Congress has come up short once again, failing to reach an agreement on resolving our nation”™s debt problems and thus leaving its future hanging in the balance.
This failure to reach common ground is becoming a tradition in Washington ”“ a blame game with the goal of getting re-elected, at the sake of this country.
It”™s a very serious issue with innumerable implications, complications and ramifications.
Further, it doesn”™t appear our local representatives are willing to criticize their own members for failing to resolve the nation”™s debt problems.
For congressional Republicans who signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge ”“ a pledge not to raise taxes ”“ their hands are bound.
But both parties are at fault and should be ashamed.
The committee”™s failure to act is “just a damning indictment of Washington”™s inability to govern,” New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. “It is this partisan paralysis and political cowardice that ”¦ is defining Washington.”
Yes, it would appear a number of our congressional reps are more interested in getting re-elected than serving the needs of our nation.
In a Nov. 20 segment on “60 Minutes” Christine Lagarde, the new head of the International Monetary Fund, was asked: If you look at the U.S., what are you most worried about here?
“Political bickering,” Lagarde said. “Certainly I would hope that on a bipartisan basis both Democrats and Republicans can come to terms in their super committee, about the deficit objectives ”¦ And there is a degree of certainty that is so much needed for markets.”
While business people are struggling and citizens are trying to hang onto their savings, congressional members cannot compromise. Taxpayers pay the price. In the wake of their failure to act, the market took a dive ”“ further eroding already weakened 401(k)s.
All eyes ”“ here and worldwide ”“ were watching to see if the committee could come up with a solution. And again, the U.S. was held up to global embarrassment.
The gridlock in Washington also affects the economy in understated ways. It adds to uncertainty. It hurts confidence, and without confidence, businesses aren”™t likely to invest and create jobs.
What”™s most frustrating to taxpayers is the feeling that politicians either don”™t get it or don”™t give a damn.
“People ”¦ have every reason to be frustrated, not only with Washington and Congress generally, but their elected members in particular,” Jeanne Zaino, professor of political science at Iona College in New Rochelle and interim dean of its School of Arts and Science, told us.
“From small-business owners to workers, we are all counting on the people we elected to solve these problems and instead we see a super committee, which has not only failed to reach an agreement, but ”¦ seems to have spent more time engaged in a blame-game strategy than searching for real solutions.”
Where were our local representatives as all of this was unfolding?
U.S. Rep Nan Hayworth, R-19th District, said the House members “have been working nonstop but unfortunately we do have a do-nothing Senate.”
“Senator Harry Reid has been at the helm trying to thwart progress as much as he possibly can. I agree ”¦ the Congress has not done nearly enough, but not for lack of diligent effort on the part of the House majority and a lot of our Democratic colleagues.”
As for increased spending, Hayworth said the country “cannot afford” more taxes.
Her solution?
“I think there”™s a very clear path forward. What I personally propose is this: The No. 1 problem I hear about on the federal level, for our small businesses especially, is the health law. ”¦Put the health law on hold, ideally really repeal it and replace it. It would result in a boost in the economy and a boost in hiring.
And if we could further assure our small businesses that the tax structure (Bush tax cuts) was going to remain in place indefinitely until we rewrite the tax code we could provide an additional boost.”
While these concerns might be legitimate, it is difficult to understand how these measures would play into the $1.3 trillion goal that was the subject of the super committee”™s charge.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer did not respond to repeated requests for comment from the Business Journal. U.S. Rep Eliot Engel also did not respond.
U.S Rep Nita Lowey, D-Harrison, voted in favor of creating the super committee and was “disappointed” it failed to act, her press secretary Matt Dennis wrote in an email.
“Disappointed”?
Disappointment is the antithesis of the reaction we want from an elected representative whose fellow lawmakers failed to do what they were tasked to do ”“ cut federal budget deficits.
Anger or at least heated criticism at fellow lawmakers would have been the appropriate response.
It”™s “back to the drawing board,” was Lowey”™s relayed message.
It seems we”™ve been back to the drawing board too many times.
It”™s time to stop the nonsense. Forget the politics and re-elections. The country must come first. The people must come first.
