boehner’s plans are mild mannered and like a kitty cat compared to the “Controlled Environment” the Obama people want to create for America. The wonderful country we have is in the hands of people who have a vision of a huge government dominating our lives down to small details. We must stand against the healthcare bill, the cap and trade bill, the global warming plans, all of which are designed to socialize our cities, towns and farms. Tell your senators you want these bills defeated! Obama,Pelosi, Reid, Cass Sunstein and all of like minded characters must be monitored until our next Presidential election!
By Harry Streichler
December 18, 2009 9:38 PM | Link to this
John Boehner’s plans are mild mannered and like a kitty cat compared to the “Controlled Environment” the Obama people want to create for America. The wonderful country we have is in the hands of people who have a vision of a huge government dominating our lives down to small details. We must stand against the healthcare bill, the cap and trade bill, the global warming plans, all of which are designed to socialize our cities, towns and farms. Tell your senators you want these bills defeated! Obama,Pelosi, Reid, Cass Sunstein and all of like minded characters must be monitored until our next Presidential election!
By Harry Streichler
December 18, 2009 9:41 PM | Link to this
John Boehner’s plans are mild mannered and like a kitty cat compared to the “Controlled Environment” the Obama people want to create for America. The wonderful country we have is in the hands of people who have a vision of a huge government dominating our lives down to small details. We must stand against the healthcare bill, the cap and trade bill, the global warming plans, all of which are designed to socialize our cities, towns and farms. Tell your senators you want these bills defeated! Obama,Pelosi, Reid, Cass Sunstein and all of like minded characters must be monitored until our next Presidential election!
By null
December 18, 2009 10:10 PM | Link to this
10% unemployement, when he promised it wouldn’t go over eight… Gitmo is still open, and isn’t going to close anytime soon… Increased troop strength in Afghanistan by 30,000, even if that is inadequate… The Olympic appeal resulted them in going to Brazil… Copenhagen was proven to be accurately described as KopenHopin… We’re trillions farther in debt, no end to this fiscal crisis in sight… Damn he’s good. 2010 looms large. Thanks Barack. Merry Christmas dude. Ya goin to Mecca in 2010?
By Barb
December 18, 2009 10:16 PM | Link to this
I do not want to tell my senators to defeat the global warming plans. I also would like some kind of reform on health care. Since when are Democrats associated with the rich? I only know of a few Democrats that you can say are rich. Most are hard working Americans trying to avoid the pitfalls the corporate world has set up for us so that they can make a buck. I would love to listen to a plan the Republicans would present us if only they had something to present to us. I am not thrilled with the way things are going but I also don’t want to go back to the way things were. That clearly wasn’t working. Retired Sgt putting up a link to Fox news just discredits you entirely. I am open to real news links if you have any. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and pray that we all have a better 2010.
By red
December 18, 2009 10:56 PM | Link to this
Doing nothing? What the &^%$ are you talking about. I don’t want a hand out or anything, I just want the clowns being led by Mr. Obama to stop. We’d be ahead if they did nothing, think about it. Nothing they’ve done has worked, is working, or will work. All our great leader wants to do is keep blaming GWB, that does a lot of good, when you don’t have any solutions, you resort to that. Comical….and a comical piece Ms. Belcher.
By Raoul
December 19, 2009 6:21 AM | Link to this
The DDN seems to want to shift the focus to the GOP. Why? Obviously, they know that their precious Democratic Party, the one with the clean sweep of both houses of Congress and the Administration, is making the Carter administration look good in hindsight. The DDN should quit trying to distract it’s shrinking readership by commenting about Republicans and focus more on what is going on with the Democrats who are in control.
By emer
December 19, 2009 8:07 AM | Link to this
Raoul…Hmmm, sounds french.
By Melody
December 19, 2009 8:20 AM | Link to this
Go take a business class. Then you’ll understand what the Republicans business policy is, and why it works. This country is not about government funding everything, it’s about Americans making their own way and earning - and KEEPING - their own money.
