(Barney) Frank wants 'grand bargain' to help economy move again

[sabra]

http://www2.townonline.com/brookline/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=617070

Frank wants 'grand bargain' to help economy move again

In the wake of Democratic victories in the midterm elections, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-4th, and soon-to-be chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, proposed a "grand bargain" between Democrats and Republicans on trade, immigration and the minimum wage in an effort to avoid legislative gridlock in the new session.

...

"We are in gridlock now in economic policy," Frank said at the meeting, which is part of the Chamber's ongoing Business Breakfast Series. "What I want to propose to the business community is a bargain."

Given the new political landscape, Frank called on Congress to reverse policy and open the doors to foreign investors. In addition, he said Democrats would also negotiate favorably with Republicans to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill if they addressed a growing inequality in the American workforce by raising the minimum wage.

"Direct foreign investment has always been a good thing, it creates jobs," he said. "Global economic integration and competition overall help economic growth; we need to engage with the rest of the world instead of rebuffing it."

[demnan]

1. Barney Frank is smart

Let's get the Republicans scared enough to vote for the things we want. Then later we can start the investigations. It's all a big game of poker. Don't come out on impeachment . . . yet.

[Vorta]

2. Go Barney! eom

[Wilber_Stool]

3. When you owe money and you can't pay it back

you have to sell some of your stuff. It really is that simple. When that Dubai deal fell through, that really pissed foreign investors off.

[Tiberius]

4. Did you see him on Bill Maher a few weeks ago?

He kicked total ass. And I'm proud to say I go to the polls and am able to vote for Mr. Frank in our congressional district.

[denverbill]

5. No. This is dumb. This is just the opposite of what needs to happen.

Why do we always have to cave in to Republican crap?

Clearly, most Americans want the minimum wage increased. Most Americans want middle class tax cuts preserved and the AMT fixed.

Why lump things that Democrats support together with stuff they don't want, like free trade deals and estate tax repeal?

Besides, the minimum wage increase does not 'address' the 'growing inequality' in the workforce. It affects a few workers in the lowest income brackets, but it won't alter the fact that CEO's earn 400 times more than the average worker.

If you are going to give Republicans something they want, you better be talking about getting universal national health care in return.

Geez, it was just yesterday or the day before Democrats were talking about not lumping shit together, so that issues get voted up or down on their own merits.

[KoKo]

7. More foreign investment in American Companies? I thought we were

cooking on all burners with that one. Our ports are now owned by foreign entity (we don't know if it's Dubai or whomever) and the Carlyle Group keeps buying up whatever it wants.

I'd need to see more of what he's getting at before I signed onto his program.

Minimum wage isn't going to help the job drain for our skilled workers unless one thinks a Ph.D who has been laid off will do better working for WalMart with an increase in the minimum wage.

We need a comprehensive growth package...but I guess we can only accomplish so much under two years of lame duck Bush. The country will have to sink into squalor before their's major attention on what we've lost and what "Globilization" is doing to us.

[denverbill]

9. I'd need more details too, but it doesn't change the principle.

The Republicans continually threw shit into bills that were needed (e.g., an internet gambling ban into the Port Security bill, or a minimum wage hike tied to permanently repealing the estate tax).

If a bill is needed, it should pass totally on its own merits. If Shrubby wants to veto bill after bill after bill and be an obstructionist, let him.

Why do we have to pass shitty legislation in order to get good legislation through? No wonder this country is such a mess.

[msongs]

8. maybe this is just posturing by franks, = "dems offered and repubs refused..."

and when the repubs refuse to cooperate, the dems will look good for having tried?

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Ian David]

6. Bipartisanship with Republicans is date-rape.

I trust Barney Frank to do the right thing, but I hope he works for THE COMMON GOOD, NOT COMMON GROUND!

[htuttle]

10. How about a fair deal instead of a grand bargain?

We've been dealt bad cards from the bottom of the deck for long time -- I want new cards and an honest dealer!

[Lexingtonian]

11. Barney is a smart guy

I'd take this seriously, even if it doesn't look so great on its face. He knows which measures will have a lasting effect and for whom, and which ones are just good bait.

[w4rma]

12. That's a stupid trade off. The minimum wage bill will pass without having to give anything up. (nt)

[mhatrw]

13. How about this deal?

We get what we want, and they get el zilcho.

[Cobalt-60]

17. an excellent plan

Screw them.

[DemBones DemBones]

14. We're the majority party now and we're going to give the GOP

things they want? This does not sound good.

[Jim Sagle]

15. He's a globalist. Fuck'm.

[provis99]

16. barney knows his stuff,

the way things are, is that the Democrats have the metaphorical gun aimed at Republican balls, so he's saying lets sit and smile and talk, while you look at this gun here!

[Katzenjammer]

18. "Open the door to foreign investors" == subsidize their profits while they buy the US

This is the kind of solution these guys always come up with--they sell us!