Budget Committee Looking Good

[Imperial]

Check out (http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/134097-gop-names-10-freshmen-to-house-budget-committee)the new members of the budget committee in Congress:


The House Republican Steering Committee on Thursday named 11 incoming freshmen and two returning members to the House Budget Committee. The newly elected fiscal conservatives are expected to back GOP efforts to pass an austerity budget resolution next year.

The incoming GOP freshmen are Justin Amash (Mich.), Bill Flores (Texas), Tim Huelskamp (Kan.), Mick Mulvaney (S.C.), Jim Renacci (Ohio), Reid Ribble (Wis.), Todd Rokita (Ind.), David Schweikert (Ariz.), Marlin Stutzman (Ind.), Todd Young (Ind.) and James Lankford (Okla.).


The returning GOP members are Todd Akin (Mo.) and Tom McClintock (Calif.)


Justin Amash is squarely in our camp. Huelskamp was endorsed by Ron Paul and was apparently a strong fiscal conservative in the Kansas legislature. Mick Mulvaney is a Mark Sanford style Republican who is a self-described libertarian. Stutzman isn't in our camp, but he was pretty good on fiscal issues in the Indiana State Senate. Tom McClintock is another one of our sometime allies in the House.

Unfortunately, the House budget committee doesn't have as much authority as the name indicates. For that, financial services or appropriations are the plum committee assignments. Still, it doesn't hurt to have a group of our allies all in one committee.

[TCE]

Check out (http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/134097-gop-names-10-freshmen-to-house-budget-committee)the new members of the budget committee in Congress:



Justin Amash is squarely in our camp. Huelskamp was endorsed by Ron Paul and was apparently a strong fiscal conservative in the Kansas legislature. Mick Mulvaney is a Mark Sanford style Republican who is a self-described libertarian. Stutzman isn't in our camp, but he was pretty good on fiscal issues in the Indiana State Senate. Tom McClintock is another one of our sometime allies in the House.

Unfortunately, the House budget committee doesn't have as much authority as the name indicates. For that, financial services or appropriations are the plum committee assignments. Still, it doesn't hurt to have a group of our allies all in one committee.

The committee pretty much is what it sounds like. It is in charge of creating the first outline of the budget that is presented to the full House. Other than that, for the other months of the year, is it mostly useless. However, this is a great place to start slashing spending and there is no excuse why the current GOP members couldn't start on that.

[t0rnado]

Todd Young is in that group as well. He's a non-interventionist, a fiscal conservative, and got a lot of slack from socialists when he stated that Social Security was a Ponzi Scheme.

[brenden.b]

Todd Young is in that group as well. He's a non-interventionist, a fiscal conservative, and got a lot of slack from socialists when he stated that Social Security was a Ponzi Scheme.

Todd Young is a non-interventionist? I did not know that. Any facts on that statement?

[t0rnado]

Todd Young is a non-interventionist? I did not know that. Any facts on that statement?

He has it thinly veiled on the issues section of his site:

As one who has served in the United States Navy, graduated from the United States Naval Academy and served as an intelligence officer in the United States Marine Corps, I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about issues of national security. I believe we must keep our military strong, agile and capable of responding to a wide variety of threats to national security.

But first, we must recognize that all of the federal government’s responsibilities, including defending our freedom, will face an uncertain future absent a return to fiscal responsibility. In short, if America ceases to be the wealthiest country in the world, we will also cease to be the strongest country in the world.

Throughout his campaign his argument was that the United States should have a strong national defense, but shouldn't meddle in the affairs of foreign nations because we risk bankruptcy. He was also a member of the Federalist Society at Indiana University.


"I'm a libertarian-conservative," admits Young. "I believe the state should focus on defending lives, rights, and property instead of depriving its citizens of their God-given liberties."

Unsurprisingly, his thinking is heavily inspired by Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Freidman. "They understood that government is ill-equipped to plan complex societies. And just as importantly, they realized that markets can be incredible forces to better the condition of mankind."

http://spectator.org/archives/2010/08/27/meet-todd-young

It's pretty funny how the GOP tossed all of these libertarian or libertarian-conservatives in the same committee.

[brenden.b]

Interesting. He sounds good, I just hope he delivers on those principles that he expouses.

[enrique]

It's pretty funny how the GOP tossed all of these libertarian or libertarian-conservatives in the same committee.[/QUOTE]

This might be one of those fortuitous groupings even though they've been relegated to a B level committee. In fact, they are on Budget because it is not high profile and many of them threaten the established party. However, if they see alike on many issue I wouldn't be surprised if they form some quick alliances and friendships to work on other issues. It's almost impossible to get to know 250 or so reps in your own party in only 2 years so this may be very helpful to be forced to meet like-minded folks.

I suspect that Ryan packed this committee with people who will make him seem more moderate and give him more cover for presenting 'radical' spending reductions. Politically useful for everyone. Including us.

[mtj458]

I think a lot of Republican politicians would like to be more fiscally conservative but find that it makes them unelectable so sticking other people in the committee to do the necessary dirty work will allow them to get their way without paying the political price.

[bwlibertyman]

This is very interesting. I thought Young was a total interventionist. I think he's more of a George Bush republican than a Ron Paul Repub. Young is my representative. I'd say all 3 of those Indiana representatives are definitely fiscal hawks. I think if they'd have to vote for the Iraq war they would have. Since this the budget committee my only concern is that they won't cut the military budget. We'll see though. This is very noteworthy though.

[Kevin_Kennedy]

Jim Renacci is my new Representative, and I suspect he'll be more of a negative than a positive on this committee.