By emer
December 19, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this
Melody, Capitalism is NOT a governing system, it is an economic system and republican business policy is what brought us to where we are today. Let’s get that straight.
By Bill
December 19, 2009 1:36 PM | Link to this
I think the online DDN is mostly read by those on the right, and only when their not watching Fox made up news. It does no good to try and enlighten people to what is really going on when they are blind to anything that is really working when Fox and lardball says it won’t..you are to be pityed.
By RETIRED SGT
December 20, 2009 8:14 AM | Link to this
For barb: The CMPA rates Fox news as the most fair and balenced out of all the tv media outlets……. http://www.propeller.com/story/2009/11/17/cmpa-analysis-finds-fox-news-was-the-most-fair-and-balanced/
By Leslie
December 20, 2009 1:56 PM | Link to this
There is a difference between news and commentary. Fox news does report the news without commentary. Unlike mainstream media that only reports the news they want to report. Mainstream media is now state media. The only job they do is push their propaganda. They are no different than Chavez media. Our local fox reports spread propaganda. You can see the hate for all things American in their faces.
By JD
December 20, 2009 10:31 PM | Link to this
What happened to real reporters and real editorial writers? Did they close those schools? Obama can’t create any jobs, the president isn’t supposed to create jobs and the current idiot in that office has no idea what it takes to even have a job. The democrats are the elitist baztards and I’m sick of hearing about them.
By scoobydo
December 21, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this
This pretty much covers it all; it is not what is good for the country but what the GOP wants for themselves.Republicans have voted together to block Democrats’ attempts to pass legislation more often than any Congress in history. On December 18, Republicans broke the modern-day record for the most filibusters in history, according to Campaign for America’s Future.
By DRC
December 21, 2009 4:41 PM | Link to this
Boehner, McConnell, and their fellow obstructionists think their only job is to try to make Obama fail, not matter what the cost to the Country.
By retired sgt
December 22, 2009 2:47 PM | Link to this
Gotta love those DEMS. when the Repubs engage in the same tactics as the DEMS have been doing for decades, they whip out the obstructionist label and apply it to the repubs, yet, when they are doing it, it is ok…typical. Perhaps some people here need a history lesson. this country is a democratic republic set upon capitolistics business priciples. What this administration with the help of the liberal left, is trying to change the working of over 230 years into a socialist agenda. Worked for about 50 years in Russia until it collapsed..return to the fundamental priciples of the country and we will be fine…
By RAW
December 23, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this
Business 101, when revenues are down, cut spending and streamline operations. It is that simple. The governments of this nation, including the federal government, need to understand that they are operating a business, whether they like it or not. The republicans adn a certain amount of democrats understand these principles and have proposed ideas in support of them. In this case, sitting still may have been preferrable to leveraging our futures to foreign governments in the form of debt, especially considering that many of the assets now owned by the federal government are private corporations and are, by our own laws, eligible as payment for that debt. The federal government has now placed many of our top corporations at risk of foreign takeover to fince what has become a spending boondoggle of historic magnitude. The stimulus billl became nothing more than an amalgamation of pet projects the demorcrats have kept on their shelves as payment for conributions and rewards for special interests. Less than one percent of the bill was dedicated to small business lending, meanwhile, major corporations were receiving bailouts in the billions, with bipartisan support, I might add. Meanwhile, 70% of the nation’s employed work for or own small businesses. Many of these small business owners report income on personal income taxes (S-Corps, LLC’s, LLP’s, etc.), placing them square in the sights of this admininstration as the target of tax increases on the rich. The job-killing language used by the republicans is accurate in so much that this administration is going to use small business owners, who will lead this recovery if given the chance, to finance their special projects and interests, including healthcare, that the counry does not want, cap and trade, etc. The republican plan has many flaws as well, but it does reduce the amount ofdiscretionay spending by the federal government limiting it to only those programs already established. The flaw is that it does not go far enough in reducing tax liabilites on small businesses and individuals. Tax rebates and incentives only work if people have money to spend on the products being incentivised. Real stimulus comes from putting money back into the pocket of the individual. Suspending income taxes adn payroll taxes for a period of time would instantly put thousands of dollars at the command of the individual and small business owner to be used as they see fit. THis is why tax-cuts are effective in a shorter period of time. Granted, at some point, the money must be repayed, but as economic properity increases, so to do the revenues to the government when the taxes are stored and likely without an increase in rates.
