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Subscribe to RSSThe New York Times: “With Republicans and Democrats still deeply divided over how to shrink the budget deficit and the national debt, the only way for them to avoid a financial crisis at this late date may be to perform a legislative magic trick. The idea, conjured by Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, would allow Republicans to accede to an increase in the government’s debt limit without actually voting for it or giving in to President Obama’s demand for tax increases as part of any deal.”
But before turning to McConnell’s maneuver… “The House will vote on a ‘cut, cap and balance’ plan to let the government borrow another $2.4 trillion - but only after big and immediate spending cuts and adoption by Congress of a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget,” the AP says. “The plan is doomed in the Democratic-controlled Senate, and the White House has promised a veto.”
The Washington Post adds that Democrats "hope that the cut, cap and balance measure will convince House Republicans that they need to sign on to the Senate compromise.”
In a blog post on the White House’s Web site, economic adviser Jason Furman responded to the “Cut, Cap, and Balance” measure this way: “[I]t is critical that we not bring down our deficits and debt at the expense of economic growth, innovation and job creation, or place the greatest burden on older Americans and the most vulnerable. That is precisely what the House’s Cut, Cap and Balance plan would do – a proposal that White House Press Secretary Jay Carney described as ‘duck, dodge and dismantle.’”
The Energy Department emails First Read, “Secretary Chu is launching a new DOE-Ad Council [Public Service Announcement] campaign built around the slogan ‘Saving Energy Saves You Money.’ It highlights the little things people can do to make their homes more comfortable and save money in the process. It’ll feature two TV spots, a radio spot, billboards, and internet ads that direct people to www.EnergySavers.gov for helpful tips on how to save money by saving energy.”
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To put yourself on record as being for or against this piece of legislation that will never become law is simply a waste of time. Why not get some legislation written and debated based on the Bowles-Simpson recommendations and put it up for a straight up or down vote.
This is simply cheap political theater for self serving politicians to cut campaign commercials for 2012. It is disgraceful that our elected representatives will stoop to this kind of crass, cynical stunt in a time of crisis.
The system is broken. And the proof is in this "cut, cap, and balance" charade.
It is a sad day for the USA.
Ira, I am afraid a straight up and down vote is becoming a thing of the past. It only happens on a non binding resolutions lately.
White House spokesman Jay Carney has come up with his own name for the GOP fiscal plan; "Duck, Dodge and Dismantle."
It would certainly be refreshing if the President's press secretary could act like a grown-up and not refer to things he knows nothing about until he has read them. Instead of being the pompass ass that he is, maybe he could clue in the citizens of this wonderful country, just exactly what he means when he says "the president says everything is on the table" Well the President can say that all day long, the House democrat and Senate democrats have already said that they would not vote for anything that changes Medicare, SSN, or Medicare. Uhmmmm makes me wonder how the democrats are being any different than the republicans. This FACT has just proven that the president can't deliver any cuts to any programs so he should quit saying that he can.
For over two years now, the democrats in the senate have refused to produce any type of budget. The repubicans did produce and vote on a budget that was sent to the senate, but the democratic leadership refuses to even bring it to the floor for a vote. Reid has even been quoted as saying "there is no reason to vote on the budget, we know it won't pass" Well put it to a vote, let it fail, then the house and the senate could do what they are paid to do, GOVERN and compromise. The democrats in the senate refusing to do their job is getting very very old. Democrats keep saying we won't tell you what we will cut, and Republicans won't raise any taxes, Lord help us, this country is doomed.
This is just a dog and pony show for the benefit of the House Republicans just before their total capitulation to pass the McConnell bill. More proof that Republicans are frauds and liars when it comes to cutting the budget deficit as they would rather have this dog and pony show instead of $4 trillion in deficit cuts.
Job1,
Well...that's why Carney is just a mouthpiece...adding more noise to the issue...
Al,
It would be a cold day in h*ll before your blue bloods ever gave up $4 trillion in cuts. That was just Obama-speak with no specific details...just something to get a good sound bite and act like he was serious about cuts...
I think it would make a great commercial for our POTUS "The Republicans gave up on America and refused to make the hard decisions to prevent harm to the people of our nation, I was left to implement an increase in the debt ceiling increase, I increased it to avert a serious fiscal calamity. This is a clear difference between how to govern for the best interest of our nation, I will never give up on our citizens and I will always do the best I can, for you and America!
