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Subscribe to RSS“With budget talks deadlocked, House Republicans drafted a one-week bill last night to cut spending by $12 billion, fully fund the Pentagon, and avert a government shutdown threatened for Friday. At the same time, they disclosed plans to instruct lawmakers ‘on how the House would operate in the event Senate Democrats shut down the government,’” the AP reports. “The display of brinksmanship came at the end of a day marked by increasing acrimony in budget negotiations, and drew a sarcastic response from Democrats. ‘House Republicans should focus on negotiating, not planning dress rehearsals for a shutdown that the Tea Party so desires,’ said Jon Summers, a spokesman for Senate majority leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.”
More: “A one-week measure that contains an additional $12 billion would presumably be reassuring to Tea Party-backed lawmakers, who are among the most vocal in seeking to reduce the size and scope of the government. It would also be difficult for most Democrats to support. But by including the money the Pentagon needs for the next six months, Republicans hoped to increase the pressure on them.”
The short-term CR, however, “includes a controversial abortion rider,” Roll Call notes. The bill “would prohibit the District of Columbia government from using federal or local funds to pay for abortions for low-income women.”
NBC’s Shawna Thomas quotes a GOP aide: "Senate Democrats and the White House don't get serious about passing a funding bill for the rest of the year that will really cut spending and help end the uncertainty that makes it harder to create American jobs."
There’s some fatigue among House Republicans on the CR debate: “GOP lawmakers and aides said that while they are not ready to abandon the fight over a six-month continuing resolution, they are nevertheless itching to take up other issues, including a new budget bill, the debt limit, gas prices and the situation in Libya,” Roll Call reports.
What’s behind this? A GOP source tells The Hill: Boehner “said he needs this [the as-of-yet-introduced bill] and the support of the conference going into that meeting at the White House, because he feels it gives him more leverage.”
Meanwhile, Roll Call says “House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan’s bold new budget blueprint could not have come at a more opportune time for Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who will have to sell conservatives on a compromise with Senate Democrats and the White House to keep the government operating past Friday.” The paper makes this point: Ryan’s plan “could help Boehner convince his Conference that now is the time to cut a deal — even if it means compromising with Democrats on spending and policy riders.”
The Hill calls this “a defining moment” for Ryan. “Ryan must now sell his plan to two distinct audiences: fellow conservatives and then the wider public.”
Red State’s Erickson wrote this on Twitter: “Having read what Paul Ryan is proposing, I really like it. But I think it should be where we want to end negotiations, not begin them.” And then: “It's official. I must now hate the Paul Ryan budget. David Brooks is in love with it.”
Brooks calls it “the most comprehensive and most courageous budget reform proposal any of us have seen in our lifetimes. Ryan is expected to leap into the vacuum left by the president’s passivity… His proposal will set the standard of seriousness for anybody who wants to play in this discussion. It will become the 2012 Republican platform, no matter who is the nominee.”
(Question: If Ryan’s proposal sets the standard of seriousness, why didn’t Ryan back the equally serious -- and more bipartisan -- Deficit Commission recommendations?)
“Forty-one senators have pledged to filibuster any bipartisan spending bill that includes an amendment to strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood, threatening an impasse with House conservatives,” The Hill writes.
Jim DeMint says, “Republican lawmakers need to be willing to risk their political careers to win support for a balanced-budget amendment,” per The Hill.
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Deadlocked. Middle class slaughter postponed.
Really,
Tell me how the middle class is getting slaughtered?
BigBear62
Because your a Bigbear coming to eat us all up. that's why. just like your favoured tax breaks for oil companies, the super rich, companies shipping jobs overseas. hey, you Bigear62, in your world, the financial melt down was caused by the middle class hence, slaughter them. why don't you think for a second, and see if you revise these tax cuts and close tax loopholes to see if we'll still be in red. why are all your cuts revolving around programs that benefits the middle class. hey, all these tax cuts from 2001, 2003 and recently were never paid for. how about that big bigbear62. just thinking aloud.......
How do you pay for something you never had to start with? You people never stop making me laugh that is like saying Hey I am going to get a raise next week so lets go spend the money now and then when next week comes you don't get what you thought you were going to get and now you are left with a big bill
Pius Emeka Nebo,
I am guessing that you haven't read many of my posts. I am in favor of cutting lots of things, and I am sure that many will agree, although conservative in some areas, moderate in others. But I just don't see the "slaughter" of the middle class.
