Franken wants pay-as-you-go plan for U.S. military action

[kpete]

Source: Minnesota Post

Franken wants pay-as-you-go plan for U.S. military action
By Derek Wallbank | Published Wed, Mar 30 2011 8:47 am

WASHINGTON — Sen. Al Franken will unveil legislation later this week to ensure future U.S. military interventions are paid for, rather than simply being added to the national debt as they are now.
“It’s basically saying if we go to war, it shouldn’t contribute to our debt,” Franken said of his coming bill. “We’ve spent over a trillion dollars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that’s part of why we’re where we are with this deficit.”

While specific legislative language is still being finalized, Franken staffers said the measure would function as an available point of order in the Senate against anything that spends money on a war effort (broadly written to ensure that operations without a declaration of war, like Korea, Vietnam, Iraq 1, Afghanistan and Iraq II qualify). A senator would have to invoke the point of order to trigger it, but it would be upheld from the chair unless and until it was specifically overridden by the full Senate with 60 votes, the same margin needed to cut off a filibuster.

The measure would not specify how Congress would have to pay for the action — that could happen through increasing revenues or cutting spending elsewhere — but it would have to be paid for before votes on any spending could proceed.

Read more: http://www.minnpost.com/derekwallbank/2011/03/30/27027/franken_wants_pay-as-you-go_plan_for_us_military_action

[Indydem]

1. Congress never APPROVED this action!

But this bill would make them have to screw someone to pay for it.

How about a bill that says we can't go to war without congressional approval?

Oh.. wait...

[RedCloud]

13. Except the Senate did! Watch Lawrence for more info.

[Scuba]

2. Al, that's a Unicorn. You can't have that! n/t

[arcane1]

3. I'd support that, no problem n/t

[KamaAina]

4. Once again Al shows why he's the best

freshman senators seldom make waves like he does. :thumbsup:

[bluesmail]

5. Smile

[David__77]

6. I think the presidency should be abolished.

We need executives who are accountable to congress and the to the people. I favor a unicameral legislature that elects an executive from its ranks. I am sick of this executive dictatorship nonsense.

[No Elephants]

8. 1/ That will never happen. 2. What makes an executive elected by politicians preferable to an

executive elected by us? (We do, however, have to stop letting politicians decide who the Democratic Presidential nominee will be.) 3/ Your way means one party will always control the only legislative house and the Executive. 4/ That will never happen. (

[No Elephants]

7. K & R for Franken and sanity. Media pretends we are not at war. Get folks' attention.

Reinstate the draft, too.

[xchrom]

9. Recommend

[harun]

10. I sure hope he succeeds in getting this passed.

[Dappleganger]

11. Bring back the war tax!

[avaistheone1]

12. Thank you Senator Franken

:kick:



k&r