So Ira, why did obama run away from the debt commission report?
ET AL. please spare us on how it needed a 75% approval to go forward. Also with the obama tax cuts scheduled to end after 2012 the argument for wanting tax increases is also lame.
BTW Ira, my personal view on a balanced budget at the federal level is that it would not be practical. What about wars? What about natural disasters? What about global recessions? Hard to plan for such events at the federal level.
I'm glad to see conservation FINALLY being raised as a way to deal with the cost of energy. For too long, Americans have revelled in wastefulness as if it were their God-given "right."
Its about time. I live in a very red state and I've noticed that "working class" conservatives here are beginning to learn the value of energy conservation. They are taking advantage of tax credits to make their homes more energy efficient; are buying more fuel efficent cars while municipalities are making it easier for citizens to recycle and dispose of pollutants in an evironmentally responsible way.
KRT- they should be commended.
Instead, idiots like Limbaugh call them 'tree-hugers' and 'environmental terrorists' or 'environmental whack-os'. Then, they bitch about what we are leaving our kids and grand kids, but ONLY if the subject is of a monetary nature.
drive-by: Excellent point! But the irony is that conservatives are becoming more responsible out of concerns for their pocket-book, not because they are growing more evnironmentally conscious. There is still a huge anti-environmental (anti-EPA) contingent in conservative areas. Thus, bringing in another irony, the EPA contracts most of its analytical, field sampling and remediation planning to private environmental companies, so if the GOTP gets its way, funding cuts to the EPA (to end the EPA is what they actually want) will result in the loss of tens of thousands of private sector jobs.
tch, tch tch... The idea that any type of conservation as being solely a liberal ideal is ludicrous.
KRT - hmmmm you said...
Thank you very much for presenting the case that the EPA can be greatly reduced in size since the core work is done by the private sector.
AmyB, can't disagree, as I have also wondered why Americans have to always have the latest, greatest toys.
american- I agree what you say about conservation, but the difference between liberal and conservative perspective on conservation are at opposite ends of the spectrum. However, I do believe that the idea to rape Mother Earth for profit is solely a conservative approach.
The EPA will do what it always does when faced with budget cuts; cut the private sector contracts and hire entry level techs and scientists to perform the core work.
never, ever trust a republican fascist!
The President and the GOP leaders of the congress have a workable plan that would stabilize the US debt, and could raise the debt limit in a responsible way, today.
This is the same plan the GOP put forth only a few months ago.
The only exception is that the President is asking the wealthy top two to three percent of the population’s tax credit installed by the Bush administration be nullified.
The wealthy paid it before and could very easily pay it again.
The fact is not one single wealthy tax payer in this tax bracket is saying anything to the contrary. Not one.
The only ones saying anything are people who could only whish they made 250 thousand dollars or more a year.
So if the wealthy who can pay are not crying about it, why is it that this is a issue at all?
Stop dreaming you make 250k or more a year, and get out of the way so the Politian’s can wrap this up and get on with creating more jobs.
Let me - the cuts expire at the end of 2012, we know it is coming, the libs know it is coming and the right knows it is coming.
In less than 18 months the taxe rates automatically will end. Why can't obama and company realize it and publish their $ 3 + trillion in cuts? We all know that spending cuts will not be implimented immediately or that the tax revenues will either.
american-2051576
I can’t argue with you, it has been several years since I was in this tax bracket, you sound like you probably are.
I ask only this, you say they are set to expire at the end of 2012, that’s a little over a year.
My questions is “Is it automatic?”… the reason I ask is I seem to remember the credits were supposed to expire last year, and the GOP lead congress forced an extension through.
If … I am correct then it would not be unreasonable to put some concrete into that agreement now so that it cannot be extended next year.
This is all politics from both parties. Democrats know that spending on entitlements need to be reformed I f they are still going to be there in a few years and Republican realize tax increases will happen. The Democrats don’t really care id entitlements are cut, but want to insure the public perception puts the blame on conservative and also the Republican realize tax increases are needed, but want the blame on Democrats. Neither party will give in unless they get the max political points.
Isn't political theatre fascinating!
WHY would this person want to advertise for the public to save money on their energy bills? Cause then when the energy bills go down, there won't be so much heartache when the tax man cometh!!!! You'll have left over money from your energy bill to pay him.