Tax extensions by our President--keep my middle class taxes from going up 5%, while the rich, who pay most of the federal income taxes into the federal government, theirs would have only gone up 3%. And the lowest tax bracket would have gone from 10% to 15%--another 5% increase--on those poor souls who make the least, but would have gotten hit harder.
I have stated on here many times that we should reform the tax code--flat tax everyone--even @ 17% the federal government would have brought in more than $15 billion more in 2009. Rid ourselves of tax deductions.
Why does our current President increase a budget, during a recession? Why are we sending over $40 billion in foreign aid, yet we have 9% unemployment. Why does everyone shy away from reforming SS, Medicaid/Medicare? Don't want to hurt any old person's feelings? SS needs to be a "get-out" what you "pay in" program, because this ponzi scheme won't last forever without either raising taxes or cutting people.
I don't have a problem with cutting subsidies to oil companies and farmers. I don't have a problem with cutting money to "cowboy poetry readings" and "marsh mouses". In fact, on here, I have advocated that all federal employees--non fighting military employees--should take a 5% cut in pay until unemployment is under 5%.
But what I find funny is that fact that you think that only the rich get lucky with tax cuts--They got an extra 3% back from all the different tax cuts, while the middle class was getting close to 5% back. As a middle class individual--I am more than happy keeping an extra 5% of my income--and hope I can turn that into wealth.
But while you are at it, will you complain that Warren Buffet pays less taxes than his administrative assistant, or that Bruce Springsteen claims his mansions acreage is farmland so he doesn't have to pay more property taxes--which fund schools.
BigBear 62
well said. my aim is to see an even playing ground. as a middle class myself, i hope to turn mine into wealth also. but, i don't mind to pay more if need be. that's what make america unique. these corporations are gaming the systems. look at wall street and their recklessness. we were made to pay for their unrepentant habits. the issue of taxation in this country need to be trashed out once and for all.
this is an economy that's just getting back on its feet and yet people are calling for irresponsible cuts that will undermine the gains made. it's just like saying lets starve the sick. i believe we need to spend more on infrastructure, researches, education areas that will not undermine our status globally.
not just warren buffet, j. mcCain even said the 2003 tax cut was against his conscience. who benefited from those tax cuts? why must we let coporations out of these rebuilding? if everybody is going to the barber, we all go.
Pius Emeka Nebo,
I think our biggest problem is that "I mind" paying more because it takes away from my family, so that I can support others. Whether it be welfare for those who refuse to work, or welfare for corporations.
If corporations are allowed to contribute to political parties like individuals, then they should be taxed like individuals. But there needs to be a "fair" tax. Not just a tax to allow more government spending. And money from certain taxes needs to be predetermined. Such as gas taxes should be spent solely on infrastructure and finding new energy sources.
Because the right-wing politician is an ideologue, just like his Tea Party brethen. He isn't interested in good government, only in fulfilling his Ayn Rand fantasies.
And abortion has what to do with jobs?... it's why the GOP will loose big time in 2012.... you are losing the backing of independents....
And abortion has what to do with jobs?.
The same thing that plastering "In God We Trust" on every federal building has to do with jobs. Republican have no answers so they wast time on non issues.
Well we could lose a few jobs in the medical field if we do away with abortions.
Big Bear:
Who the HELL are you to decide what a woman can and cannot do with her body?!?!?!?!?
Kevin,
Quit drinking the Kool Aid dawg.
The question was "what does abortion have to do with jobs"?
I answered that we could lose jobs in the medical field if we do away with abortions.
I was stating an economic fact--not deciding what a woman can do with her body. Maybe you should learn to READ the sentence prior to judging people and using inflammatory language.
Republicans are doing everything in their power to shut down the government. Doing it by making sure anti planned parenthood or anti-abortion language is included so that no one on the left will agree with including Senator Brown. This is deliberate. Better start seeing them for what they are and leave the Senate open until a budget is negotiated and approved of and leave it at Boehner's feet by Friday.
