Dem economic plan: pay as you go

Today we look at the economic platform of Democratic congressional candidates in Colorado.

Clearly the Dems in Colorado are positioning themselves as the party of economic opportunity in wake of the economic turmoil that has been evident since last June.

What’s most surprising is that in addition to offering economic populism, the Dems are making a serious attempt at talking about “fiscal responsibility” a former touchstone of the GOP only.

Mark Udall says for example that “while some members of my own party have not always been pleased that I say this, I believe that part of balancing the budget deficit is working to eliminate unnecessary and wasteful spending.”

And listen to this from Jared Polis: “I strongly support returning to the balanced ‘pay as you go’ budgets of the Clinton era as an essential first step for securing long-term economic growth and generating good-paying jobs.”

‘Pay as you” go seem to be the big biz words amongst Democrats.

‘That’ll be a problem for Republicans,” says one national strategist, “to the extent that the Democratic candidates can unhitch their wagon from the top of the ticket.”

Because, the strategist explains, the top of the ticket has promised much more in new spending and it will be hard to reconcile a balanced budget with large new spending programs unless tax increases are serious and sustained.

But even Diana DeGette gets in on the act: “First, we must restore commonsense Colorado values to our nation’s economic policies. This means spending only the money the government has in its coffers.”

“Bill Clinton remade himself by taking over welfare reform from Republicans,” concluded the strategist. “It’s not impossible that they are serious about this.”

Excerpts from Democrat campaign websites on the economy: 

Mark Udall

Supports: Investing in Math and Science Education

Supports: Making Colorado Aerospace Number One in the Country

Supports: Transportation and Infrastructure Funding  

Diana DeGette (typos included) 

“First, we must restore commonsense Colorado values to our nation’s economic policies. This means spending only the money the government has in its coffers and suspending the massive, debt-fueling tax giveawgoing to amkeays to the ultra-wealthy so beloved by President George W. Bush.” 

Jared Polis

 “The war on America’s middle class needs our immediate attention – families work harder than ever but struggle to fulfill their dreams. To reverse this trend, I strongly support returning to the balanced ‘pay as you go’ budgets of the Clinton era as an essential first step for securing long-term economic growth and generating good-paying jobs.” 

Joan Fitz-Gerald 

“Traveling around the 2nd Congressional District, I hear more and more people speak of their nervousness about their economic future. Rising expenses for mortgages, health care, gas, and educational expenses are increasing the burden on every family. People are working harder and longer for less. Our economic priorities must change.“To be clear: The war in Iraq has dragged the American economy down.”  

Will Shafroth

 “Ending the war in Iraq; protecting the environment; improving our schools; guaranteeing access to quality healthcare for all Americans – I believe making sound decisions in all of these areas will bolster our economy and create jobs.” 

Betsey Markey 

“Most Americans work hard and pay their taxes. Yet sixty percent of America’s largest corporations pay no taxes at all. It’s driving up the biggest deficits in history. In 2005, the richest one percent of Americans held 19% of the nation’s income, the largest share since 1929. We know from history that concentrating wealth and income in a small group is bad for economic growth and for encouraging entrepreneurship. I support raising the minimum wage, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, and fixing our unemployment insurance and low-income programs, some of which are more than 30 years old.  I support taking middle class Americans out from under the burden of the alternative minimum tax.

“We’ve also got to put our government back on a pay as you go basis. And I am serious about cutting pork barrel spending and curbing earmarks. Funding pet projects for your state is no way to run a government.”