Cantor tells GOP to honor Norquist pledge

House Republican Leader Eric Cantor (RTP-VA) told his fellow Republicans they need to honor the pledge they signed to lobbyist Grover Norquist to never vote to raise taxes on anyone for any reason so long as they shall live.

 

Cantor’s warning was a reaction to comments made by several Republicans that they feel they are no longer bound by the pledge some of them signed in the early 1990’s.

 

The Norquist pledge, and his threats to punish any Congressmen who violate it, have complicated the work of the super committee and Congress as a whole to find a solution to solving the nation’s debt while not crippling the economy.

 

Cantor tried to wrap the pledge, signed by nearly all Republicans including himself, as a pledge to their constituents saying “It’s not about Grover Norquist. It’s about commitments that people make to the electorate that they represent, to the people that sent them here.” The fact is, the pledge was and is a pre-requisite for Congressmen to get financial and political support from Norquist’s organization and other affiliated groups.

 

Speaker Boehner (R-OH) tried to downplay the pledge also calling Norquist “some random person.”  Boehner was trying to put the pledge is a more patriotic wrap since it looks to the public as self-serving.

 

At least 40 Republicans have signed a letter saying they are open to combining tax increases and spending cuts in a package to break the deadlock on the super committee.  Republicans on the super committee offered a plan that had $300 billion in tax increases. This has alarmed Norquist who undoubtedly prodded Cantor and Boehner to come to his aid with their comments.

 

 

Thing are getting hot in Congress because the deadline for the super committee to present its “deal” to Congress is looming. Due to upcoming but undeserved Congressional vacations, to meet the statutory deadline, the committee needs to report a bill by Friday.

 

If Congress does not come up with a bill that reduces the debt by at least $1.2 trillion, then triggers contained in the law will kick in cutting defense and entitlement programs.

 

However, Republicans plan on passing legislation to remove the trigger cutting defense spending. If this happens, Democrats will eliminate the trigger to entitlement programs.

 

If Congress does this, it will mean the bill passed by Congress to reduce our debt will be rendered meaningless. Standard and Poors downgraded out credit rating because of the inability of Congress to govern. The bill was passed to keep other agencies from also downgrading out credit rating. Apparently, the super committee no longer cares.

 

It seems that Republicans are betting Romney will win the election and the GOP will take the Senate next year and do not need to deal with Democrats.  Democrats may feel they will win, so they may not be as inclined to cut a deal they do not like now. Democrats seem less confident, however.

 

So, as the nation’s economy and its future are at stake, it seems that Congress is more concerned about political power and their own re-election.

 

Americans should take note.