By DRW
December 27, 2009 8:27 AM | Link to this
The best stimulous plan that has been put forth - always by Republicans - is for government to get out of the way and allow businesses to grow and create. Don’t tax us and over regulate us to death. The government doesn’t create or produce anything. When they “create” a job they draw revenue from the private sector to fund it. Now, that newley created position then promotes additional regulation and burden on the private sector creating a cycle which simply feeds upon itself. Barry Nobama has never had a real job in the private sector, much less been a creative, productive business man and will never understand what drives job creation. Let’s send Barry Hussain Obama on a one way trip back to Mecca in 2012.
By kurt
December 27, 2009 11:04 AM | Link to this
atta boy Chief,still defending the industrial military complex.I’m sure that when you leave this world,you’ll end up in Roman heaven or fiddle while Dayton burns.The world and our freedom do not,nor have they ever revolved around forcing democracy on others.Let’s get it right HERE first,then force it on others
By kurt
December 27, 2009 11:12 AM | Link to this
Gee DRW—-you could plug in JOHN BOEHNER too.I’ll agree that government provides nothing but why is it that Republicans shoved NAFTA down our throats as a “good thing”—forced Clinton to sign it—but now thing the pendulum shouldn’t swing back.If you don’t like waves,don’t create em.Republicans ALWAYS have better ideas,once they’re OUT OF POWER but suffer from amnesia when they’re in—tsk tsk tsk
By kurt
December 27, 2009 11:22 AM | Link to this
Republicans PREACH of smaller government,but LOVE soft money.Soft money is like a white lie—it’s still a lie and why government DOESN’T work for most.Let see the Republicans lead by example and put their money back in their pocket,instead of into their “representatives”—ain’t gonna happen !!! Republicans can cry all they want—the impending crisis was created by an economic moron from Texas by the name of GWB
By kurt
December 27, 2009 11:32 AM | Link to this
Yes Leslie,you’re right—Fox does provide JUST News—-but not ALL of it.News is like statistics.I can show you a handful and make a lie the truth.This is what insurance companies have done to OUR government and EVERY PRIVATE SECTOR worker [and why Boehner,Lieberman aren’t among the 12% unemployed]
By Squirrellygirl
January 4, 2010 2:24 PM | Link to this
Nobama played favoritism (not based on need, based on who voted for the crook) with our tax money, so why should we trust him again? I don’t. I don’t believe anything that comes out of Obama’s mouth. If it’s moving, you know he’s lying, cuz he’s a liar who tells lies!
By Squirrellygirl
January 4, 2010 2:29 PM | Link to this
Remember those fake jobs posted in fake districts on the gov’t website? Did anyone ever go to jail for that? That’s worthy of prison, right? And now they want more of our tax money? Criminals. Thieves. Liars. Infidels. Vote independent on republican next time.
By Squirrellygirl
January 4, 2010 2:33 PM | Link to this
Remember the fake jobs in fake districts posted on the gov’t website? Did anyone ever go to jail over that fiasco? I’m guessing a big NO on that one. We should not trust this administration with any more of our tax money. They need to be accountable for what they already spent, FOR REAL THIS TIME. These criminals needs to be kicked out of office—IMPEACHED! None of them would pass a regular security check. Q: Who do you pal around with? A: Bill Ayers. You do not pass go and you don’t collect $200! Go to jail!