Bowles and Simpson Violate Commission Charter and the Washington Post Covers Up

[Joanne98]

The Washington Post, which long ago abandoned rules of journalistic objectivity in pushing its agenda for cutting Social Security and Medicare, today covered up the plans by deficit commission’s co-chairs to violate the commission’s charter. The Post reported that the commission expects to delay voting on a plan until December 3. This means that the commission will miss the December 1 deadline for a final report specified in both its by-laws and its charter.

If the Post were not so committed to Bowles and Simpson’s agenda then it would have called readers attention to the fact that they are violating the rules under which the commission was established. Of course, if it were following standard journalistic practices, the Post would have pointed out that the deficit increased not because of out of control spending, as the co-chairs have repeatedly claimed, but primarily due to the downturn caused by the collapse of the housing bubble.

It also would have pointed out that the huge long-term projected deficits are entirely attributable to the broken health care system. If the United States paid the same amount per person for health care as countries with longer life expectancies we would be facing huge budget surpluses, not deficits. However, because it editorial position dominates its news section, almost no readers of the Post would know this simple and important fact.

http://my.firedoglake.com/deanbaker/2010/12/01/bowles-and-simpson-violate-commission-charter-and-the-washington-post-covers-up/

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[fasttense]

2. There are 3 major causes of this deficit.

1. Out of control, and frequently off budget, spending on 2 or 3 useless wars. In the history of the world, there are no countries that collapsed because they spent too much on helping their middle class.

2. Tax cuts for the uber rich. When you have debt piled up you do not decrease your pay check and work less hours.

3. This recession or more aptly described as the 2nd RepubliCON Great Depression. As more people fall into poverty, they pay less taxes.

Note that Social Security and Medicare are NOT in the top 3. If these 3 were addresses, we would not have a budget deficit.

[flyarm]

3. I feel like I am at a baseball game..out run the grounds crew ( Lobbyists) and

and they are running around the bases, sweeping up the truth and ( bribing or threatening?) and sweeping up anything that looks like truth!

[suffragette]

4. This is a direct violation of their bylaws and charter

http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/bylaws
The Commission shall vote on the approval of a final report containing a set of recommendations to achieve the objectives set forth in the Charter no later than December 1, 2010. The issuance of a final report of the Commission shall require the approval of not less than 14 of the 18 members of the Commission.

http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/charter
10. Duration. Executive Order 13531 authorizes the Commission to operate until 30 days after it submits its final report. A vote on the approval of a final report is required not later than December 1, 2010.

It looks like they are extending the time in direct violation of their own rules in order to try to twist arms to get the votes they need.

They should not be allowed to delay this vote.

They need to be called out on this more and pressed to adhere to their bylaws and charter.