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House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) teamed up this afternoon to tell Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) that they will not be making any more moves on a Fiscal Year 2011 spending compromise until they see what his plan is to fund the government and cut spending.
"I think it's important to make clear that we've been in discussions with our Democrat colleagues for weeks," Boehner said. "This isn't something new. ... The House's position is we passed a bill. It's out there. I think it's time for them [Senate Democrats] to outline for us what's their position to keep the government funded. We've done our work in the House."
What remains unclear is whether the position the speaker took today is a rejection of the White House's invitation to have Vice President Biden hold talks with both sides to help work out a deal. This morning, President Obama released a statement calling on congressional leaders to meet with Biden, White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, and his budget director to "find common ground on a budget that makes sure we are living within our means."
Multiple times the speaker was asked if would he be willing to take part in that meeting, and he seemed to continually dodge the question.
"I said the House has a position," Boehner reiterated. "Where's the Senate Democrats' position? I don't know where it is. How do you start a conversation where one House has spoken but the other House hasn't? Where's the starting point?"
After today's news conference, Boehner's office clarified that the speaker had not been formally invited by the White House and that the terms of the negotiation were murky, at best, pointing to Reid's comments that entitlements and the debt limit should be part of the conversations with the VP.
McConnell seemed slightly more open to the White House's meeting saying, "We just heard about this suggestion of the people who are supposed to be invited to a discussion on the way in here, so we'll take a look at what they have to say."
McConnell and Biden had several conversations during the lame-duck session when the White House was trying to broker a deal on tax cuts.
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Here we go again!!!!
President Obama released a statement calling on congressional leaders to meet with Biden, White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, and his budget director to "find common ground on a budget that makes sure we are living within our means."
uh......what part of $1.6 trillion deficit spending is "making sure we are living within ours means?"
The guy doesn't get it.
Now the Dems won't even put anything on the table. "Repubs just negotiate amongst yourselves."
What next for Obama and Reid ........ leave town?
I'd be willing to guess, that they could lure Boehner into negotiations if they waved a bottle of bourbon under his nose!
Just a hunch! ;o)
bob:
uh......what part of $1.6 trillion deficit spending is "making sure we are living within ours means?"
Uh, bob, of all people you should know the answer to this. The part that goes to the wealthy in tax breaks, of course.
Silly bob.
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
I'd be willing to guess, that they could lure Boehner into negotiations if they waved a bottle of bourbon under his nose!
Just a hunch! ;o)
No GF, it has to be merlot!!!
Then Boehner: will sing "Hell Yea We Can". But , the t-baggers won't like it.
Watch it t-baggers, Boehner wants out of the rabbit hole. Boehner saw the Cheshire fading away. Better follow your leader; t-baggers.
Ahh no. Obama and Reid have stood their ground and have reached out to the Speaker and the Minority Leader (see lame duck session for details).
When the President makes an offer to the Leadership of Congress to sit down and work out a plan maybe they should consider it instead of out right rejecting the President's invitation. Can you say Obstructionists?
Yea, Bev & feisty.....your replys really speak to the FACT that Obama won't even put forth any new ideas on how to fix the budget.....We all know how his last lame attempt went over......do you recall PUNT?
Now he won't even come up to the line of scrimage.
Uh, Anna M. that's the part where the government lets us keep a little more of the money we earn.
Come on AM, you earn money and you do everything you can to keep as much of it as you can. We all do. In fact that is the pricipal upon which the IRC is based.
WHOOPS! You're right - MY bad! ;o)
Hey did you ever get that e-mail I sent to you about the 'get together'? If not let me know and I'll resend!
DEW DROP INN..
Opps. I said it again................. Say goodbye to The nasty one and Bev. our Favorite Twisted Sistahs.....
they are off to that Imaginary Play House they live in...............
I'll bet they're serving a lot of that merlot.......keeps them from having to see the forest.
Anna,
Do you realize the "tax cuts for the rich" are now Obama's, that he said they would be good for economy, help create jobs?
Do you realize that to tax the rich, you can't just can't simply up their rate and have HR take the taxes out of their weekly check ....... they have CPAs that simply move their money where it is not taxed?
You can't do it without re-working the tax codes. That would be great, except that the big government Dems would never do it - they would lose control of their ability to social engineer America.
And speaking of silly, your post below about - Climate change?
Don't even have the guts to call it global warming anymore? Climate has changed for millions of years. Asinine waste of jobs and money to accomodate big government's control over our lives and economy. So what is it Anna....... cooling or warming ...... and you think Obama is going to change the Earth's climate when he can't even create ONE NEW NET JOB in over 2 years!
Do you you not read what is happening in the world?
The UK has found that for every job green created - 3.7 other jobs are lost! Spain - 2.2 other jobs lost! On and on. At least that they are learning.
Obama wants to ramp this failed policy up?
Does he have a clue about anything other than Michelle loves lobster and the life of a queen.
Yes, I realize it, bob. He was wrong. And you are, too. And yet you grouse about the size of the deficit. I assume your middle initial is H. for hypocrisy.
I'm happy to call it global warming, bob, as last year was in fact the hottest year on record ... again.
As for the rest, snarky attacks on the president's wife are beyond contempt. And so characteristic of you, bob.
See ya.
Sheez Anna,
Stating facts about the first wife?
