White House, GOP To Delay Controversial Deficit-Cut Ideas Past Elections

[SecularMotion]

Source: NPR

If a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, agreements to raise the federal debt ceiling and on deficit reduction start with a Thursday White House meeting, the first of likely many between Vice President Biden and a bipartisan group of lawmakers.

Most immediately, the White House and lawmakers need to agree on raising the debt limit so the nation doesn't default for the first time in its history on its financial obligations.

Congressional Republicans have insisted for weeks that any vote to increase that ceiling be tied to real reductions in federal spending with some GOP lawmakers saying they would refuse to vote for a ceiling increase without a guarantee of budget cuts.

The Wall Street Journal reports that one way policymakers see of getting to yes, at least on raising the debt ceiling, is for the Obama White House and congressional Republicans to agree to defer controversial ideas for deficit reduction, such as profound changes to entitlement programs like Medicare, until after the 2012 general election.

Read more: http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2011/05/05/136017397/white-house-gop-to-delay-controversial-deficit-cut-ideas-past-elections?ft=3&f=136023608

[Atman]

1. Fuckers.

Good freakin' lord. Politics ahead of policy. We NEED THIS ISSUE SOLVED. We, the Dems, are in a position to control this debate, and once again we're allowing the Republicans to call the shots for their own political gain. Once the 2012 election is stolen, there will be nothing stopping Republicans from eviscerating every social program on the books.

Once again, the Democratic party saddens me so. Spine. That's all I want, is to see some SPINE.

.

[PurityOfEssence]

2. Maybe fifteen cents worth of difference, but that's it, TOPS.

Cowardice and corporatism, cockiness and culpability.

Yay. He wants a second term.

[Hotler]

3. Both parties have the same goal....

in mind, corporate control. Where they differ is how to get there.

[gkhouston]

4. So they've decided to screw us. Nice. n/t