No more Republican help needed

Yesterday in New Hampshire Republican White House hopefuls blamed everything wrong in the United States on President Obama. From the economy and unemployment, to the recently passed Health Care bill this lack luster group of talking heads all had criticism of the current administration. But they never talk about their role in getting us to this point.

But in a Hampshire Gazette editorial on Monday June 13, 2011 "Credit for the national debt", written by Representative Richard Neal, the truth becomes clear.

"On Jan. 20, 2001, when President George W. Bush took over from President Clinton, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the total budget surplus for 2002-2011 would be $5.6 trillion. But in 2001 President Bush aided by a Republican controlled Congress, proposed and passed a $1.6 trillion tax cut. The true cost of this tax cut soon became $2.2 trillion.

The other major expenditure contributing to our budget deficit was the engagement in two wars, Iraq and Afghanistan. The total for these wars cost well over 1.4 trillion dollars and by the time George Bush left office on Jan. 20, 2009, the surplus had turned into a $10.6 trillion debt, setting a record for debt for any administration. Pursuing two wars and massive tax cuts is the reason. "


Since the 2008 election, President Obama has actively tried to pass legislation which would address the issues of high unemployment, healthcare, the economy, education, financial reform, social security, the wars, and other domestic issues.

The Republicans, to their discredit, have blocked, slowed down, filibustered, mislead and, in whatever other ways possible, have voted against bills in the House and Senate that would have aided ordinary people struggling in this recession.
Jt