Tonight’s question, greetings, and banter here. (More)
Today President Obama called for “a smaller package of spending cuts and tax reforms that would delay the economically damaging effects of the sequester for a few more months until Congress finds a way to replace these cuts with a smarter solution.” This came as the CBO announced that austerity budgets have already hurt the economic recovery, while Senate Republicans proposed to replace defense cuts with federal workforce attrition. Will Congress pass a balanced package to avoid the 2011 Budget Control Act’s sequester mandates?
February 5, 2013 at 6:01 pm
Today on Campus
Morning Feature – Winning Progressive with The NFL and Progressive Values
Furthermore! – Jim W with Will You Be Ideal at 80?
Midday Matinee – Tuesday’s Tale: Ancient Carnaubans
February 5, 2013 at 6:08 pm
If President Obama proposed it, the Republicans are against it. I see no fix for the inactive Congress. Thanks to our Five Fine Democrats the filibuster will reign. The House will not move. Nothing will be done in 2013.
February 5, 2013 at 6:09 pm
Given the panic they’re in over the sequester cuts for defense, I think they’ll come up with something.
I also notice that Cantor is starting to do a song-and-dance shuffle around immigration. Apparently the idea that they’re going to permanently lose a big block of voters (not that they had them, mind you) is scaring him.
February 5, 2013 at 6:31 pm
The GOP thinks they have fine ideas just bad messaging. I see Cantor as the latest GOPer to give a ‘big speech’ as if he’s auditioning for the next ‘messenger in chief’. The big guys and the wannabe big guys are all trying out. Most of the audience is yawning.
February 5, 2013 at 6:23 pm
McCain, Graham and Ayotte…
Am I the only one that cringes when I see Republicans talking about ‘common sense’ ?
I wish Washington would listen to the CBO and wait until we have a stronger recovery, lower unemployment, and more grow before we go all in on commonsense austerity.
February 5, 2013 at 7:54 pm
I think Congress will muddle along without any clear, long-term solution … because their incentives favor muddling along. It reminds me of Winston Churchill’s famous quote: “America can always be counted on to do the right thing, after she has exhausted every other possibility.”