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Subscribe to RSSJohn Boehner makes a new offer to President Obama in hopes of reaching a deal to resolve the impending fiscal cliff. NBC's Kristen Welker reports.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) sent a new offer on Tuesday afternoon to President Barack Obama in hopes of reaching a deal to resolve the impending fiscal cliff.
Specific details are scarce, but the proposal apparently was made as a counter-offer to something the White House had proposed over the last few days. A GOP aide said the White House plan offered $1.4 trillion in new revenue, but the GOP still not moved from offering $800 billion in revenue.
Boehner spokesman Michael Steel told NBC News the following:
"We sent the White House a counter-offer that would achieve tax and entitlement reform to solve our looming debt crisis and create more American jobs. As the Speaker said today, we're still waiting for the White House to identify what spending cuts the president is willing to make as part of the "balanced approach" he promised the American people. The longer the White House slow-walks this process, the closer our economy gets to the fiscal cliff."
Speaker of the House John Boehner provides an update on the fiscal cliff negotiations, placing pressure on the White House to reveal how they intend to compromise with House Republicans on spending cuts.
Since this is a new offer, it’s assumed to be different from the one put forward last week by the GOP that called for $800 billion dollars in new revenue through closing tax loopholes and deductions, along with an additional $600 billion in savings through cuts to entitlements.
A GOP aide opined to NBC News that the president must move more quickly on “the spending side” before any deal could hope to be accomplished. A major sticking point to date has involved how much ground Republicans would give on tax rates for the wealthy.
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It's becoming obvious that the president won't be able to get a deal because Boehner has no ability to control his caucus. We will go over the cliff and the republican party will finally get the message from the American people. They don't seem to realize they got trounced in the election.
Where was the "trouncing"? The President won by a considerably narrower margin in 2012 than 2008 and the House hardly changed any! If there has been an electoral "trouncing" lately, it was the decisive Republican win in the off-year elections in 2010. His "mandate" is as inflated as his ego is!!
LOL. The GOP are a waste. Bitching about entitlements but want to keep tax entitlements for the wealthy. Sad lot of losers.
I just love people with real facts ! Share with us where you got them from.
obviously dal-you don't understand govt terms and definitions
Entitlement is a legal definition in government terms
Entitlement authority has been defined as “authority to make payments (including loans and grants) for which budget authority is not provided in advance by appropriation acts to any person or government if, under the provisions of the law containing such authority, the government is obligated to make the payments to persons or governments who meet the requirements established by law.”
Budget authority is the authority provided by law to enter into obligations that will result in immediate or future outlays involving federal government funds.
Sections 202 and 223 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 402 and 423, state that every individual who meets the eligibility requirements set forth therein “shall be entitled” to an old age benefit and disability benefit, respectively
Social Security is a statutory entitlement program.
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid expenditures are funded by more permanent Congressional appropriations and so are considered mandatory spending. Social Security and Medicare are sometimes called "entitlements," because people meeting relevant eligibility requirements are legally entitled to benefits, although most pay taxes into these programs throughout their working lives. Some programs, such as Food Stamps, are appropriated entitlements
"Tax entitlements" now that's an oxymoron!...right up there with "central intelligence" or "Obamacare"
Don't you feel "entitled" to your benefits under Social Security after all of those years of paying in? I know I do, or will in just a few more years after paying in for nearly four decades, which will be about five by then. The thing is, if we don't reform it, it will go bust just about the time that I'll be pretty much unable to fend for myself (statistically) with the exhaustion of the "trust fund", and "paygo" will result in the reduction of benefits to me and my surviving fellow "boomers" of approximately 25%. They raised the retirement age on me by a year and a half thirty years ago, which wasn't all that unfair, with that long to make up for it. If we do it again now, it won't be all that unfair to people who are 20-35 now, either. We're going to have to tweak COLA computations, and, God forbid, perhaps even tax rates again. Too many people have been counting on it for too long to just pull the rug out from under them now, but that is what will be the result of those people who are pretending that it is sacrosanct and can never be changed at all by anyone at any time for any reason -- they are ensuring that it will go broke in the long run, presumably after they are dead or at least out of office.
President Obama, at this point, can hold out for 98-100% of what he wants. If the Fiscal Cliff is as bad as the GOP states that it is and we "go over this fiscal cliff;" The GOP will be held accountable for this impasse in terms of broad public policy.
The speaker knows this in spite of the leadership of the GOP. Never underestimate the power of denial.
LTC Rattus, USA, ret.
No he can't . According to the Constitution, all bills of revenue must originate in the House.
If Obama refuses to stop trying to steal from taxpayers, the House should pass a budget that reduces spending back to 2008 levels, limits annual increases to 2.5% and reduces taxes across the board by 20%.
