News

July 29, 2011 | Julia A. Seymour

GOP's 'Cut, Cap and Balance' Mostly Just Cut By Media

Both houses of Congress are fighting over the debt ceiling - the Senate debating a plan by Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid and the House voting on a bill pushed by Speaker John Boehner. So far, only one actual bill has passed, but it was rejected as dead-on-arrival by both the Senate and the media. Reid called the bill the "perhaps some of the worst legislation in the history of this country" and journalists reflected that view, mentioning it by name in less than 10 percent of their stories since it passed... Full Story

July 29, 2011 | Geoffrey Dickens

MRC Study: ABC, CBS and NBC Cast GOP as Debt Ceiling Villains

On Election Day 2010, then-CBS Early Show anchor Harry Smith posed a hypothetical question about newly-elected Republicans to Ann Coulter: “There’ll be a routine vote, for instance, to increase the debt ceiling and the Tea Party guys are going to say, ‘Over my dead body,’ and the government comes to a screeching halt. Then what happens?” The conservative author confidently predicted: “Well, the media will blame the Republicans.” Full Story

July 26, 2011 | Colin Hanna

Let Freedom Ring Releases Web Video on Debt Limit, “Where is Your Plan”

Washington, DC — Today Let Freedom Ring (LFR), a public policy non-profit organization committed to promoting Constitutional government, free enterprise and traditional values, released a web video, “Where’s YOUR plan?” to highlight the fact that President Obama has not offered a tangible bill to address the debt crisis.

July 26, 2011 |

Chart Comparing Cut, Cap, Balance vs. The Boehner Plan

Click here for a chart comparing Cut, Cap, Balance vs. The Boehner Plan

July 25, 2011 | Joseph J. Brettell

Cut, Cap, Balance Coalition: Speaker’s Plan Doesn’t Meet CCB Principles

The Cut, Cap, Balance Coalition, a group of conservative lawmakers, public policy groups and concerned citizens that has provided the framework for the GOP’s debt ceiling solutions, released the following statement expressing why the Speaker’s proposal does not meet the principles articulated in the Cut, Cap and Balance pledge:

July 23, 2011 | Colin Hanna

CCB Coalition Statement

Cuts alone are often phony and can't be guaranteed in the future. They are simply not enough -- we must also make the structural changes that the ratings agencies say are necessary to avoid a reduction in our credit rating. Cut, Cap, and Balance is the only plan truly on the table as a piece of legislation, the only plan that preserves our AAA bond rating, and the only plan that actually solves the problem by forcing the federal government to live within its means. Anything less would constitute a violation of the Cut Cap Balance Pledge.

July 22, 2011 | Cut Cap and Balance

Cut, Cap Balance Coalition: All Other Debt Ceiling Deals Violate Pledge

Washington, D.C. – After the Senate tabled the bipartisan Cut, Cap, Balance Act that passed the House Tuesday, the Cut, Cap, Balance Coalition released the following statement:

July 21, 2011 | U.S. News & World Report - Peter Roff

'Gang of Six' Debt Ceiling Plan is DOA in House

July 19, 2011 |

An Open Letter to the Congressional Republicans: Cut, Run, and Hide Plan is Unacceptable!

On behalf or the millions of Americans represented by the undersigned groups, we write in strong opposition of Senator Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) "contingency plan" to raise the debt ceiling and pledge the use of every tool at our coalition's disposal to see to its defeat... read more

July 15, 2011 | Julia A. Seymour

Only 2% of Reports on Debt Ceiling Battle Mention Public Opposition to Increase

Network evening shows ignore polls showing deeper concern over rising federal debt than default; fail to debunk Obama's Social Security remarks.

July 15, 2011 | U.S. News & World Report - Peter Roff

On Debt Ceiling, GOP Has a Plan

It is getting harder and harder to take President Barack Obama seriously. He has failed to show any real leadership as the federal government approaches the statutory limit on its ability to borrow money.

July 15, 2011 | U.S. News & World Report - Peter Roff

Debt Ceiling Pressure Builds on House GOP Leaders

While no one is quite sure what to do about the debt ceiling -- it is almost certain that there will be a vote on the balanced budget amendment. But the timing of the vote and the form it will take is something that can only be guessed at right now.