She goes to the Gulf to support the local fishermen by ordering lobster flown in from Maine, she travels to Spain for a girls little get-a-way, separate planes to Hawaii .....
can't handle ANY facts Anna?
bob is an a$$
John Boehner: "Show me your hand before I decide whether to bet."
Stick to golf, Mr. Boehner. Poker is obviously too rough for you.
No wonder you think that unions are too strong. You have no understanding of what it takes to bargain. You do not belong in a position that requires bargaining. Period.
You belong back in Candy Land, where Mommy and Daddy fix it so you can always win.
"Don't cry, little Johnny, please don't cry."
Candy-land?
Oh, you mean where you take in $2.3 Trillion, but spend $3.8+ trillion?
Yeah, I think you nailed it again Anna M. Except "Mommy and Daddy" are in this case the taxpayers and they are PISSED!
But as to Boehner's ability to negotiate, we'll all get to see exactly how effective he is in just two short weeks. Wasn't Pelosi's plan of not creating a budget great?
Well, speaking of the stimulus, anyway, at least the intentions were good, Spanky. Gotta give it that. Even if it does prove to be a failure -- and the jury's still out -- it was done for all the right reasons -- which, in case you're not clear on that, are to help ordinary people in distress. Unlike a certain unnecessary war and a Wall street collapse, which caused the distress and precipitated the crisis in the first place, and can hardly be said to have been done for the right reasons.
By the way, just for the record, we may go bankrupt, but I'll throw in with an honest pauper anyday, rather than be the tool of the likes of the Koch brothers. You?
As for Boehner's negotiating strategy, he's already said that those big bad librarians are too rough for him. Maybe the dems should put a few union members across the table from him and see how he does. He says that's unfair. What do you say?
As for Pelosi's strategy about anything -- not so much.
"John Boehner: "Show me your hand before I decide whether to bet.""
How is that even remotely the case? Especially since the house passed a spending bill to the senate and all the Dems said was no. The Speaker made his bet and now it's time for Senate Dems to meet or raise.
Bottom Line.
We all know that with Liberals, it's all about good intentions. It doesn't really matter what the results are. Even if the results consist of just another $1 trillion dollars on the ol'National debt.
Spanky,
No the GOP leadership got the tax breaks they wanted and now they want to cut social programs that benefit everyone. They don't really care about the deficit. Why? Well let's take a cue from Mr. Cheney "Reagan proved that deficits don't matter." Really Dick? I think they do. The GOP they talk a big game about job creation and then focus on the stuff that the majority people aren't worried about. Most of the people I talk to are worried about jobs not the ACA, abortion, gay marriage, immigration, etc. Get a budget deal done and start working on a Jobs Bill. Sheez!
The democrats don't even understand poker..........good grief.
Really JoAnna? When Reagan spent money like a drunk sailor on shore leave that was okay? Yeah we really needed to spend millions of dollars on WWII battleships and billions on the rest of his massive defence spending spree.
devie....have you ever heard of the FALL OF COMMUNISM?
You may want to look it up.....it has something to do with all that defense spending you're talking about.
TA, Yeah right. I was in the military under Reagan. He put many of my friends in harms way on a compound in Beirut to protect the airport with orders not to return enemy fire. The only time charlie battery was allowed to returned fire was when one of them was killed. Give me a break with the fall of Communism. The USSR would have collapsed without all of the defense spending on our part. You are full of it. Yeah Ron Dog Reagan he single handedly defeated the USSR. Again that is just a load. Nice try.
It's just another variation on the word "no." Our way or the highway, and if we don't like what we see, we'll take all our marbles and go home, just like we did in the last term.
But it's low, and that's for sure.
Don't trip on it, Brutus.
Actually, it also had something to do with 10 years of failure in Afghanistan.
We're coming right up on that.
Just like Osama bin Laden drew it up.
Typical democrats.........you show us yours, but we're not going to show you ours.
AnnaMolly.......why is it that Biden or the President can't SHOW us their plan?......maybe it's because they don't have one or maybe it's because they don't have a single intention of cutting anything. Again, great leadership.....DEMOCRAT COWARDS!.............PUNT!!!!!!
True -- Heck, I'm still waiting to see the republican health care reform plan. Or their plan on climate change. Or their plan for social security reform. Or their plan for medicare reform. Or their plan for fixing the infrastructure. Or their plan for ... oh, I don't know ... for anything substantive besides cutting taxes for the wealthy.
Show me those plans, and we'll talk.
It's understood that this is for the 2011 budget, but having Biden negotiate anything is kind of useless seeing what Obama has submitted as his budget for 2012 includes a record $1.65 trillion in deficit spending. That's not exactly in "living within our means" territory. Obama is going to have to come up with a much better effort, and there is no amount of spinning Obama or his friends in the media can do to cover up the massive debt Obama has created for the country.
Right now, ANNA MOLLY........THERE PLAN IS TO FIX THE BUDGET........get a clue, hun.
We see Obama's plan for the 2012 budget, $1.65 trillion dollars in deficit spending. It's not hard to figure out that cutting anything from the non-existent 2011 budget (Thanks Nancy!) spending just isn't in the cards for Obama and the Democrats in Congress. Regarding fiscal reform, Obama, during the G20 meetings in Canada last summer said:
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-obama-g-20-press-conference-toronto-canada
So Obama said he's "calling their bluff", with a 2012 budget that includes a $1.65 trillion dollar deficit. You wonder what Obama would have come up with if he didn't "call their bluff". And it looks like the Republicans are "stepping up" Mr. Obama. Too bad you're not.
