We got word this afternoon that Harry Reid supports the GOP/Obama deal:
“Senator Reid has signed off on the debt-ceiling agreement pending caucus approval. ”
TPM’s Brian Beutler has a detailed rundown of what the latest deal entails. There are lots of cuts, a Super Congress committee and “enforcement mechanisms.” This paragraph cracks me up:
Democrats say they’re confident that the enforcement mechanism is robust enough to convince Democrats and Republicans to deal fairly on the committee — to come up with a somewhat balanced package of entitlement reforms and tax increases. However, the White House assures them that if the committee fails to produce “tax reform” he will veto any attempt to extend the Bush tax cuts, which expire at the end of next year.
Seriously? Democrats expect GOPers to come up with a “balanced package.” What planet do they live on? And, I have the sense that a veto threat from Obama doesn’t exactly scare Republicans. They’ve already rolled him repeatedly.
No doubt, the Democratic Senate caucus will go along. That’s what they do. Senator Sanders isn’t on board. Via press release:
“The Republicans have been absolutely determined to make certain that the rich and large corporations not contribute one penny for deficit reduction, and that all of the sacrifice comes from the middle class and working families in terms of cuts in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, LIHEAP, community health centers, education, Head Start, nutrition, MILC, affordable housing and many other vitally important programs.“I cannot support legislation like the Reid proposal which balances the budget on the backs of struggling Americans while not requiring one penny of sacrifice from the wealthiest people in our country. That is not only grotesquely immoral, it is bad economic policy.”
It is grotesquely immoral. It is bad economic policy.
So, will Sanders back up these words with action? Every Senator has great power. Remember what Bunning did last year on unemployment.
Suffice it to say, the GOPers won. Big. Expect to hear some crowing from Dems. about minor little victories. We’ll hear lots of spin and boasting. Overall, we’re seeing a GOP package. Have to hand it to them, they know how to use their power. Too bad Democrats only control the White House and the Senate.
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