Yeah, just what we need – people to talk up deficit reduction and then issue a report no one will read or act upon. Good idea, Barry!
President Obama will sign an executive order Thursday creating a fiscal commission aimed at addressing the budget deficit.
The commission is expected to be headed by Erskine Bowles, a former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, and former Republican Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming. It will lack the power to bind Congress to up-or-down votes on deficit reduction measures that a similar commission, rejected by the Senate last month, would have had.
We don’t need more policy-wonk talk shops, Mr. President. We need action. Here’s something you can do – how about an immediate, 25% reduction in non-defense/law enforcement government salaries? It would go like this:
“Due to the economic crisis and in light of our overwhelming debt, all government employees who are not active duty soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, or armed law enforcement personnel, will immediately have their base pay reduced by 25%. People with complaints should be advised that we could have cut salary by firing 1/4 of the work force, so suck it up.”
That would be a wise decision. It would be a courageous decision. It would be a decision which has immediate, practical benefit to the American people. It would make you a hero to the overwhelming majority of Americans. Heck, at a stroke you might ensure your re-election…
But we know the President won’t do it – because he lacks the courage and the imagination to take such a step.
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