Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Republicans being Republicans

Laugh out loud fun from MIRS.


Republicans, so ready to throw the stones of blame for tax increases at the Governor and the Democrats, sure are happy to help spend that money. Bet they will run back to their districts and proclaim that they saved the state, too.


Andy Dillon learns that the House Republicans are, indeed, hypocrites.


Literally minutes after much of the House Republican caucus put up scores of "yes" votes in support of spending plans that were based on the $1.4 billion in tax hikes that nearly all of them voted against, House Speaker Andy DILLON (D-Redford Twp.) was asked to opine. Here the GOP members were ready to support the budgets that spent money, but weren't willing to raise the revenue needed to pay for the spending.


"That was one of the funny comments from someone in my office who said, 'It's amazing we're sitting here negotiating about how we're going to spend money when they didn't vote for any of it," Dillon said.


"Is that hypocritical?" asked Peter LUKE of Booth Newspapers.


"Yes. I think it is, to be honest with you."


Yes, you're right Andy, and welcome to the party. We've known this for quite some time now. We probably wouldn't yell as loudly as we do if they only behaved like rational, reasonable adults. Instead, they call the Governor and the Democrats names in the media, want you to ignore their own behavior in the process, but yet will be first in line to grab the cash and take the credit from the good that comes out of being fiscally responsible.


"It does get you mad that they're ready to spend, but they weren't ready to do the hard work," said Sen. Mickey SWITALSKI (D-Roseville), the Senate Democrats' lead on the Appropriations Committee. "I don't know how they justify it to themselves. I find it difficult to understand."


The 13 budgets that had cleared the Senate by 6 p.m. today were passed, on average, with 35-3 support. The 14 budgets that had cleared the House by 6 p.m. today were passed, on average, with 88-21 support.


Remember this every time that you hear a Republican trying to blame the Governor or the Democrats for taxes or spending. Let's take, say, Mike Bishop for example.


"This is the process," Bishop said. "We all voted to send over budgets with the limited revenue we have. When the Governor got through her tax increases we were operating with new targets."


Translation: We are going to accuse the Governor of robbing the store, but we sure will be ready to take the loot.


Just another day in Lansing.