It's quite clear Obama is ready to have the Republicans lead on implementing fiscal sanity for the country. That's what leaders do, make the hard choices. And that's also why Obama isn't a leader.
Poor aNNA M. Make no mistake she sees the republican plan, she just no likey the plan.
Say it with me Anna: Cut, Cut Cut. And good golly just $1.65 Trillion to go!
Buckle up and step away from the tit.
Anna Molly
Where is the energy plan from the House? How to they propose dealing with transportation when we start paying $4.00 a gallon? What is their plan to deal with the drug war in Mexico threatening our borders? What is their plan if Qaddafi starts bombing his own people? I guess only the President has to do more than one thing at once. The House gets to sit around smugly talking about the federal deficit caused by the leader of their own Party over the last eight years, and doing NOTHING.
True American -
FYI, "punt" was last week's secret password. This week it's "kick the can".
You're welcome.
Anna M., just to let you know, we have NOT had a conversation yet today. Hope this helps. Your friend, JoAnna.
Who is it that would be kicking the can, JoAnne?
True American-2366567
Right now, ANNA MOLLY........THERE PLAN IS TO FIX THE BUDGET........get a clue, hun.
Well, No one has seen this yet. Where is the plan to fix the budget with a jobs bill?
How long has it been since the Republicans assumed control of the House of Representatives without proposing a single jobs-related bill?
Answer: It's been 56 days, 14 hours, 6 minutes, and x seconds and still no one has seen nary a jobs bill.
http://whenarethejobs.com/
Mr Boehner, we the America people heard you and we are watching.
Now that I can see all these comments from so many light-headed individuals, I can understand better why this country is in such bad shape and going downwards!!!
Energy plan? We've had a Department of Energy under the Executive branch of government for 34 years, last years budget for that Department was $26.4 billion, plus President Obama included an additional $38.3 billion from his so-called stimulus bill from 2008. So for $50+ billion, you'd think we'd maybe get a document with some kind of an energy plan from the Department of Energy, no? But yet, we don't.
All the other things you listed are foreign affairs, something the Executive branch takes care of (That's the branch of government Obama is in charge of). Congress has oversight, but see Obama is not really doing anything about those problems, there is really not much for Congress to monitor.
Good job Bev. Now for the sake of completeness please tell us all how long the Dems had the house "without proposing a single jobs-related bill."
That way we can all meaningfully compare. See how this works?
More like there plan is to chip away at spending under the guise of "fixing" the budget. TA, when the deficit is ov $1 trillion dollars, $4b or even $61b is a drop in the bucket.
We cannot tax to prosperity, but phasing out tax cuts would at least make the pain of spending cuts a little less severe. The govenrment relies on tax revenue to function. If we continue to ciphon that money into the coffers of the ultra-rich, big corporations, and oil interests, without the promise of job creation, we are forgoing revenue. Period. No business makes it in this economy by cutting cost alone. they also need increased revenue for longevity.
A jobs bill? Seriously, you want them to pass a jobs bill? And what exactly would be in this jobs bill? Infrastructure money? Green energy money?
WTF don't you understand about the country having no money? We can't operate the country with the amount of workers we have now without borrowing, so eaxtly HTF would like to hire more people and spend more money that we don't F'ing have? All you guys say is "Oh well they are trying cut spending and haven't even passed a jobs bill. lol."
Look, I know this is hard for you to get your head around, but we need to worry about being able to provide for our defense and actual needs of the govt and the general population before we start looking at additional spending.
I know, it must be shocking to you. The idea of paying off what you owe before borrowing more. Like paying off your new furniture bfore you run out a put new appliances on the credit card. But it's a concept we should all get used too.
Bryan..........are you filling in for Louis J. today.
Why do you want government to create jobs?
If we put a plan in place to get America back on track financially, business will tick up, consumer confidence will rise and jobs will create themselves. It's called commerce.
Don't worry, JoAnna. I may not be as smart as you are, but I'll ALWAYS remember our last conversation.
Just like low prices at Walmart. Always.
So, now you're saying that jobs create themselves. So why, then, weren't there any jobs created during the Bush administration, BEFORE the bailout and the stimulus?
Huh. I always thought it was people having money to spend that created the demand that creates the jobs. At least I'm sure I read that out here somewhere. Demand creates jobs. Yeah, that's it. There is no demand, so that's why republicans are sitting on mountains of cash and aren't creating jobs.
Okay, so your plan is to take even more money out of people's hands to give them confidence so that jobs magically create themselves.
Well, that's creative, anyway.
Where did i say in this thread that i want the gov't to create jobs? I think i actually said that forgoing tax revenue by extending tax cuts to wealthy and industry without the promise of job creation (should have said by industry) is our opportunity cost. We will not fix the budget by cutting spending alone. It just won't happen.
Right now, ANNA MOLLY........THERE PLAN IS TO FIX THE BUDGET........get a clue, hun.
I said a SUBSTANTIVE plan, True. Not just another plan about budgets and taxes.
In case you didn't know it, there's a country out there to govern, with lots of problems that need solving. I mentioned some. Amy mentioned energy. There's also education, and I'm sure everyone here can think of some more.
