Possible GOP 2016 contenders in Senate critical of budget deal
Washington (CNN) - Three Republican Senators who are considered possible contenders for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination are all thumbs down on a bipartisan budget compromise that would prevent another government shutdown if approved by Congress.
Marco Rubio of Florida, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Ted Cruz of Texas are critical of the deal struck Tuesday between House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, last year's GOP vice presidential nominee, and his Senate counterpart, Democrat Patty Murray, that would set spending levels, reduce the deficit, and relieve some of the forced spending cuts known as sequestration.
"I can't support the proposed budget deal," Rubio told supporters in an e-mail Wednesday, adding "this budget continues Washington's irresponsible budgeting decisions by spending more money than the government takes in and placing additional financial burdens on everyday Americans."
Paul said in a statement that "the small sequester spending cuts were not nearly enough to address our deficit problem. Undoing tens of billions of this modest spending restraint is shameful and must be opposed. I cannot support a budget that raises taxes and never balances, nor can I support a deal that does nothing to reduce our nation's $17.3 trillion debt."
Cruz, who was traveling back from the Nelson Mandela memorial service in South Africa while the deal was struck, did not directly react to the agreement.
But Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said in a statement that "while we haven't yet reviewed in full detail, the current budget proposal is deeply concerning. We shouldn't sacrifice the modest 2.4% spending cuts already in law in exchange for a mere possibility of future reductions."
A number of leading fiscal and grassroots conservative groups oppose the deal. Opposition could help any potential 2016 GOP White House contender with the kinds of voters who dominate the Republican presidential primaries and caucuses.
Ryan is also considered a possible contender for the next nomination. Asked Wednesday by CNN Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper if he's concerned that his deal will hurt him in any future White House bid, Ryan pushed back.
"I was elected to solve problems here. I'm the chairman of the Budget committee," Ryan said.
"I'm going to do what i think is right, what the people in Wisconsin asked me to do, and I'm not going to let my personal political consideration down the road cloud that judgment. I don't think that's right. With the future, I'll let the chips fall where they may and I'll sleep very well," added Ryan.
CNN’s Ted Barrett contributed to this report.
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"Marco Rubio of Florida, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Ted Cruz of Texas are critical of the deal struck Tuesday....that would set spending levels, reduce the deficit, and relieve some of the forced spending cuts known as sequestration."
Read this carefully and ask yourself – what are they FOR? Hint the stagnation and destruction of our lawful government.
And why are we not surprised that the three stooges of the GOTP are upset. I'm just surprised "Plays With Dead Things" didn't chime in or is he holding out for an article of his own?
Cruz spokeswoman......"while we haven't yet reviewed in full detail, the current budget proposal is concerning".
Right, cover both sides. " Haven't reviewed-but concerning" means he can check with his base, or more likely,
the Kochs and Heritage, before he makes a committment.
How much did your little worthless jaunt to South Africa cost us Cruz? Quit using our money to boost your
ratings with the tea party. We don't like them and some of us in Texas don't like you.
Three bozo's that will NEVER be President.
So they want to shut the government down again. That plays well with the brain dead, but not so well with normal people. Stupidity is all that these baggers have going for them.
@Anonymous-But it was not a useless jaunt. Crud got to make the USA look like a nation of idiots, while gaining points with the TP Whack Jobs. We have our new self-appointed MittWitt. Except this one cannot legally, really, run for president because he was born in Canada. But I feel certain that sometime in the very near future the SCOTUS will address that issue to the TP's approval.
Anonymous
Cruz spokeswoman......"while we haven't yet reviewed in full detail, the current budget proposal is concerning".
Right, cover both sides. " Haven't reviewed-but concerning" means he can check with his base, or more likely,
the Kochs and Heritage, before he makes a committment.
How much did your little worthless jaunt to South Africa cost us Cruz? Quit using our money to boost your
ratings with the tea party. We don't like them and some of us in Texas don't like you.
December 11, 2013 05:28 pm at 5:28 pm |
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LOL i was just thinking about how Cruz went to South Africa on tax payers money just so he can make a "statement" by walking out during Castro's speech. And BTW, he is actually in deep trouble with the Tea Party for his praise of Mandela. His career in politics just started and he has already given up all chances at ever being President with the stunts hes pulled.
Rubio, Paul and Cruz will never be elected to the Presidency. They would rather see Americans suffer for their own political gain than compromise. Paul Ryan sees the light at the end of the tunnel. He knows he has to compromise to let Americans see he is not part of the Tea baggers movement. He does not know for sure that Hillary Clinton will run for President or not, but in order for him to stay in office and have a chance at the 2016 Presidency, he has to show that he can work with Democrats and compromise.
The budget compromise is opposed by the Heritage Foudation, Freedom Works, etc. These Pacs are backed by some of the riches people in the country. Unfortunantely they view any budget that doesn't punish the poor or unemployed as a bad deal. They should also .."ask not what their country can do for them, but what they can do for their country..." especially during these tough times.
I think I am missing something here. Can someone explain to me, if Repubs are against big government spending why do they get upset when they want to cut he bloated military budget? Isn't the military a form of the government?
please rand is a nut job like his father before him, cruz is a canadian and eddie munster wants to get rid of medicare
GOP is pretty much gone to dogs for at least fifty years or so. True.
I have this crazy idea that most Americans agree on most issues in principle. A good leader will help them see that. How are people like Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio going to get anyone to agree on anything?
What's new with this group!
It strikes me that these people don't accept that government does good things for the citizens of this country. They don't trust anything that government does which make me laugh because they are a part of the leadership.
Conservatives need to step aside and let the grown ups do the work. There is still bipartisan hope without the tea.
Add to it, there is more hope without Boehner, who just spent another 3 TRILLION since March 2010. He has to go.
Once more time. rafaelito cannot be president of the US.
There are not enough Cubans in Florida or around the US, who are probably the only ones who cared how disrespectful he was in South Africa, and I don't even think Cubans are that rude.
Anything those 3 are against, I'm for.