If Obama and the other marxist Dem thugs in the Senate refuse, let the govt shut down. Obama cannot create revenue on his own.
I encourage Speaker Boehner to stand up to the totalitarian in the White House and let him know he's not a dictator yet.
AZZhole, we all know the truth. Obama does not want a deal. He wants to go over the cliff, but remember that the blame will shift. The glass debt ceiling on the National debt is just around the corner, and Obama will hold your grandmother and mine hostage for a deal there. It will be his fault that this is not fixed right now. His absence shows his true commitment to the American people. He has none, just to his Muslim Brotherhood. Ye shall be led like sheep to the slaughter, you all play your parts well. dum dum dum dum. Too late to change your ignorance at this point. Good luck since you will all lose everything, including the middle class. Omabacare will be another tax on the middle class we cant pay. And this country is so divided at this point there is a disaster that will come out of the power Obama wants. Look at his buddy in. Egypt, how long before he changes the constitution so he can remain in power forever, use chemical weapons on us, and send the military to kill Americans. He does not seem to care about Benghazi. He will throw anyone under the bus that gets in his way.
@ Larry Robinson-1323081
Steal??? Income tax is the law and its collection is definitely not stealing. The rates on the top 2% are at the low ends of the historical norm. Using the word Marxist is completely inappropriate. Please look up the definition. In a historical context Obama actually a tad right of center.
@ Vickery.
They actually manufacture meds to help people with your condition. This site is not for you. Go hang out with those other tin foil hats!
Larry Robinson,
Why all the anger and vitriol re: what I posted? Everybody should know that all calls for money originate in the House!
All I said is that President Obama has the power to make them yield ..........as an adequate number of them want to another term in the House.
That is just an obvious fact. Please do not direct your anger at me. I am not the occupant of The Whitehouse.
Presidential elections as well as a majority in The Senate have consequences. Think of it like this: All the Senate needs is a small number of GOP Reps. to break ranks. President Obama may be many things, however, he is no fool.
V/r,
LTC Rattus, USA, ret.
I am watching the history of mankind and the American revolution right now and I can't help but see many, many parallels of the individuals fighting for freedom against a government that is too intrusive government seem to mirror the goals of the tea party and the republicans. Those loyal to the crown sound like Obama supporters.
Haaaaaa, You must be watching an edited version if you think the American Revolution parallels the modern Tea Party movement and Republican obstructionism.
Wow, can you really be so ignorant?
Wait, don't answer that because you already have and any response will prove it further.
So you are saying the goal of the tea party is armed insurrection against America. Tell me, traitor... What flag will you be flying with you attack America?
the real traitors are liberals who have been at war with the Constitution and the principles of individual liberty for the past 100 years.
Disabled....So tell me where I am wrong. Over and over again, Americans were fighting to keep more control of their lives instead of having an intrusive government make all the decisions. The goals are very, very similar to the tea party. My guess is that you don't have a clue about the goals of the tea party. Remain ignorant if you want.
Holy c*&p. From which dark place did you pull that comment from?
I sleep just fine. I dont care what Obama does. He is sure to destroy this country and bring about a double dip recession. It is too bad that all of you democrats are too stupid to see it coming. What is with 8.5 billion dollars being a requirement for the fiscal cliff. Enough to run the government for a whole 8 days. What a joke, just as you libs are. Obama will never get anything he wants again from the House. He needs to be at the tables to negotiate. An absent President is a great leader I am sure you all stand behind whatever he does. Maybe he will take air force one for a ride to play some golf. Maybe Michelle will go on an extravagant vacation. You are all too stupid to see what you have done to yourselves. Lets wast a few m ore hundred billion on clean energy so they can go bankrupt just like 123 battery that China purchased yesterday after a bankruptcy. Obama is taking this country out of what could have been a great era, and creating a dismal future for us all. Oh by the way where is Detroit's bacon. What a way for a council woman to talk. Do they have educations in Detroit? The market will crash, the defense budget will be cut, and guess what else will go away, JOBS. Thats right, your savior will destroy what he has started just to prove he is all powerful, which by the way he is not. And the truth is politics dont include room for you and your families. When he crushes your job, he will apologize, but he will not ever think of you again, as long as all is going his way. He hides his failures by seizing other opportunities to detour the focus. Good luck idiots. You all belong to the next GREECE.
You truly belong to a different reality. Paranoia is actually curable. This past election was critical because who ever won it gets to ride the Obama recovery. Assuming no black swan events. And you bring Greece into the discussion? That to me is a red flag. The US in no way resembles Greece. Learn at least a little about economics.