July 14, 2011 | Sen. Orrin Hatch and Hon. Ken Blackwell

CCB = AAA

The Cut, Cap and Balance Act is the only proposed solution to the debt ceiling crisis that will both satisfy the global financial markets and return the US economy to growth and job creation.

July 13, 2011 | The Daily Caller / Colin Hanna

Just in time: A debt ceiling game changer

America’s debt bomb is ticking. No one knows for sure when, but at some point in the next couple of months it will go off unless Congress and President Barack Obama can reach some kind of agreement that raises the debt ceiling.

July 13, 2011 | Cut Cap Balance Coalition

Open Letter to Senator Mitch McConnell Regarding Cut Cap Balance

On behalf of our coalition of over 70 outside groups, greater than 150 Tea Party organizations and more than 180,000 citizens who have signed our Cut Cap Balance pledge, we are writing to inform you that we strongly oppose the so-called “contingency plan” introduced Wednesday. It is unacceptable to our coalition, and we will do everything we can to ensure that it is defeated.

July 12, 2011 | U.S. News & World Report - Peter Roff

McConnell's Debt Ceiling Proposal Draws Fire From Conservatives

The raging debate over what it will cost President Barack Obama to get an increase in the debt ceiling took a stunning turn Tuesday when Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell blinked.

July 11, 2011 | American Grassroots Coalition

Listen to Senator Demint's Cut, Cap, Balance Teletownhall

Click here to download the mp3 of Senator Demint's Cut Cap Balance Teletownhall

July 8, 2011 | Politico

Senators sign onto bill version of cap pledge

Sen. Roy Blunt won’t sign the “Cut, Cap, Balance” pledge being promoted by some of his Republican colleagues. But he now says he’ll vote for legislation that touts the same principles: cutting spending, imposing spending caps, and requiring passage of a balanced budget amendment before Congress can raise the debt limit.

July 8, 2011 | Forbes / Bill Walton

Cut, Cap And Balance Is The Best Plan For The Debt Ceiling

We need to Congress to sign and implement the Cut, Cap and Balance Pledge. The pledge commits Congressional signers to serious and immediate cuts in spending, to instituting permanent federal spending caps, and to passing a Balanced Budget Amendment.

July 7, 2011 | Chris Chocola / The Sacremento Bee

A balanced-budget amendment is long overdue

It's time for Congress to come together to pass a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution.

July 6, 2011 | Roll Call / Colin Hanna

Hanna: Public Way Ahead of Politics on Debt Ceiling

In late June, OnMessage Inc. conducted a nationwide survey of 1,000 likely voters (with a 3.1-point margin of error) on behalf of Let Freedom Ring for the Cut, Cap, Balance Pledge coalition to test voter attitudes on spending and compare potential plans for the debt limit.

June 28, 2011 | RedState / Erick Erickson

Pledge Fatigue, My Butt

Republican leaders on Capitol Hill are pushing out stories, encouraging various media outlets to write about “pledge fatigue.” This is in response to the Cut, Cap, Balance Pledge being pushed hard by conservative groups.

June 28, 2011 | The Wall Street Journal / Katie Glueck

Conservative Groups Press Lawmakers to Pledge Spending Cuts, Caps

The pledge, written by a coalition of more than 40 conservative groups, calls on lawmakers and candidates to cut and cap spending and to support a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget.

June 28, 2011 | The Daily Caller / C.J. Ciaramella

Gingrich signs Cut, Cap and Balance pledge

GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich signed onto the Cut, Cap and Balance pledge today, joining other presidential candidates Herman Cain, Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) and Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania) and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.

June 27, 2011 | Rep. Tim Huelskamp

Rep. Tim Huelskamp: America’s Spending on Trial

It is for that reason that this week I signed a pledge to "Cut, Cap, and Balance" as a condition to raising the debt limit. This is a pledge to the people of Kansas who sent me here to restore fiscal sanity to Washington.

June 24, 2011 | The Hill

Cut, cap and balance

This week a group of serious, committed advocacy organizations banded together to send a clear message to Washington and urged members of Congress to sign their pledge, titled “Cut, Cap and Balance.”