Show me a plan for something SUBSTANTIVE, something POSITIVE, something that ACCOMPLISHES SOME SUBSTANTIVE GOAL.
AND STOP SHOUTING. I hear you.
"All the other things you listed are foreign affairs, something the Executive branch takes care of"
If we have to send ground troops to Libya it will most certainly concern the House. Hope they are reading the papers, at least, in between napping.
AnnaMolly...............Not just another plan about budgets and taxes..........
Forest for the trees.................In case you didn't know it, there's a country out there to govern, with lots of problems that need solving
Really, AnnaMolly.....I would have never guessed, where would you like to start.......lol
AnnMolly.....do you know what the unemployment rate was BEFORE the bailout and stimulus was?
It wasn't over 9%, I can assure you of that.
There is less demand because people know that this country is broke and MOST of them know that they need to save right now, NOT spend like drunken sailors on shore leave, like your beloved democrats want to do.
JoannaSmith,
If we had a half way decent media, you'd know Secretary Cho held a town hall on our energy policy following the President's State of the Union Speech.
Here are some highlights of that policy:
This is what is called "winning the future."
I've heard that it's always best to start at the beginning. You're the one who styles himself as the "plan man." Anywhere you want.
But first you've got to teach me some poker, True. You obviously know much more about that than I do.
No, and that's because the chickens were just coming home to roost, which is why Bush had to reveal it because otherwise, it would all have collapsed just before the election. Remember, if you will, that the bailout occurred during the Bush administration and at his request. Obama had nothing to do with that.
The stimulus bill followed shortly after Obama took office because all the best minds, whatever that means, were telling the President and Congress that without it, there was going to be a depression of unprecedented proportions. And the unemployment we see now is still the residue from that.
Without the stimulus, God only knows what unemployment would be today.
And God only knows what it will be next year, after you slicers-and-dicers get through with the working class. Until those jobs start to magically create themselves, of course.
p.s. People don't spend money because they HAVE no money, and they have no money because they're unemployed owing to republican policies -- the war and the Wall Street crash. They aren't doing it just to bide their time, and they're not sitting on big cash reserves, like corporations are. They're desperate. They sell wedding rings for $20 and commit suicide over it. And all of this will only make it worse.
Where on earth is your compassion?
Anna Molly-
What will happen to the poor when the United States is paying nearly $1 trillion annually to its creditors to service our debt? The CBO says it's only 10 years away.
What about your compassion?
Raising taxes.
What?!
And the plan for that is . . . . . .
The way gas prices are going up, this one may be feasible.
Can't be that ambitious, if it takes 24 years. And once again, this is a goal, not a plan.
More like WTF. So, nothing about nukes? If not, just where is all that electricity coming from to power all these electric cars and such? Coal powered generation plants?
This is all we get for a department with a $50 billion dollar budget? Someone better check Cho's bar tab.
Compassion for a Liberal means they (deficit) spend the money on "compassionate" things today, and when it doesn't work, they blame the Republicans tomorrow.
Im so tired of hearing that if the big business dont have to pay taxes that it would trickle down and jobs would be created. How much money do they need to bring forth the JOBS.
Well, gee, Mr Speaker, given the very negative response from Dems to the House's budget plan, it would behoove you to participate in any discussions the Senate has with the White House on the budget they're likely to pass. I can hear it now, the fuuss you'll put up if the Prez & Senate come up with a compromise that ISN'T the same as the House bill, and it WON'T be the same. So please can the theatrics.
Republicans are Reverse Robin Hoods Robbing From The Middle Class, The Old, The Sick & The Poor To Give To the RIch. Why would anyone expect them to Negotiate/ Wisconsin and other Republican Governors have demonstrated tht the New Republican Primary Agenda is certainly "Not Jobs" which they promised to get elected but demoralizing the Ordinary Citizens of this country.
Ohio stripped Firefighters, Police, Teachers.................................................Who do they think will give 100% if they need protection, run in a burning building or teach their kids...................................
Actually this is a no-brainer
Run off all the Great Public School Teachers and make sure the Private Schools which only they can afford have those excellent teachers or if they are not amendable to that run them out of the profession all together
Somehow they are not thinking through the Police and Firefighters.................I'm glad I don't live in Ohio, Wisconsin,,and other states pulling this stuff
Police Officers are our greatest friends they put their "Life on the Line for American 24/7
Firefighters risk their lives to save our homes
Teachers keep your kids from being not smarter than a 5th grader
These folk make less than those in the public sectors
However Republican have chosen their path
Rob from those most vunerable and give it to the "Rich"
The GOvernment has been "Borrowing From Social Security For Decades" per the Wallstreet Journel and the USA today, yet
As Morning Joe tells us every morning and Chris Matthews at night, Americans who have been giving into the Social Security System, which they call "Entitlements" in an attempt to hide the truth from our low information voters, it's now time to Cut Social Security" and raise the Retirement Age even though if it were true that it was short, it's because the government has been "Borrowing" from it for decades
But that's ok Morning Joe and Matthews just like other Media ignores, even the White House is telling the truth about why Social Security is projected to be low in 2050.....................................
Let's keep doing that Republican Reverse Robin Hood Play, robb from the Old People, Old Sick People, the Poor and Give to the RIch.