At least they have passed a bill the Democrats have yet to do anything that even looks like a bill. Why hasn't Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats put together a bill so they have something to negotiate on instead they keep saying it is the Republicans When it is them that have no plan just throw money at it
I am gonna agree with openmind on this one Ana,
Where is the senate bill, so that the bills can go to a joint conference committee and compromises can come of it?
Why should Americans have to accept $1.6 trillion dollars of new debt? Why can't our President cut programs/spending, reform the tax codes to raise revenue?
I find that the problem with the liberals is, it is their way or no way. There is no compromising in today's politics, which is why we are in this mess.
BigBear62
there you go. the liberals are a constituent with needs and wants too just like the conservatives. just like the mandate giving to conservatives by teabaggers, so is a mandate giving to liberals by their wards.
oh, we should all see from a conservative lens......is that what made us unique? this is politics and reprentatives fight for their wards and that is a realistic way in which we leave our lives. this is where we share what goes to who. compromise should be a two way affair and not one way.
Pius Emeka Nebo,
I do believe that is what has made us unique--hard work, education, and innovation is what made this country what it is today. Not the "Nanny State" that many on the left wish to have.
I pose a question to you.
Is college a privilege or a right?
Higher Education is an absolute right for anyone who wants to attend. Even the homeless person without a roof on their head who wants to learn. Only this way do we become a civilized nation again. Right now we seem to have lots of buffoons in public office trying to arrange a Plutocracy.
So Ana,
We the taxpayers should have the burden of educating more people because someone chooses to attend a college? How many years of free education is someone allowed? Is 13-14 not enough already?
Pre-K through 12th grade seems like a lot. Those that make the grade and want to, already attend college. Everyone has the right to attend college--I will agree--but on their own dime, not the taxpayers.
bigbear62
There is nothing wrong with the tax code the way it was designed, the more you make the more you pay. but when you reduce the percentage of income you pay taxes on then you reduce revenue and therefore the goernment strugles, the middle class dies, and the rich, why they sing all the way to the bank! and because they pay less they have more money to buy senators and reps and keep things the way they are.
thomas jefferson designed the progressive tax rate to make sure ALL men had an equal say in goverrnment, and to keep money from controlling government, but there are so many who buy into this deficit crap, or abortion crap, or fear crap. these are the republican party puppet masters mantra: "KEEP GOVERNMENT OFF BALANCE SO NOTHING EVER TAKES PLACE"
KR,
Nothing wrong with the tax code? Then how does Warren Buffet go on national TV and tell the world that he pays less in income taxes than this administrative assistant?
Everyone on here complains the rich don't pay enough, yet the top 5% pay more in income taxes than the other 95% total.
I do believe the more you make, the more you should pay in taxes. I believe in a flat tax rate for everyone--same percentage. Everyone would then pay their "fair" share based on that percentage.
And this "middle class dying" that is fear mongering by the liberals in congress. The rich do buy our congressional leaders, another reason we need term limitations for them. Because goodness knows that we wouldn't want the leader of the Ways & Means Committee during the last congress to know anything about taxes. Considering that he only didn't pay taxes on his rental for 17 years!!!
As far as Thomas Jefferson is concerned--he was anti-big government. But in reality--the first income tax in the US was in 1861--almost 40 years after Jefferson's Death. During the American Civil War. And income taxes in this country did not become permanent until 1913 with the passing of the 16th amendment.
And to top it off, our progressive tax rate to make sure ALL men have an equal say--well do the 47% that did not pay taxes last year--should they get a say in government? And remember a person on welfare is a person who votes Democrat--so who are the real puppet masters?
I have no doubt that Congressman Ryan was pushed to gamble this proposal to secure campaign contributions pledges from the health care industry, which will greatly profit from his proposal. Medicare recipients will be faced with drastic health care insurer refusals of medical services. At the same time the States will take the political backlash for being forced to cut Medicaid coverage. Health care providers will be cutting services for both Medicare and Medicaid recipients, so the question will become, what is better, Obama Care or Ryan Care. This will be political suidcide for Ryan and a windfall of votes for Obama.
there is no longer any middle class, the dems take from us and give to the poor the reps. take frm us and give to the rich
I hope that the President will go on prime time TV and make the case for the need to get this budget passed.
By doing so, hopefully the Republican-Tea Baggers will fall in line and stop playing their games.