June 23, 2011 | The Huffington Post

Conservatives Pressure GOP Lawmakers To Demand Deep Cuts Before Agreeing To Raise Debt Ceiling

A coalition of conservative groups tried to hike the pressure on Republican lawmakers who might be considering a compromise on the ongoing debt talks Wednesday, demanding that they sign a pledge to demand deep cuts, spending caps and a balanced budget amendment.

June 23, 2011 | ABC News 'The Note'

Conservative Lawmakers Sign Pledge Demanding Cuts, Caps & Balanced Budget Amendment in Debt Limit Deal

So far, 11 senators and 14 representatives, including Texas congressman Ron Paul, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president, have signed onto the pledge.

June 23, 2011 | Hot Air

Coalition launches to promote “Cut, Cap and Balance” pledge

As the August debt limit debate approaches and Congressional Democrats continue to clamor for a clean increase, more than 40 organizations today formally announced their support for a “Cut, Cap and Balance” approach to the issue — the same approach favored by the Republican Study Committee and solid conservatives like Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC).

June 23, 2011 | Big Government

Cut, Cap, and Balance or Else!

The debt limit increase debate is heating up and conservatives have put together one fascinating proposal as a means to get spending cuts in consideration for a debt limit increase: The Cut, Cap, and Balance Pledge.

June 23, 2011 | Human Events

Cut, Cap and Balance--As in the Budget--Full-Speed Ahead

Spending cuts are no longer enough for conservative lawmakers: They want a balanced budget. And they’re getting vocal about it, arguing that the rest of Americans want a balanced budget too.

June 23, 2011 | The Washington Times

MILLER: Conservatives’ spending pledge

The “Cut, Cap, Balance” pledge to put Uncle Sam on a diet includes cuts in outlays, caps on future spending authority and passage of a balanced-budget amendment that would limit taxing and spending.

June 23, 2011 | The Daily Caller

Conservative groups, lawmakers officially roll out Cut, Cap, Balance Pledge

After days of hype, 47 conservative organizations and more than 20 members of Congress officially announced their support for the “Cut, Cap, Balance Pledge” during a press conference Wednesday afternoon on Capitol Hill.

June 23, 2011 | Slate

Take the Pledge!

Meanwhile, Pawlenty becomes the third candidate -- Cain, Paul, him -- to sign the debt pledge.

June 23, 2011 | CNBC

Coalition Calls for 'Cut, Cap, And Balance' on Capitol Hill

Over 30 advocacy and public policy groups today are calling on Congress to pledge not to raise the debt ceiling without having a balanced budget amendment in place.

June 22, 2011 | Andrew Moylan & Colin Hanna

Cut, cap, balance to save economy

Our federal government, careening past its $14.3 trillion debt limit, is on a crash course for fiscal disaster if Congress doesn’t take bold action soon. If we don’t get this right, the United States may no longer remain the world’s strongest economy and only superpower.

June 22, 2011 | Senator Rand Paul

What's Another $2.4 Trillion?

We need a new plan, with real restraints, plus immediate cuts. That is why I have joined fellow Members of Congress and thousands of Americans in signing the Cut, Cap and Balance Pledge.

June 22, 2011 | Politico

Forty groups unite to block debt ceiling hike

More than 40 conservative groups and 20 members of Congress will announce later Wednesday that they have signed a pledge to block a vote on raising the debt ceiling unless it is coupled with plans to cut, cap and balance federal spending, according to a statement provided to POLITICO.

June 21, 2011 | Wall Street Journal

The Fiscal Pledge We Need: Cut, Cap, Balance

The U.S. debt is now above its current limit of $14.3 trillion, a figure so large that it is nearly impossible for the average American to comprehend. Under the budget proposed by President Obama for 2012, the debt would rise to $15.7 trillion in 2021. The annual interest alone would be about $700 billion, and that would only increase with inflation. President Obama's proposed budget was so excessive and fiscally irresponsible that it was voted down in the Senate 97-0.

June 21, 2011 | Erik Wasson

Conservatives to launch debt ceiling pledge

House and Senate conservatives have signed onto a new hard-line pledge vowing to oppose any debt ceiling increase without congressional passage of a balanced budget amendment.

June 17, 2011 | The Hill

DeMint creates litmus test for 2012 field

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) threatened to withhold his support for Republican presidential candidates unless they sign a pledge requiring fiscal reforms in exchange for raising the debt limit.