Ignor The Truth and Make Congress those responsible Accountable
For our Media and Congress that's asking way too much!
Breaking News over @ ThinkProgress: Wisconsin Voters Launch Recall Campaign Against Eight GOP Senators:
This morning citizens from around the state took the first steps by filing recall papers against key Republican Senators who have stood with Scott Walker and pushed his partisan power grab that will strip thousands of middle class teachers, nurses, librarians and other workers of their right to collective bargaining. And we learned just last night that their disastrous budget that will cut millions from our schools and universities. . . .
Make no mistake, these Republican Senators are vulnerable to recall for their radical partisan overreach. Senator Randy Hopper won his last election by just 184 votes. And Alberta Darling won her last race by only 1,007. By recalling just three of the eight Senators [Democrats] are targeting, [Democrats] can regain control of the Senate.
Under Wisconsin law, supporters of this recall effort now have 60 days to collect an amount of signatures “equal to at least 25% of the vote cast for the office of governor at the last election within the same district or territory as that of the officeholder being recalled.” The amount of signatures necessary to trigger a recall will vary from district to district, but will range from about 15,000 to 21,000 signatures per recalled senator.
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/02/wisconsin-recall-2/#
That is GREAT news Pat!
Good to see the Democrats playing 'hardball' for a change!
Alberta Darling only won by 1,007 votes? Wow. She represents the rich north shore suburbs of Milwaukee.
You've truly given me hope, Pat. This can be done.
Anna Molly, you know what's great about this? It's not the liberals/progressives/left wing pushing this.
It's just hard working Americans. That's what this is all about and I couldn't be happier or more proud of Wisconsin. Truly.
June, FL - forget the media. They're useless, except for a few and we all know who they are.
You guys are cute. Yeah "just hard working americans" read all about it on MoveOn!
Good luck. Maybe they can also recall all the mean conservatives in Ohio, and Indiana, and all the other states that are pounding the public unions, oh and that are flat broke.
Hey then you can take on the Feds - cause they don't allow this crap either, amusing no?
Keep rinning up that hill, I'm sure you'll get there eventually.
Where do I go to get my "rinning" shoes, Spanky?
Spellcheck not working today? Maybe you ought to fire your IT people. You can, you know. They're at will. As good a reason as any for cleaning out those lazy freeloaders. Or don't you think there are any in the private sector? I see them just about every day.
And what about all those states AND the federal government that are flat broke and have no unions to "pound," Spanky? Whom will THEY "pound"? The disabled? The elderly? Poor people? Puppy dogs? All of the above?
I'll take all of the above for $500. I could use the money.
Spanky-
You guys are cute. Yeah "just hard working americans" read all about it on MoveOn!
Good luck. Maybe they can also recall all the mean conservatives in Ohio, and Indiana, and all the other states that are pounding the public unions, oh and that are flat broke.
Well, Spanky based on the number of people in Wisconsin against Walker's repair bill, I would say you need to worry about that. The EVilll Koch brothers are coming to your neighborhood soon.
Grab your baseball bat the next time you go to the beach.
June, fl. Actually, according to the bureau of statistics, in 41 states public sector employees make more than private Nevada is the worst with public sector making more than 33% more. Looks like Reid has been pretty good at pandering. His D.C. address? Try the Ritz Carlton hotel.
If the President's debt commission and the CBO are correct...
Someone needs to start leading.
Now.
Well, then not Paul Ryan, as he didn't seem to agree with the debt commission's recommendations.
Any other suggestions?
Anna Molly-
How about President Obama? He's our elected chief executive.
Oh...that's right.
He didn't agree with his own commission either.
Still...he might be expected to put SOMETHING on the table.
One thing's certain about the President's commission, though...
They, unlike everybody else...
Actually have a plan.
Whether it's President Obama, or Congressional Republicans...
You don't trump the President's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform until you present an alternative.
They've shown their hand.
Mixed Bag
President Obama compromised on the tax cuts for the wealthiest in order to win tax cuts for the Middle Class. If you want to blame someone for not following the debt commission recommendations, blame Republicans who forced him into that position.
That's it, Amy?
That's all you expect of President Obama in terms of addressing the debt crisis?
The CBO says that, instead of decreasing federal debt (or even simply not INCREASING it), $13 trillion in NEW debt will be added to the ledger over the next 10 years if the status quo is allowed to continue...resulting in interest-on-the-debt payments of nearly $1 trillion annually.
Again, Amy...who will suffer most from the effects of nearly $1 trillion a year in federal revenue being diverted to servicing U.S. debt? I mean, assuming that investors in U.S. debt worldwide allow that number to be reached?
If President Obama really, REALLY wants to be a "transformational" President...
He'll be the one to put the U.S. back on the track of fiscal sanity...it's his best, probably his ONLY, chance to be a "transformational" President, given the times he's governing in.
I don't have high hopes for Obama actually accepting that mantle, I'm afraid.
He's far more likely to accept the status quo that leads to the destination the CBO has forecast.
Obama barely acknowledged the Debt Commissions read out, pretty much thanked them for their time. After that, Obama and his staff slap together a 2012 budget with $1.65 trillion dollars of deficit spending. Some tough choices were made while putting that budget together, the audacity of including as much spending as they could seems to have been the overriding choice.
Still waiting for the Democrats to "Make a tough choice".
