Poll: Americans Narrowly Trust Democrats on the Budget…But Widely Prefer GOP Proposals

March 20, 2013

By Guy Benson

3/19/2013

Such is the state of the Republican Party’s wheezing brand: Even when voters support their ideas by large margins, they still think they side with Democrats.  Via The Hill:

More voters trust the Democratic Party than the Republican Party on budgetary issues, according to the results of a new poll for The Hill — even though a strong majority actually prefer Republican fiscal policies. Respondents in The Hill Poll were asked to choose which of two approaches they would prefer on the budget, but the question’s phrasing included no cues as to which party advocated for which option. Presented in that way, 55 percent of likely voters opted for a plan that would slash $5 trillion in government spending, provide for no additional tax revenue and balance the budget within 10 years — in essence, the path recommended by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) last week. This was almost twice as many voters as opted for a proposal that would include $1 trillion in added tax revenue as well as $100 billion in infrastructure spending, and which would reduce the deficit without eradicating it. Only 28 percent of voters preferred this option, which reflects the proposal put forth by Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) last week. An even stronger majority of respondents, 65 percent, said U.S. budget deficits should be reduced mostly by cutting spending rather than by raising taxes. Just 24 percent said the budget should be balanced mostly by increasing revenue.

That’s a two-to-one advantage for the Ryan Budget over the Reid/Murray plan; garnering 55 and 28 percent support, respectively.  An even smaller percentage back Democrats’ tax-heavy emphasis.  The Senate proposal — which never balances — hikes taxes by $1.5 trillion, yet only achieves $700-$800 billion in deficit reduction over ten years, while accelerating spending beyond the unsustainable current baseline.  And yet…

As soon as respondents heard the words “Republican” and “Democrat,” the picture changed drastically. A plurality of voters, 35 percent, said they trust the Democrats more on budgetary issues, while 30 percent said they trust the Republicans more. A full 34 percent said they trust neither party.

Simply adding party identifiers results in major shift from strong backing for the conservative plan to a virtual three-way tie among the two parties and none of the above.  The good news for Republicans is that the public is ready to embrace a budget that dramatically reduces spending, doesn’t raise taxes, and achieves balance within a decade.  Better still, now that Democrats have finally been forced to abandon their cynical budget abdication strategy, the American people finally have the change to weigh two competing ideas.  It’s no longer just the endlessly-demagogued Republican plan versus nothing.  And surprise, surprise: A super majority of Americans rejects Democrats’ unbalanced, tax-and-spend binge.  When it comes to responsible, restrained, pro-growth economic policies, Republicans are the only game in town.  On a policy level, this is encouraging.  The bad news is entirely political.  The GOP’s tattered image remains a huge impediment to policy success, as many voters edge away from Republican policies they support in principle as soon as they hear it’s branded with a scarlet R.  Even if one is inclined to dissent from some of the remedies prescribed in the RNC’s post election self-assessment, it’s achingly clear that a messaging and perception face-lift is in order.  The House Republican budget is scheduled for debate and a floor vote tomorrow.  The Senate is tangled up in a CR and budget amendment vote-a-rama that may last all week.  I caught up with House Budget Committee Vice Chair Tom Price at CPAC for a discussion about the two parties’ clashing budgets.  The Georgia Congressman and medical doctor mounted a defense of Republican’s fiscal vision, and contrasted it with the Senate’s proposal:

House Democrats, incidentally, put forward their own budget yesterday.  It would raise taxes by $1.2 trillion, hikes revenues more than it would cut (rightly excluding the Budget Control Act savings passed in 2011), and doubles the Senate version’s new “stimulus” tab to $200 billion.  Though it increases spending even more than Senate’s version, both Democratic plans largely ignore entitlement reform, speeding the collapse of the safety net in the relatively near future.  The ranking House Budget Committee Democrat says using certain actuarial assumptions (which are dismissed by Republicans as unrealistic), his caucus’ budget would balance by…2045.

Guy Benson

Guy Benson is Townhall.com’s Political Editor. Follow him on Twitter @guypbenson.

Any tax without prior voter approval is a bad tax

For those Missourians contemplating buying or selling a motor vehicle to another person, the purchase of that vehicle just became more expensive.  On February 18, 2013 the Missouri Senate passed Senate Bill 182, a bill regarding levying a local sales tax on all motor vehicles sales.

SB 182 stops counties and municipalities from collecting a local use tax on the sale of motor vehicles, trailers, boats, or outboard motors. Instead of a use tax, local government entities will impose a local sales tax on the sale of all of the aforementioned items, regardless of whether they were purchased in Missouri. The home address of the buyer is used in determining what local tax rates apply.

The total sales tax for motor vehicles, trailers, boats, or outboard motors sold at retail is the sum of the state sales tax (4.225%) plus the local sales tax (varies according to locality). The sales tax for all non-retail sales of the preceding items is the sum of the state highway use tax (4.00%) plus the local sales tax (varies according to locality).

All counties and municipalities that did not previously approve a local use tax must put to a vote of the people whether to discontinue collecting sales tax on non-retail sales of motor vehicles. If a local government does not hold such a vote before November 2016, the taxing jurisdiction must stop collecting the sales tax. Counties or cities may at any time hold a vote to repeal the tax. Language repealing the tax must also be put to a vote of the people any time 15% of the registered voters in a taxing jurisdiction sign a petition requesting such.

