Utah Girls escape because of doing the right things

WASHINGTON –  House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan renewed a fight with Democrats over spending cuts and deficit reduction, unveiling an updated Republican budget plan Tuesday that aims to cut spending by more than $5 trillion over a decade and balance the budget in that time. 

Similar to past proposals, Ryan's plan would include cuts to food stamps and major changes to government-sponsored health care for the poor and working class. Ryan's plan would also cut Pell Grants for low-income students and pensions for federal workers, while steering away from cuts to benefits for senior citizens, at least in the short term. 

"This is a plan to balance the budget and create jobs, and it builds off a simple fact: We can't keep spending money we don't have," Ryan, R-Wis., said in a statement. 

Unlike many spending proposals floating around the Hill, Ryan's aims to balance the budget within 10 years, in part by cutting more than $5.1 trillion. Whether that plan would actually work remains to be seen -- and, as in past budget cycles, Democrats made clear they would not be supporting his approach. 

"Because of a stubborn unwillingness to cut the deficit in a balanced way by closing tax loopholes for the wealthy and well connected, the House Republican Budget would slow the economy, stack the deck against the middle class, and threaten the guaranteed benefits seniors have paid for and earned," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement. 

The House GOP proposal would reprise a voucher-like Medicare program for future retirees that would be the basis for GOP claims that the measure would drive down government debt over the long term. 

The plan should skate through the Budget Committee on Wednesday but faces challenges on the floor next week since it endorses a bipartisan pact -- negotiated by Ryan and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray, D-Wash., in December -- to increase agency operating budgets this year and next. 

Many conservatives who opposed the pact last year would have to reverse course and embrace them as part of the GOP budget. Democrats who helped pass the Ryan-Murray pact in December will oppose the GOP plan. 

The legislation promises to serve more as a political and policy statement by House Republicans than a realistic attempt to engage President Obama and Democrats, who control the Senate, in any serious effort to further cut the deficit. Election-year politics are in play, for starters, as are entrenched differences over spending and taxes. 

At issue is the arcane congressional budget process, which employs a non-binding measure known as a budget resolution to set forth goals for future taxes, spending, and deficits. But follow-up legislation is usually limited to one-year appropriations bills rather than more difficult measure to deal with the government's long-term fiscal challenges, which are fueled by spiraling health care costs and the retirement of the baby boom generation. 

Ryan's budget brings back a now-familiar list of spending cuts to promise balance, including $2.1 trillion over 10 years in health care subsidies and coverage under the Affordable Care Act, $732 billion in cuts to Medicaid and other health care programs, and almost $1 trillion in cuts to other benefit programs like food stamps, Pell Grants, and farm subsidies. While repealing the benefits of "Obamacare," Ryan would preserve its tax increases and cuts to providers, including cuts to private insurers under the Medicare Advantage program. Republicans have attacked Democrats for the Medicare cuts used to finance the new health care law. 

As in the past, Ryan has steered clear of cuts to Social Security and promises steady increases for veterans. But he faced a more challenging task to promise to balance the budget by decade's end than he did last year because the CBO projects lagging revenue estimates. 

But steep cuts to Medicaid, which Ryan proposes to turn into a block grant program managed by the states, could drive millions of people from the program, including seniors in nursing homes and tens of millions of children from low-income households. Ryan proposes to cut projected costs of Medicaid and other non-Obama-sponsored health care programs by 17 percent over the decade. 

Ryan's budget claims balance by 2024, but relies on $74 billion in savings in that year from the macroeconomic effects of cutting deficits, which CBO says would have a long-term positive effect because it would free up savings and investment capital. Democrats are sure to seize on the maneuver as phony math; without these projections, however, Ryan's budget plan would fall almost $70 billion short of balance. 

Earlier versions of Ryan's plan have passed the House three times since the GOP seized control of the chamber following the 2010 mid-term elections. This year's version may prove more controversial because it begins to implement cuts to future Medicare beneficiaries. Under the plan, people who enroll in Medicare in 2024 would be given a subsidy -- dubbed "premium support" by Republicans, derided as a voucher system by Democrats -- with which they would purchase health insurance on the open market. 