Yes, the extreme in the minority in both houses of Congress Republicans "forced" Obama to sign that legislation. Sure they did.
Here, maybe this will help you. Obama isn't interested in much, but he is interested in getting re-elected. He likes having MoTown Night and flying on the Big Airplane. Obama doesn't want to make waves and anger any voters, and raising taxes, well, that angers voters. So Obama really wanted to raise taxes on everyone, but that doesn't work with the voters, so he doesn't raise those taxes. And Obama also knows if he stops his deficit spending, that too will anger voters. Can't buy votes if you don't deficit spend, right? That's why Obama's 2012 budget contains world record deficit spending. And everything will work fine for Obama, as long as he can find a sucker to buy those bonds he's selling. And the debt? Obama will be long gone before that's a big problem, it's just a number to him.
You may recall, Bag Boy, that I was always opposed to the debt commission.
It was just posturing then, and it's just an embarrassment now. For both sides.
Really, JoAnna...
You make President Obama sound like Bernie Madoff.
Given the number of Americans (particularly the poor) that'll be devastated if the President doesn't make a serious and credible effort to address the debt crisis...
I'm not sure my comparison is fair to Madoff.
Anna Molly-
I'm sure you'll regard me as hopelessly naive, but I really thought President Obama was serious about his debt commission.
No one thus far has been willing to address the consequences (for all the programs that liberals hold dear) of debt interest payments of nearly $1 trillion a year within 10 years...
Since you're an attorney, and a leftie...I want to hear the upside.
O.J. walked.
So...
I'm guessing you can do this.
" Where's the starting point?"
Uh, the starting point is getting together with Biden and the Senate Democrats, moron.
What does Boehner think he's doing playing these political games? Hoping to get that $485 million the airforce doesn't want to spend for a redundant F-35 engine made in his district? The engine Cantor and Boehner voted to keep funding because a spending cut in your own district is suddenly "draconian." Hypocrites.
Typical democrats.........you show us yours, but we're not going to show you ours.
Amy B. portland.......why is it that Biden or the President can't SHOW us their plan?......maybe it's because they don't have one or maybe it's because they don't have a single intention of cutting anything. Again, great leadership.....DEMOCRAT COWARDS!.............PUNT!!!!!!
Looks familiar, True. Does this make you a true ditto-head?
Anna Molly, I understand that you have to take up for poor Amy B., as she is still trying to figure out who Trumka is, but as I stated above......The real adults are trying to fix the budget without any help from the "president" or "vice president".............they can't make any recommendations, cause that would look like another PUNT.....and they can't really afford that, can they?
Fortunately republicans showed what they would cut and that is why a lot of us are pissed.
So Barb.H are you really against cuts?
You like the debt and deficit. You have no issue with the $5 billion a day it takes to pay the interest alone?
Hey, at least you are honest. Can't tell about Anna M. She doesn't seem to have a plan, or maybe just no issues with debt service consequences either? I know, just not on the backs of the poor public unions.
Tit, back away, and all that.
real adults? Are you kidding? Republicans are playing games in the House like children. The alternative F-35 engine Cantor and Boehner voted to keep funding, which the airforce doesn't want, just goes to show how sincere they are about "shared sacrifice."
Amy....you just won't face the facts...Obama punted on a budget, now he won't even come out an address his alternative "compromise" with the American people
Why, you may ask...'cause he doesn't have one, nor does he want to cut anything; he wants to spend, spend, spend.....like i said...Great leadership
wasn't "punt" last weeks word?
If the shoe fits..............
Spanky
No I am not against cuts, I just do not want the cuts that would hurt people who desperately need a break. Why do you feel you need to defend billionaires that should be paying their fair share. They could be bringing down the deficit.
This is The Republican Champion and Not One Media will tell you about his Huge Tax Cut To The Rich, after which he took from the Middle Class, Old, Poor so why Negotiate when you don't have to. Just steam roll the Ordinary, Old & Poor.
N.J. Gov. 'Wrecking Ball' Chris Christie Swings Budget Ax, Takes Care Of The Wealthy, First, With His tax Cut, he handed out “$1 billion to families who earn “more than $400,000, the richest two percent.”
Because he stuck with his plan to cut taxes for the rich. He asked no real sacrifice from them at a time when the state needs everyone to climb out of the car and help push.
Then he “Pushed All The Painful Budget Fixing On The Middle Class, Public Servants, Schools & The Poor”
TRENTON — Gov. Wrecking Ball waited outside the Assembly chamber seconds before taking the stage. He was pumped, like a high school linebacker about to take the field.
"I’m ready," he said. "I don’t suffer much from indecision. You’re not going to hear me whine and moan and complain about how hard this is. I wanted this job."
With that, two State Troopers pushed open the tall wooden doors, and the governor strode to the podium. The Chris Christie era had begun.
Watching this man in action is a relief after the Jon Corzine years. He is decisive where Corzine waffled. His language is crisp where Corzine’s was convoluted. He is not afraid to take risks. He likes to lead.
And his speech contained much to like. He would fix the outrageous system of binding arbitration that has escalated public salaries to the point where the average cop in a town like Edison makes over $100,000.
He took on the dark lords of the teachers union, pointing out that they are not protecting children when they refuse to contribute to their own health insurance plans, or when they block New Jersey’s attempt to win federal stimulus money over their objection to merit pay.
