I am both shocked to hear Senator Mary Landrieu (D. LA) say this and to have found it on Greta Van Susteren's blog:
http://gretawire.foxnewsinsider.com/...
Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu said on the Senate floor that Washington’s spending problem exists only on Fox News:
“I am not going to keep cutting the discretionary budget, which by the way is not out of control, despite what you hear on Fox News,” said Landrieu.
The Louisiana senator did say that entitlement spending is a major problem. “It is mandatory spending that is rising rapidly, because the greatest generation that gave us the greatest nation the world has ever heard is dying and they need hospice care, they need Social Security, and they need hospitals.” - Great Wire, 1/29/13
Well said Senator Landrieu! My guess is that Governor Bobby Jindal (R. LA) and both the Louisiana state and national Republican Party have been going after on everything from gun control to Chuck Hagel's nomination that she's had enough of their bull shit. Hell, the state GOP wanted her to cancel her fundraising event with Vice President Joe "Gun Grabber" Biden:
http://www.nola.com/...
The Louisiana Republican Party said U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu should cancel a Saturday event in New Orleans featuring Vice President Joe Biden. The email statement came Tuesday morning from LAGOP Chairman Roger Villere Jr. and was based on what he called Biden's "crusade to violate the U.S. Constitution" with his recent gun control proposals.
"Senator Landrieu's plan to hold an event in Louisiana featuring 'gun-grabbin' Joe Biden is a slap in the face to every Louisiana citizen who believes in the U.S. Constitution," Villere said in the statement. "I call on Senator Landrieu to cancel this event and to inform Mr. Biden that he is not welcome in Louisiana." - The Times Picayune, 1/22/13
The Louisiana Democratic Party shot back:
http://www.nola.com/...
In response, Louisiana Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Carter Peterson called the GOP statement "inhospitable and completely wrong" and said members of both parties had "always made [the president and vice president] feel welcomed regardless of people's views on different subjects of importance."
"It would be a sad day for such a respected and distinguished person as Vice President Joe Biden to feel unwelcome in our state, particularly after all this Administration has done to help the people of Louisiana," Peterson added. - The Times Picayune, 1/25/13
Plus two of Landrieu's potential opponents are huge dicks. First there's Congressman John Fleming (R. LA-4):
http://www.wtnh.com/...
The wildlife refuge was hoping to get $9.8 million in federal relief aid to clean up and repair the land, but an amendment introduced by a Louisiana congressman has taken away the funding. It spurred a heated debate on the House floor last week.
"For Heaven's sake we should not be spending money restoring coastlines on islands that nobody ever goes to," said Rep. John Fleming.
The amendment was included in the Sandy Disaster Relief Bill, which passed the House and now sits before the Senate. Wildlife officials say without the relief funding it will be hard for them to repair and protect the land. They say it's a loss for the wildlife, and people. - WTNH News 8, 1/23/13
Emphasis mine.
Then there's Congressman Bill Cassidy (R. LA-6):
http://www.nola.com/...
The nation's deficit is a serious concern, but disaster relief shouldn't be wrapped up in a philosophical debate. And House members wisely rejected the budget-cutting amendment and approved the $17 billion by a 3-to-1 margin. They then took up a $33.7 billion amendment with additional relief money, which was approved Tuesday evening.
Sadly, some members of the Louisiana delegation voted against the aid. Only Rep. John Fleming voted "no" on the $17 billion appropriation, but he and Reps. Scalise and Bill Cassidy voted against the second measure. That anyone from a state hit by hurricane after hurricane could vote against disaster relief is flabbergasting. Reps. Cedric Richmond, Rodney Alexander and Charles Boustany deserve credit for doing the right thing by supporting the total package. - The Times Picayune, 1/16/13
Emphasis mine.
And of course Landrieu's probably been pushed to the edge thanks to her ongoing fight to expand Medicaid in Louisiana with this clown:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
But Jindal finally realized that cutting Medicaid to Hospices made him look like a dick and backed down like a little bitch:
http://www.nola.com/...
Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration backed down on a plan that would have ended Medicaid-provided hospice care next week even as protesters were gathering for a candle-lit vigil to oppose the cuts Wednesday. Dozens of hospice workers and supporters broke into cheers as leaders of the protest announced the news on the steps of the state Capitol in Baton Rouge.
"Finally this state is choosing the side of helping poor people rather than throwing them away," said Rhonda Johnson, who works for the hospice of Regional Healthcare Group in Baton Rouge.
However, the future of the Medicaid hospice program remains uncertain. The state will use about $1.1 million in grant money to keep the program afloat until June 30, the end of the state's fiscal year, giving the Department of Health and Hospitals enough time to revamp how hospice care is provided for low-income residents. - The TImes Picayune, 1/23/13
I would call this a triple flip flop because guess who came crawling on his news a few years back to Landrieu begging her for more Medicaid funding in the Bayou State:
She called it a "bipartisan effort." Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican, made "multiple requests" for the funding and worked with the senator's office for more than a year to obtain it, she said.
In an op-ed piece for the Times-Picayune, John Maginnis wrote that Landrieu "got for Louisiana was only what it deserved, a temporary Medicaid rate adjustment so that the state would not be penalized for its temporary hurricane recovery economy." He goes on to write, "It was hardly her idea but rather Gov. Bobby Jindal's No. 1 ask to the congressional delegation, of which Landrieu had the only clout." - USA Today, 2/4/10
Thanks to Jindal and the LA GOP's stupidity and cruelty, it's motivating Landrieu even more to fight back against them and get ready 2014. I applaud the Senator's words on the Senate floor. I just hope her upcoming votes are in line with her words. If you want to thank Landrieu for calling out Fox News' propaganda, contribute to her campaign:
https://secure.actblue.com/...