Fiscal Cliff?? We're in deep debt?? I feel safe from attacks from our neighbor border friends in Mexico and Canada. Mostly when our Defense Budget is almost double over all other countries. But wait, we could be attacked by Canada and Mexico. Screw the debts, more money for the Defense Budgets. Just tell our little people we can't afford your medicare and social security. Yes, blame it on the baby boomers even though the politicians had 65 years to prepared for it.
As the world turns in our Congress.
deb, did you graduate junior high? I see you are an uneducated idiot. The middle east is here now. There are sleeper cells, as well as the al-Queda that will attack here again. Are you that naive to believe that any of us are safe with a diminished military? You and I and all Americans are in danger. China is building their military, and they are also economically stable. they own a great deal of this country already. So, do we sell them more? Soon they will not lend us anymore money and we will not have a country by default.
@ Vickery
And what do you base those statements on? Paranoia I assume. Please cite sources when posting outrageous assertions.
"Tax entitlements" now that's an oxymoron!
I don;'t care how much money anybodys got some are willing to pay more taxes. Guess which party?
I hope Boehner has the balls to go over the cliff !
Only if he keeps them in his mouth.
Why the focus on Boehner's balls?
How about the Federal Government raising the minimum wage to coincide more with the cost of living. It still allows all business, mine included to be competitive as the price for goods will rise or maybe to stay competitive the amount of profit we earn drops a little. I'm not saying that every entrepenuer doesn't have the right to make as much money as he or she can but ensuring their is enough money in people's pockets to buy the goods I'm or anyone else is pushing can't be a bad thing. The problem is that greed and shortsightedness has ruined this country. The "it's all about me" mantra has made companies off shore jobs, buy cheaper made products from other countries and turned us into a service oriented economy where Walmart and McDonald's are now considered good jobs instead of stepping stones. Where the hell did we go wrong I ask? Patriotism doesn't mean making sure we have the biggest sticks (military complex), it means making sure we continue to be the beacon of hope and prosperity. I'm saddened to see this country deteriorate to the levels we're in now, but without a properly functioning Federal Government that sees the importance of putting the needs of its people ahead of the needs of the very few and especially the needs of the corporations, I'm afraid this is the beginning of the end. The worst of it is all of you only see taxes and spending as the problem. We need to bring jobs back home and someone in Washington better have the gnads to fix the tax code to allow them back.
I agree but don't vadalize.
There is no Constitutional authority for a Federal Minimum wage. It should be eliminated.
As to paying people. I'm out to keep as much as I can, but I do pay my people (6 of them) 6 figure incomes. But they work as 1099 so that they can have the tax advantages.
Larry... I thought you said that you were a preacher. When did Obama start taxing your church?
my church is not my business nor my source of income. I've been a working pastor for 30 years. I've never taken a dime of salary from the ministry.
@ Larry R
No constitutional authority? And why would Congress and the POTUS need it? Seen any SCOTUS debate about the issue?
Scotus only debates based upon an appeal at a lower court. Our communist Democrats and Socialist Republicans have been happy to usurp the Constitution for the past 100 years.
Because Congress has no authority to enact laws outside of what is specifically authorized them in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.
And is that any concerne of yours. The Koch brothers give it to their heirs. The walmart heirs , the Mcdonald heirs. At lest they give it back to society to help not like Paris Hilton, and all the other scumbag republicans who only think about themselves. Guess what? That leaves your sorry as out. Just keep voting for them though.
Ever hear about loopholes to get around that pesky inheritance tax?
Boehner is in a tough position. If he doesn't hold out for the super rich, he will be in trouble with his big money donors, the tea party and Grover Norquist. If Boehner loses his job as speaker, maybe Michele Bachmann or Rand Paul could get elected.
It would have been funnier if you said he was in a rock hard position.
Your position is Interesting and for One Party...Thats what the American Voters want to see change...Who cares if they are pissed off...
Compromise my friend Compromise...
Its Bubba
against the brains You are starting to sound like a compassionate human being. Welcome to the demoocratic party.
When someone tells me,"This is the Way we've always dun it" I get so Pissed...It tells me they are Closed Minded and Complacent to create Wave...My Rule...
"Get the Hell Out of the WAy"...Change is good for All...Not just one Party...
Everyone Wins...
Its Bubba
I say take the plunge. Until Obama and Harry Reid demonstrate the cuts they are willing to accept simultaneously with the tax increases, Boehner shouldn't do a thing. It's a spending problem and that's the elephant in the room the Democrats are willing to ignore for political power. Eventually the elephant's going to poop and $hit will hit the fan.
What cuts and where willie?
How about taking ALL Gov't spending back to 2008 levels?