He rightly called the steady growth in government over the last 20 years a threat to the state’s economy. He slammed schools and towns for adding 11,300 new employees last year, despite the recession, a move that he called "madness." It was all satisfying stuff. The new guy was making sense.
And then he blew it. Because he stuck with his plan to cut taxes for the rich. He asked no real sacrifice from them at a time when the state needs everyone to climb out of the car and help push.
With this tax cut, he would hand out $1 billion to families who earn more than $400,000, the richest two percent.
But by drafting a budget that is plainly tilted in favor of the rich, Christie gave them an opening.
Middle-class families will see most of their property tax rebates disappear. They’ll pay more for college tuition, and to ride buses and trains. Cuts to schools and towns will drive up their property taxes even more.
The poor get hit, too. This budget would cut $45 million from the wage subsidy program for the “working poor” enacted under Gov. Christie Whitman.
It would “bar parents from health care programs,” a move that would inevitably hit poor kids.
And it “pinches housing aid for the homeless.”
You don’t have to be poor for that to offend your sense of fair play.
According to a Rutgers University poll released last week, New Jersey voters oppose this tax cut for the wealthy by a margin of 2-1.
We don't have to worry about the wealthy, June...they'll be the last to suffer from the U.S. debt crisis.
When payments on interest on the debt approach $1 trillion annually (somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 years, according to the CBO... unless there's an intervention), who isn't going to be receiving the money going to the holders of U.S. debt?
This isn't a "trick" question.
Even First Read regulars can figure this one out.
June, fl. he vetoed a tax increase. N.J. has some of the highest taxes (state, local, property) in the nation. Maryland passed a "millionaires surplus tax" expecting to raise revenue from those taxpayers. Result- less, either they moved or reduced their income. Reagan's tax "cuts" doubled fed. revenue. And by the way, N.J. voters strongly back him. There are many many more tax payers than public sector union members. And for Mixed Bag, actually the Federal Reserve has been buying most of the new debt. Eventually, the dollar will fall, inflation returns and when not if the dollar loses it's current staus in the world interest rates will soar. This spending spree has to end on all levels. Oh, sorry, we don't spend anymore, we "invest"
Speaker Boehner certainly is proud, no? Pride can be a a double-edged sword, and often needs to be swallowed in the interest of compromise. I am sure i'm not the only one who feels this way, but this "We've done our job" attitude certainly holds no water, considering the bill never made it past the senate. That to me means there was clearly a lack of "open debate" regarding the contents of the spending bill.
Get past party lines, put your collective heads together and come up with a bill that will benefit ALL americans, not just those that got you elected.
Think twice, Boner. 2012 isn't far away. You may be holding a losing hand. The more games you, your Ohio and Wisconsin governors and the rest of your merry band play, the sooner you'll find the limits of what Americans will tolerate -- and I think you're getting close.
For two years, the Republicans have been mindlessly tacking the phrase "job-killing" onto every Democratic initiative without feeling the need to produce any evidence whatsoever that it would actually cost any jobs. Now, three independent analyses have come out that concluded the Republican budget cuts would cost hundreds of thousands of jobs. Why don't the Democrats start calling the Republicans plan "Boehner's job-killing budget"? The Democrats are just not as good at hammering home a message as Republicans are, despite the fact that the Democrats usually have some facts to back them up while the Republicans just make stuff up.
Boehner is busy weeping into his glass to have too many thoughts but Republicans have ideas all right on how to strip the American people of all their rights and to give everything to big business and oil companies. Just look at the lineup of what they want to take away, Women's rights, help for the poor and elderly, any right to negotiate working conditions. If they get what they are really after we will all be back working for whatever wages big business deems they will part with. Already business are offering way under pay scale for jobs and we feel lucky to get them. Why not cut away at the oil subsidies or the military. BP still has not cleaned up the gulf area, does anyone care before they start drilling again.
Boehner's been working on his tan, meanwhile still no job creation
When the "Chur ch" weighs In On These Unfair Budget Cuts & Their Affects........Houston Republicans Have A Problem
Religious Coalition Tells The GOP That ‘The Budget Shouldn’t Be Balanced On the Backs Of The Poor’
In an address at the National Association of Religious Broadcasters Sunday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) made a moral case for the deep cuts passed by House Republicans, saying,
“[i]t is immoral to rob our children’s future and make them beholden to China.”
But Sojourners, a progressive group of Christian leaders, looks at the GOP’s deep slashes to the budget in a different light and bought a full-page ad in Politico yesterday that asks legislators to consider, “what would Jesus cut?”
The leader of Sojourners, Rev. Jim Wallis, notes that the GOP’s cuts would severely slash spending for the WIC program, which helps women and infants, Head Start and international aid programs, but would leave “military spending untouched“:
They’re talking about cutting bed nets for malaria and leaving every piece of military spending untouched.
Are we saying that every piece of military equipment is more important than bed nets, children’s health and nutrition for low-income families? If so they should be ashamed of themselves.
If House Republicans get their way, they would cut $210 million from Maternal and Health Block Grants, which give low-income mothers, pregnant women, and their children access to health care. They also want to cut $27 million from the Poison Control Center, essentially eliminating the program, even though poisoning primarily affects children under six years old.
