Defense Cuts Snarling Debt Agreement

[bloomington-lib]

Source: National Journal

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada has signed off a compromise proposal to raise the federal debt ceiling, but congressional aides said on Sunday evening that a late push by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to reduce defense cuts that the measure would force is a key remaining hurdle to an agreement.

Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson said Reid “has signed off on the debt-ceiling agreement pending caucus approval,” as Democrats appeared to be trying to turn up pressure on Boehner. No briefings for either Democratic or Republican House or Senate members have yet been scheduled.

Two congressional aides said Boehner is holding out to reduce roughly $350 billion in cuts to defense spending that would be part of an initial $900 billion in deficit cuts tied to a debt ceiling increase of a similar amount. Boehner also is refusing to agree to an even split between cuts to defense and other spending that would be triggered if Congress failed to enact a deficit reduction plan produced by a special congressional committee or doesn't pass a balanced budget amendment, the aides said. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has left negotiations on defense spending to Boehner, staffers in both parties said. A Democratic congressional aide said McConnell had also signed off on the deal. McConnell spokesman Don Stewart would not confirm the senator had agreed.

Congressional aides said Democrats also want Social Security and Medicaid exempted from the cuts imposed if Congress cannot act on a plan from the special committee. The cuts also could be applied to Medicare providers and insurers, rather than beneficiaries, the aides said.

Read more: http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/defense-cuts-snarling-debt-agreement-20110731

[Me.]

1. That's It...No Deal

Enough is enough. Go for the 14th!

[kestrel91316]

2. I'd prefer 30% cuts for defense, spread evenly over the next 3 years.

So the poor darlings can be eased into cold, hard reality.

[lib2DaBone]

3. OF COURSE there will be no cuts to defense... but they will gut Social Security....

They will prey on the sick, the elderly and the helpless.. because no one has their back or even cares.

Republican and Democrats agree on spending cuts for the sick and elderly.. shame on that Donkey fo not working hard enough

[mysuzuki2]

6. social security IS defense!

the most important factor in our defence is the general feeling that our country is worth defending. If they keep screwing us, what will happen to that belief?

[Enrique]

4. let me suggest a compromise

lets get the 350 billion from elderly, poor, disabled veterans. Thats kind of like defense spending isnt it?

[DCBob]

5. The GOPers dont know when to quit..

such incredible assholes.

[LonePirate]

7. We know how this ends. Obama will relent to the Rs' demands. He caves more than a Massey mine

or a spelunker for that matter.

[patrice]

8. They have had so much PIE for so long, losing weight is going to be difficult. nt

[cstanleytech]

9. He should have aimed for reducing the defense budget by 600 billion over

3 years until we are only spending 200 billion a year on it.

[SoapBox]

10. There better damn well be cuts, BIG cuts to military, if this piece of shit goes through...

This whole thing is bullshit.

NEVER, EVER...should the debt ceiling raise, been tied to all these cuts...never ever.

Unbelievable that in this panic, PeeParty people like Ryan and "Dead Beat Dad" Walsh, could actually get some of what they want, to put the balance of this thing on the backs of Americans.

Outrageous!

[iemitsu]

11. it breaks my heart to see

republicans pushing for defense spending cuts while democrats are threatening to resist the cuts.