No shocker here: Connecticut’s all-Democratic U.S. House delegation voted against the Republican’s “Cut, Cap & Balance” plan Tuesday night.
The measure would impose dramatic spending cuts in 2012, cap federal spending in future years, and send to the states a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. It passed 234-190, with all five Connecticut lawmakers voting “no.”
Republicans said the measure was a fiscally sound way to move forward. But Democrats blasted the measure as a “Trojan horse” for the controversial House Republican budget, which would, among other things, privatize Medicare.
“This is cut, cap and get rid of Medicare,” said Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, in a House floor speech.
Tuesday’s vote was more for show than anything else, since the legislation has little chance of passage in the narrowly divided U.S. Senate. It was geared toward satisfying conservatives in the House GOP conference, as congressional leaders continue negotiations on a bill to raise the nation’s debt ceiling before Aug. 2.
That all-important issue remains in flux.