The “What would Jesus cut?” ad is signed by many Christian leaders, including the evangelical leader David Beckman, president of the charity Bread for the World. Beckman said in a statement that “[c]utting programs that help those who need them most is morally wrong,” especially
because “when Jesus talked about how God will judge nations, he said that God will focus on what we did or did not do for the neediest among us.” The “GOP seems to have forgotten this basic tenet of the religion they regularly tout.”
The Wonk Room has more on how the GOP’s cuts would prevent 10,000 low-income veterans from receiving housing assistance
The Catholic Church Supports Unions As ‘Moral Choices,’ Says Bargaining Rights Reflect ‘Principles Of Justice’
As teachers, firefighters, policemen, and other public employees in Wisconsin and Ohio battle to retain their collective bargaining rights, a contingent of anti-union politicians and pundits are contorting facts to vilify union workers as wealthy, elitist, and dangerous.
However, one traditionally conservative organization is declaring official support for these beleaguered public servants: the Catholic Church. In a public letter to the Archbishop of Milwaukee last week, Bishop Stephen E. Blair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops stated that unions are “moral choices” and collective bargaining rights reflect the “principles of justice”:
“These are not just political conflicts or economic choices; they are “moral” choices with enormous human dimensions,” Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, California, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, said in a public letter last week.
“The debates over worker representation and collective bargaining “are not simply matters of ideology or power, but involve principles of justice,” participation and how workers can have a voice in the workplace and economy,” his letter said.
Blair also cited the teachings of Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II to note Catholic precedence for support of unions and the rights of workers.
The U.S. bishops, however, are not actively lobbying on behalf of labor in specific states and are leaving it up to “the bishops of each state” to “participate in the dialogue and to bring Catholic teaching to that dialogue.”
The bishops in Ohio decided Catholic teachings require opposition to Ohio’s anti-union bill and are “encourag[ing] leaders in government, labor, and business to pursue changes that promote the common good without the elimination of collective bargaining.”
The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC), however, decided on a “neutral stance because the present dilemma comes down to either a choice for the common good” and “a choice for the rights of workers to a just compensation.” “As Catholics, we see both these horns of the dilemma as good,” the WCC said.
Still, many religious leaders in Wisconsin, including Catholic leaders, said “they’re on board” with the public union fight and even “Offered Sanctuary”to the Wisconsin Democratic senators who fled the state to prevent a vote on Walker’s union-busting bill.
As CNN’s Dan Gilgoff notes, the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. mostly identifies with conservative political causes, thus “seeing the American bishops come out for union workers” is “something of a surprise.”
For unions, it’s surprising, but welcome, support
In my church bulletin this past Sunday, there was an insert from the Maine Council of Churches responding to threats from our Tea Party governor to cut funding for social services. (His final comment in his State of the Union speech aimed at welfare recipients was "Get a Job!")
One of the governor's "talking points" i.e. "lies,"is that poor people (immigrants) come to Maine for our too generous social services.
The Maine Council of Churches gently informs us that less than 1% of all 2010 welfare recipients came to Maine from another state, and, from 2008 to 2010 nearly twice as many aid recipients left Maine compared to the number who moved here. The maximum Temporary Assistance to Needy Families benefit you can receive is $485.00 a month for a family of three. 92% of recipients were single mothers with children under age two. 97% of the recipients had held an average of three jobs in the last five years.
The insert ends with a message to Christians:
Boehner won't "compromise" Boehner won't "commit" what will this man do?
Remember Mr. Potter from Its a wonderful life I never knew anyone who liked him Do republicans like him? Was scrooge just another business man that wanted to be left alone.
here's a sure fire way to increase employment -
Shoot a Republican - Create a JOB !
Create a JOB- Shoot Boehner !!
I'm sure you're not serious, but talking about shooting anyone is out of bounds.
Typical left-winger.......shoot first, ask question.........never. great Job recruiting new posters MSNBC!
Mr Boehner ... 20 12 is so close ... I hope the good people of Ohio send you back to the country club ! Did this makeup wearing clown .. even finish high school?
Yes, and he worked his way thru college. on another point, 47% do not pay any federal income tax. Would like to see someone do an analysis of the voting patterns of the 47% vs voting by the 53%. Don't think there would be too many surprises. Also one should look at the map of the country's congrssional districts held by each party
I don't understand why anyone has to compromise or get on common ground to start cutting. The GAO just handed both sides a place to start cutting billions and not have any ill effect on a soul except the ones that hold those duplicate jobs. Everyone is making this much harder than it needs to be. Both sides agree that we have to cut back. The President spent a year and untold dollars on his Debt Commission.We need to see some results and use some of their suggestions, or were they just a delaying tactic.
At some point they will have to hit the three biggies but they need to just start somewhere and get us started in the other direction.
Please bring back the Clinton era take levels and quit playing these games. Then do away with the 46 billion tax subsidies that the tax payers give big oil in which no Republican in the house voted to do.
Anybody that supports these Republicans policies needs their head examined.
What a terrific post. I guess we will get to see which God the GOP really worships. Money or Christ.
Speaker Boner ( sp intentional) blinked. Nothing else is of significance he blinked and Obama has the upper hand, think what you will...he blinked first.
How can anyone expect two political parties to work cooperatively when the ultimate goal is for one to defeat the other?
What's more, why does the media speak as if that is what they should be doing?
And this guy is a 'leader' of our country? The shame!