Merry Christmas

Ramblings from the mind of a puzzled patriot

In the world we live in today. It is easy to be confused and puzzled as to what the truth is, and how to find our way to the surface of all the flotsam and jetsam we find ourselves in. I consider myself a patriot, and in my youth had no difficulty in picking out the lies, checking facts and discerning the hearts of those that would have us elect them to represent the values that we hold dear to our hearts. Times have changed. This is the age of information overload, not only over load but you can be whomever you want to be on the internet. A person can be very persuasive and not have to back it up with real data, and just how do you and I know what the real data is? As we move forward in this world of fictional facts. Remember to go back to some simple principles, ones that served our forefathers well. Here are a few considerations.

1. Evaluate your principles and values. Look at yourself and find what is truly important to you. Hold on to those values that make you a better person, strengthens your family and community and put those that don't on a back shelf or better yet discard those that take you in a different direction.

2. Get to know the people around you, develop relationships with those you have contact with, and I don't mean send them a friend request on facebook. Stand up walk ou,t your door and go visit them. If you can incorporate this practice with those in your life that are most important to you, your life will be greatly enriched. This type of getting to know those around you is especially important to know those we send to represent our views as elected officials. It doesn't mean you need to become a politician, but if you meet them and get to know them in that way.  You will have a better sense of who they really are, not who they appear to be on television or in print, or worse yet here on the internet.

3. Look for opportunities to help. Everyone of us can always use the excuse of being busy. Lives are hectic and we tend to draw inward. This is not all bad, but if we all were just a little more kind to one another a took the occasional path of lending a helping hand, our world would be a better place for it.

4. I dont know if your a person of faith or not, but if you are I would ask that you bend a knee often. Ask for courage, ask for strength, ask for guidance, and most importantly give thanks for the riches you have.

Well I could go on and on about this, but then no one would take the time to read.  I started this as a puzzled patriot, but some how this little exercise has helped me see thing a little clearer. I'd love to hear your points of view leave me a comment.......

When in the course of human events.......

This past week has been one of those that will or at least hopefully will be not forgotten quickly. The fact is that the world we live in today is much different than the world that most of us grew up in. Definitions in society are changing day by day. A virtue or value that we could define by a word, now has different or multiple implications. Core values that have helped to make this nation great are being challenged. In many cases people have less value than a perceived notion or whim. Being politically correct has become more important than saying or doing the right thing.

This week we have witnessed evil, tragedy, sorrow, joy, relief, teamwork, vigilance, and to a degree triumph. Many of us no matter where we are in this great country of ours have shared our thoughts. Some out of anger or frustration, others out of hope. What ever reason, each of us hopefully, have had a change of heart, and hopefully for the better. The people of Massachusetts and of Texas have been the recipients of many prayers of faith, these have come from those of a wide variety of Faiths. Even those that do not have a belief in Deity have had thoughts of well wishing and a hope for relief to those that suffer and are in harms way. The bottom line is this, When in the course of human events.... we have shown that we are a compassionate and caring people. That even though there are evil forces and individuals in the world, collectively we still have a decent core. That in and of itself gives me hope for a better day.  May we as a nation be able to heal, to set aside our differences, and work together honestly, frankly, and compassionately.

Bravehaven

Let there peace....

With the horrific news from Connecticut, my heart aches and feel devastated. I can't imagine the pain and suffering that so many families are feeling at this time of year that is usually filled with joy and the anticipation of being with loved ones. There is a familiar song that is sung at this time of year, "let there be peace on earth" that is my prayer this year. I hope and pray that the Prince of Peace will pour out is comforting spirit to all that hurt, and to all mankind. It is always needed. May we remove the obstacles in our lives that prevent that peace from enveloping all of mankind. I pray for the day of his return. Let us remember him and seek him.

God bless everyone of you.

I WAS BLOWN AWAY!

Not too many things we hear or read about have much validity to them. I was blown away with the HCG diet drops. My wife was frustrated and getting very discouraged when it came to losing unwanted pounds. She had tried so many things that just didn't help. Almost out of desperation she tried the HCG drops. A 26 day regimen that has a low caloric intake and strict guidelines to adhere to. She started the process and had great success. she not only lost the weight but she had more energy, a better attitude toward life and was able to handle stressful situations much better. Who ever figured this formula out. Thank you!  heres a link if you want more information on the HCG diet.

http://sunsabeachtanningshop.bigcartel.com/category/hcg-kits

Bravehaven