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Subscribe to RSSAfter meeting today with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and OMB Director Jack Lew, deficit-reduction commission co-chairs Erskine Bowles (D) and Alan Simpson (R) released a statement calling on President Obama to launch negotiations with Congress earlier next year to consider ways to reduce the deficit/debt.
They also want Obama to issue his own ideas for deficit reduction in his upcoming State of the Union address.
The commission's final proposal won support from more than majority of members, but not the supermajority (14 of 18 votes) needed to force Congress to consider it.
Their statement:
While Congress and the administration decide how to temporarily address the lagging economy, we call on the President to launch negotiations with congressional leaders from both parties when Congress returns in January on the critical next step of establishing a serious fiscal responsibility plan to strengthen our economy for the long term. Our country needs a comprehensive plan to restrain spending across the federal budget, enact broad-based tax reform that lowers rates and reduces the deficit, take steps to bring down health care costs, and make Social Security solvent for the next 75 years and beyond.
We believe the Fiscal Commission's plan provides a serious and substantive starting point for the tough choices Washington cannot afford to put off any longer. We urge the President to build on these bipartisan ideas by putting forward his own plan in his State of the Union address and budget. We further call on him to bring key congressional leaders together with administration officials to negotiate and reach conclusion on a specific deficit reduction agreement that would be enacted. We believe a bipartisan agreement should be reached before any long-term increase in the debt limit is approved.
While no Commissioner supports every element of the Commission plan, the nation desperately needs a broad, bipartisan agreement on a plan that would get our debt under control and safeguard our economic future. Our businesses will not be able to grow and create jobs and our workers will not be able to compete without a strategy to get this crushing debt burden off our backs. If we fail to act today, we will be forcing far more difficult choices on the next generation.
Neither party can fix this problem on its own, and both parties have a responsibility to do their part. Americans are counting on us to put politics aside, pull together not pull apart, and agree on a plan to live within our means and make America strong for the long haul.
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Tiny Tim Geithner and cat food commissioner Alan Simpson are correct. The nation does desperately needs a bipartisan agreement on a plan that would get our debt under control and safeguard our economic future.
Some how, I don't think the Republican/Teabaggers will hear it;though.
Hell, the Republicans are sending out fund raising letters because of compromising to increase the deficit; right now.
Compromise for conservative and pundit millionaires means. More for them less, for everyone else.
Neither party can fix this problem on its own, and both parties have a responsibility to do their part. Americans are counting on us to put politics aside, pull together not pull apart, and agree on a plan to live within our means and make America strong for the long haul.
If Republicans are willing to listen to the Democrats, then the Democrats should be willing to listen to the Republicans.
I'm concerned about the DREAM Act and DADT. I can live with the tax cut extensions as President Obama was able to get some compromises from the Republicans. It works both ways. The more I read about it, the more I realize that the President was able to get some solid things in that legislation.
But the DREAM Act and DADT are important pieces of legislation for so many people in this country. I watched the hearings in the House last night on CSPAN on the DREAM Act. I was proud of those who stood up in favor of the DREAM Act. I truly hope the Republicans will see these two issues as important as anything they will have to deal with during their time in Congress.
It would be a huge huge huge step forward for all if they both pass. The Fiscal Commission is going to be another tough battle. But it's critical again that both sides listen to each other.
There are going to be compromises. By both the D's and R's. It's never easy but it's the reality. President Obama can't get 100% of what he wants. Neither can the Republicans.
I just hope the Democrats remember why they're Democrats. They are the ones I worry about now. I used to love to see them on tv, talking on and on about how they believe in this, believe in that. Yet when it comes to voting, it's a whole different story for a handful of them.
Don't agree with the dream act... Who determines specifically (point by point) what "good moral character" is and what it entails?
Require a mandatory (for all who may qualify for the dream act) military service of at least 4 years with 1/2 of it being overseas. Then grant citizenship upon obtaining gainful employment. OK with education at an accredited education if they choose.
What of the traffickers who brought them into the country illegally or saw that they were born here as anchor babies?
Compromise? OK
DREAM provides a pathway for citizenship either by serving in the military, or enrolling in college.
How about we compromise - Pathway to citizenship after military service. Period.
Serving the country is admirable and deserves recognition. Signing up for a couple of hours at a jr. college is boggus.
How many times have you gone up to a Boston College alum. and said "Thank you for your service?" It's a liberal BS argument to equate the two.
That compromise would have no problem going through - probably close to 100% Republican support.
How about it Pat. Can you compromise?
Or is it really just another progressive political manipulation to expand the Democrat base?
Bob, We know better. It as you said just another progressive political manipulation to expand the Dems
base. I know it as HEPO-- Handout, Entitlements, and Pay Outs to the bums that make up our society.
Pathway to citizenship after military service. Period.
It's ridiculous to even suggest. So now again we're downing college educations? And the military is the be all end all? What if some of them can't serve in the military? I had a brother who couldn't. He had a bad eye. He got hit in the eye as a child with a bb gun. Through no fault of his own he couldn't join the military. During the Vietnam War.
Why can't you just appreciate that these people came here at a very very young age and consider this their home? The only home they have known. They have friends, they have jobs, they are getting educations.
DADT - what about it? You for or against?
So you won't compromise.
Wow, I am surprised.
This was a Republican co-sponsored bill in the first place. Why is it every time the Dems try to pass something Republicans have said they were for, all of the sudden they are being too partisan and unwilling to compromise?
Just to clarify...
" OK with education at an accredited education if they choose"
After military service, not an option to...
Pat, If someone is willing to join a military service and potentially die in the service of America, let them serve regardless of sexual preferences.
Pat - Let the marginally disabled serve in the military but in a non-combative role, much like CO's did in the past. If they have a serious disability sounds like they may be SOL for either educational or military options. looks like their only options are for their parents to support them without government assistance or they find some type of gainful employment to suit their disability.