Why did the Missouri Senate pass this bill?

Quotes from several state and local elected government officials, business advocacy organizations, and local car dealers in a Southeast Missourian article titled “Sales tax fallout hits dealers, others” dated February 21, 2013,  stated a “level playing field” is needed between the car dealers in Illinois and Missouri. Whenever officials allude to fairness, bad things happen. One can conclude these officials support a statist approach to concentrating economic controls in the hands of the government. Being “fair” to all car dealers in Missouri can encourage an overall centralization of economic control at the state level.

The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things. This bill violates the rights of local governments by intruding upon the taxing authority a local government has with its citizenry. The state senators want to dictate to locally elected officials of Missouri how to run their communities. This is a huge usurpation of power of the state from the counties and cities.

Each local government in Missouri has made a social contract with its citizens. The contract provides for public order, protection of property, and access to public services such as highways, roads, and sewer. The citizens and their local governments determine the limiting of rights and the duties of each other.  The Missouri Senate overstepped its authority by directing local governments to collect sales tax on the purchase of vehicles without a vote of the people at the local level. Although there is a requirement to put the measure on the ballot of counties and municipalities that did not have a use tax prior to the passage of SB 182, it is a deep-rooted “Principle of Liberty” to get voter approval before imposition of a new tax. The Senate’s action in regards to the SB 182 smacks of governing at their whim rather than by law.

Even though SB 182 has passed in the Senate, the bill must go to the House. The Senate and House need to agree to the final language of the bill before sending it to the governor for his signature. The governor can veto the bill or sign it into law. But that is not the end of it. At any time, with 15% of the registered voter in a taxing authority’s jurisdiction signing a petition to put it on a ballot, the voters can nullify the tax.

It is time we send a strong message to the Missouri Senate by directing our local elected officials and our state representatives to kill this power- grabbing bill before rather than after it becomes law.

Outrage A Fluke; Hypocrisy Real

Warning: Uncensored Language.

Betty Ann McCaskill, Claire’s Momma, was so outraged at Rush Limbaugh’s verbal abuse of Sandra Fluke that she… …she… …asked for money. “Now he’s made me mad!” said she.  So buck up $5.00 and she’ll rid the world of the Republican War On Women.  Republican War On Women?

You mean Bill Maher, the Democrat voter, who called Sarah Palin a cunt and a dumb twat.  Momma McCaskill, will you forward me your letter of outrage when your favorite Liberal misogynist verbally abused a wildly popular Governor.  Are you going to raise money to stop Bill Maher’s Democrat “war on women”?

Or, how about Ed Schultz, the Democrat voter, who called Laura Ingraham a talk slut?  Please forward me your letter of outrage railing against MSNBC and “his out-of-control nasty mouth”.

Here’s the latest Democrat prostitution of a woman to raise money and fortify their power:

From: Betty Anne McCaskill <info@clairemccaskill.com>

Date: March 6, 2012 1:12:44 PM CST

To: *

Subject: Who are you calling a “slut” or a “babe”?

Reply-To: info@clairemccaskill.com

Brian —

Don’t Let Republicans Wage War on Women – Click Here to Contribute [link removed]

Now he’s made me mad.

Rush Limbaugh has never been someone I paid much attention to. But you can’t call my daughter, or any woman, that!

When Rush Limbaugh attacked my daughter and law student Sandra Fluke last week, I saw red. I feel for that young lady’s mother. But I bet she’s proud of her daughter’s willingness to stand up for her rights.

Somebody please send me a link where Rush Limbaugh “attacked my daughter”.  I’ve searched the Interwares and nada example I find.

Can you give $5 to help fight back against Rush and his anti-women assault? [link removed]

I have been working for women’s rights all my life, and brought up my three daughters and a son to believe that every human being deserves respect, dignity, and equality.

And at 83, I can honestly say that I’ve seen real change when it comes to women’s rights. But in the last few weeks it has become obvious that some want to walk back the progress women have made in this country.

Rush Limbaugh and his out-of-control nasty mouth is part of the problem. But it is much bigger than even his mouth.

Please don’t let the Republicans have their

way on this. Don’t let them wage war on women.

Show them that we know how to defeat them by making a contribution to Claire’s campaign today. [link removed]

Nothing will bother this old boys club more than a strong independent thinker like Claire being reelected.

I thought after 40 years of progress this wouldn’t be an issue any more. Unfortunately, it seems that I’ve thought too highly of Republican Party leaders.

Please help Claire put these anti-women Republicans in their place with a $5 contribution:

This is an incredibly important moment for women, and we need you on our side.

Thank you for your continued support of my daughter,

Betty Anne McCaskill

Claire, you and your Momma feign outrage; we know it’s just a fluke.  But, your hypocrisy is fully transparent and real.  Of course, I doubt there’s a Conservative within earshot of the Internet that believes that you actually penned that letter.

Clearly the vile Bill Maher, Ed Schultz and The View, supporters of Democrats, represent the views of Missourians, so we should certainly re-elect you to the Senate.