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At the confluence of economy and elections

Posted on September 16, 2010September 16, 2010 by Staff

Price at the opening of a Latino Community Credit Union branch in Carrboro last month.
A few moments with . . .
Congressman David Price

By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

CHAPEL HILL — The late summer recess of the legislative branch of the federal government is over but like many of his colleagues this election year, Fourth District U.S. Congressman David Price spent a good deal of time back in his district dong things congresspeople do.

In between town halls, meet and greets, ribbon cuttings and conference calls, he had some time for a sit-down conversation at his office on the Vilcom campus.

The Chapel Hill Democrat, now seeking a 12th term, said he’s not been treated to quite the same reception as last August, when Congress was at the height of the health care debate and the tea partiers were in full blossom.

“There are a lot of questions people have, a lot of concern about the direction of the country, but they’re certainly not all on one side nor are people trading all that much in political slogans – except maybe some of the candidates. I think most people are looking for a little more serious discussion,” he said.

Naturally, the number one topic is the economy.

Price said he does not expect something that could be tagged as a second stimulus to come out of Congress when it returns to work later this month. The job for this fall, as he sees it, is to pass a set of small-business tax cuts and investment incentives along with measures to gin up lending.

To do that though, something has to give.

“It’s difficult to get these things past because of partisan polarization,” he said, expressing frustration about the strategy of the minority party. “I guess they have an idea that in a time when people are anxious and frustrated that they’ll be rewarded for simply standing in the way. It’s a pretty cynical attitude, but it does seem to be one that they’re operating on.”

Price counts himself among those concerned about balancing spending to stimulate the economy and the growing deficit. The counter-cyclical work is not done, he said, but Congress will have to be ready to make a quick pivot toward long-term fiscal balance. He lays the bulk of the hole the country is in at the feet of the Bush Administration, citing two wars and a massive tax cut.

“We came into this recession in a very deep hole, fiscally, and we’ve been handicapped ever since,” Price said.

In addition to the immediate budget issues, Congress also will deal this fall with its appropriation bills and with laying the groundwork for next year’s major reauthorizations of the national surface-transportation program and No Child Left Behind legislation.

All that, Price said, will likely be shaped by the outcome of the November election. Polling may show a multiple-point edge for the GOP on the generic ballot, Price said, but he’s doubtful that will result in a wholesale change in the North Carolina legislative delegation or the leadership in Washington.

The Democrats’ roster of candidates this year has convinced him for now that his party won’t lose the House.

But there’s no doubt, he said, that the enthusiasm gap will be a major factor. A good campaign can change that, Price said, and Democrats know exactly where the votes are to win even improbable races:

“They’re right there on the books from ’08,” Price said. “The big question of this election in terms of campaign capabilities is to what extent can we bring those voters back to the polls.

“The enthusiasm gap is not a fixed quantity in my opinion,” he said. “To be determined.”

4 thoughts on “At the confluence of economy and elections”

  1. Duke Morris says:
    September 16, 2010 at 10:34 am

    Funny story. David price is for more spending, “balanced spending to stimulatie the economy and with the growing decipit.” . Seven hundred billion was spend with no results while the employment rate continued to rise to 9.6%. Oh yes it is Bush’s fault. (A polticle slogan.). He struggles with the other party for saying no to more spending, no to more taxes, no to more take over of private enterprise, no to government take over of health and no to more governmentl programs. So far it sounds like the other party has offered a lot, less government and less taxes. Oh, that right, that is the way it is defined in the constitution. Why would I expect him to be a supporter of that document.

    The rest of the article is normal David Price, alot words with little meaning or insight. I guess this is why his news letters are cut and paster copies of Obama speech. Why should I expect more from him, he is a f9ollower of Nancy Pelosi voting with her almost 100% of the time. (govtrack.us).

  2. Darlene Littlejohn says:
    September 17, 2010 at 6:03 pm

    Wait a minute… Bush’s fault again? The Democrats were in control the last two years of the Bush administration. All of this spending and over regulating has made things worse not better. Do we really want two more years of this?

    The Republican, B.J. Lawson, says this: ” I want to take our country in a new direction and return to the vision outlined by our Constitution.”

  3. Kenneth David says:
    September 18, 2010 at 7:39 am

    Why does David Price not do what he is proclaiming he has done. His voting record does not support his comments.

  4. Joyce Goodwin says:
    September 18, 2010 at 11:56 am

    Mr. Price is frustrated at the Minority Party because they are standing in the way of more spending??? He also thinks they have a cynical attitude.

    Price is sure his Democratic Party won’t lose the house in November??

    B. J. Lawson should replace him to return to our Constitution and fiscal responsibility.

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