Obama wants taxes, he proposed taxes. If you want cuts, then propose cuts. Why should Obama negotiate against himself? I guess it has been so long that Republicans don't even remember how to negotiate.
Well, obviously you do not understand cause and effect. The House will be pounded against an anvil of their own creation. The expiration of the Bush tax cuts. If you cannot see that obvious outcome you were in all likelihood blindsided by Obama's victory.
Each day Boehner retains his job is a victory for the Democrats. Is it just me or is the GOP playing at Machiavellianism in an attempt to make the Elected leader of our country appear weak? The people have spoken and Congress didn't hear us. Who voted them back in anyway?
A lot of the same people who voted for Obama for President, apparently. The current situation would not be possible without a whole lot of "ticket splitting". Maybe they wanted "checks and balances" like the framers of the Constitution intended? I doubt many of them voted for this stupid piece of political theater, though.
And in the immortal words of Forrest Gump, "that's all I have to say about that," so, good night.
Funny...who voted Congress back in?? AHHH ..THE SAME ELECTION ..THE SAME IDIOTS THAT VOTED THIS GOD awful President back in office.
Cut Cut Cut Cut Cut Cut. until they all are under our power and work for peanuts and cocoa leaves to keep them working?
I know let's cut what made America a great nation that all other civilized societies copied and was the blueprint of a great nation.
Pure Donkey Crap Aus..............The problem was indentified in 1984 by a Democrat no less:
In 1984, then President Reagan charged the Grace Commission with the task of uncovering government waste and inefficiencies. The Commission made over 1000 recommendations to curb government waste and inefficiency. In his cover letter to the President, Peter Grace, a DEMOCRAT and now deceased, stated the following and I quote:
“Resistance to additional income taxes would be even more widespread if people were aware that:
That Congress and not one Congress since then ever enacted even one of the recommendations. As a result we have the debt to revenue crisis of today because the tax revenues are not being spent correctly.
The politicians ca not tell you what cuts have to be made and here is why. obama wants to raise taxes and he can cut spending only on the military and Medicare because the other cuts hurt his voters. The GOP cannot tell you what needs to be cut because they will be demonized by the liberal press and every bleeding heart progressive in the world. The real problem that are bankrupting us WELFARE SPENDING. Medicaid;extended unemployment; Food Stamps; school food programs; Energy subsidies for wind and solar; HUD; free cell phones; too many government workers making 50% more than private industry. That is what we will cut.
Let's start by cutting Congress salaries to zero, and then eliminate their staff and expenses. Why should we pay these buffoons when they don't do anything other than run for office.
That is the Republican way.
Let's cut it from those who spend their lifetime working and make them work more years so we can embellish the fruits of our mommies and dadies accomplisments and take advantage even more so we own it all.
Wrong......You are taking from those who spend a lifetime working to give to those that spend a lifetime trying to avoid work.
Austerity, you are arguing against a bunch of fanatics who cannot support there statements with facts. From my experience a non-trivial number of them actually work for conservative organizations. And you are right. Do we really need more Paris Hiltons?
But we need it tax free.
Bonner asking for something that both houses of Congress can approve, is like Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown. If Obama came back with the exact same proposal as Bonner had submitted, they would reject it and whine and cry how unreasonable it is. These morons have played this game too many times. They are Congress, let them come up with the plan. Cowards who don't believe in anything.
I agree the republicans have done this several times, but I think that Obama and his administration are guilty as well. Obama has played this many times and republicans are tired of trying to negotiate with someone who has no interest or desire to negotiate.
The material the republican party has is the same they had 120 years ago . Rape the American workers.
Where do you get your material from? Lenin? Stalin?
Don't be such an idiot. Use some common sense.
The Republicans seems to only be concerned with entitlements. They don't mention subsidies to big oil or defense spending or anything but Social Security (that has nothing to do with this debt) or Medicare. They have their sights set on entitlements and can't seem to think of anything but entitlements........as they always have.
The primary reason for that is that the subsides to big oil won't do anything. Several have mentioned defense that might actually do something. SS and Medicare are our biggest problem though and getting worse and worse every year. The other two things you mentioned are not structurally getting worse each year. And yes, we have been talking about the problems with those programs for years. Every year that passes proves that we are correct.
@ Put
Nothing proves you correct. Please post actual facts that support your argument. Opinions do not count. SS is funded well into the future, but could use some fine tuning. Medicare like wise. The budget problem will be fixed by increasing taxes, lowering entitlement spending, trimming the military and closing individual and corporate tax loopholes.
Still too early for the millionaire Congress actors to actually do something. Not enough drama yet. No matter what, will still be adding to the deficit, increasing poverty, increasing food stamps, increasing unemployment, decreasing medium wages, and reducing our GDP. Please discuss the trade agreements Congress.