Democrats Prepare To Pounce On House GOP Budget

[highplainsdem]

Source: TPM

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) has identified a huge dilemma facing House Republicans and is preparing Democrats to isolate them no matter which horn of it they choose.

It stems from a promise GOP leaders made to angry rank-and-file members earlier this year, when they relinquished the fight over increasing the debt limit. House Republicans, they pledged, would advance a budget that reaches balance within 10 years, without violating any deeply held Republican principles.

That makes for a fine sound bite, but executing such a promise will be painful. Previous GOP budgets have been politically damaging to the party as a whole, and they didn’t zero out deficits for decades. Now, if they intend keep their prior commitments to not increasing taxes, increasing defense funding, and leaving retirement programs untouched for everybody over the age of 55, they’ll have to squeeze incredibly economically and politically damaging cuts into a much shorter time frame.

-snip-

“We don’t yet know the details of House Republicans’ updated budget plan, but assuming they keep their promises, we have a good idea about what to expect,” Murray writes. “Because they have boxed off so much of the federal budget, House Republicans will have to resort to gimmicks or make deep, extreme cuts to programs that impact families, seniors and our long-term economic strength.”

-snip-

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/03/democrats-prepare-to-pounce-on-house-gop-budget.php

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TPM's Brian Beutler posted the entire memo from Patty Murray here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/127953315/Patty-Murray-Blisters-Paul-Ryan-In-Budget-Memo

[Iliyah]

1. What the GOPpers didn't keep their promise?

Sacrilegious!

[olddad56]

8. they probably will keep their promises...

to the fascist corporations and billionaires that they sold their souls to.

[Thinkingabout]

2. Just how do they plan to increase republican ways, that is the current problem.

If they would change the current prescription plan for seniors and make it like the VA plan, dollars would be saved but they would be cutting off the big contributors they enjoy. If they was interested in balancing the budget they would reform the tax codes and end the tax loop holes. They are only interested in remaining a do nothing Congress, continue their vacations and drawing their pay. They have enjoyed the TP running as Republicans and now do not know bow to control their failed crop.

[BlueStreak]

3. This sequester will INCREASE the deficit because it tanks the economy

Let's hope the CBO is allowed to do honest economic analysis on that.

[burnsei sensei]

9. And that's the truth none of them want to hear.

Bill Clinton raised taxes and the economy grew.
The economy grew such that it recovered from the Republican spending binges of the Reagan and Bush eras.
Not knowing that, or refusing to think about it, doesn't stop it from being true.
In the mid-20th century, the rich were taxed at a rate of greater than 50%.
The economy and financial sector were regulated to the hilt.
And we were prosperous! Explain that!
Maybe the "liberal" policy is the wiser.

[blkmusclmachine]

4. POUNCE

[Thor_MN]

5. Republican plan. If you are 45-55 and not part of the one percent

please report to the liquidation centers for last day.

[Zorro]

6. Deny government benefits to every registered Republican

Wouldn't that reduce the deficit and balance the budget?

[IrishAyes]

11. Well,

It would certainly reduce the number of Republicans. Sounds like a plan!

[Pancho Schneider]

7. Their silliest budgets are a reason why they don't win elections

Voters don't want spending on important programs cut, as the GOP always wants.

[Rain Mcloud]

10. Paul Ryan will save the day.

The Koch's,Adelson,Trumpf and Limbaugh will provide the bulk then Ryan will fill in the details and take the credit,again.

[truebluegreen]

12. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch.