Capitol Hill Democrats represent deficit roadblock

As Capitol Hill Democrats consider proposals to pull the country out of its huge deficit hole, they’re repeatedly running into a formidable impediment: themselves.

On issues as diverse as health care and student lending, provisions designed to rein in deficit spending have all run smack into the ubiquitous inclination of lawmakers to protect their home turf from the scalpel of budget cuts. Their message is familiar: Congress must do something to get its fiscal house in order, just don’t do it in my back yard. And party affiliation is largely irrelevant.

The most recent case surrounds a popular proposal to eliminate government subsidies to private companies that lend to students. The legislation, which has already passed the House and enjoys enthusiastic support from President Obama, would save the government tens of billions of dollars over the next decade — most of which would go toward expanding scholarships for low-income college students. Never an overly partisan issue, it was proposed by President Bush several times during his tenure. Senate Democrats are hoping to attach the legislation to their sweeping health care reform proposal.

Not so fast.

Those billions of dollars don’t go nowhere. And six Senate Democrats — Bill Nelson (Fla.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Ben Nelson (Neb.), Mark Warner (Va.), Jim Webb (Va.) and Tom Carper (Del.) — voiced their objections to the proposal on Tuesday. The lawmakers — most representing hubs of large, private lenders — say they support student loan reform “to generate historic budget savings,” but have concerns that the White House proposal “could put jobs at risk.” They’re asking Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to approach any action “in a thoughtful manner that considers potential alternative legislative proposals.”

Though short on specifics, the message is clear: The lawmakers want to rein in spending, but not if it threatens jobs in their states.

Read more at Michigan Messenger’s sister site the Washington Indepenent