Democrat deficit hawks think Obama should seize on deficit panel plan as a reasonable compromise

[Better Believe It]

Fiscal hawks hope deficit panel starting point for budget deal
By Erik Wasson
December 4, 2010

Fiscal hawks on both sides of the aisle are hopeful that the work done by President Obama's deficit commission will help Congress find a workable compromise on budget issues in the months ahead.

While the presidential panel failed to officially endorse a plan at its final meeting on Friday, the group came closer to consensus than many had expected. Eleven of the panel's 18 members voted for the proposal, even though it touched the “third rail” of Social Security and included tax increases.

Many of the commission members who were "no" votes on the plan, including House Republicans, expressed enthusiasm for the deficit-reduction framework and said it deserves to be the starting point for future talks. On the left, "no" votes Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) called it a "template," while former union president Andy Stern said it deserves a vote in Congress.

The fact that a majority of the panel voted in favor of the plan was a surprising turnaround. Observers had expected that the plan’s mix of tax revenue increases and cuts to entitlement programs would prove too radioactive for any elected commission members to back.

Democrat deficit hawks think the administration should seize on the plan as a reasonable compromise and run with it, rather than wait for House Republicans to seize the initiative next year, even though the plan has cuts to entitlement spending that could inflame the liberal base.

One of the commission's members, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), on Friday called for a budget summit between the White House and congressional leaders as the next step in efforts to reduce tackle the nation's budgetary issues.

Similarly, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said Friday’s vote is a sign that a “bipartisan consensus” is forming around “putting our entitlements on more stable footing; responsible spending cuts that take all parts of our budget into account, both non-defense discretionary and defense; and fair tax simplification that also raises revenue.”

Third Way President Jon Cowan said in an interview that Obama should take up most of the plan into his next budget since the plan is a far better place to start than a Ryan austerity budget.

"My message to progressives, and I am one of them, is that unless we take on the task of trimming our cherished entitlement programs they are going to collapse under their own weight," Cowan said.

Read the full article at:

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/132017-fiscal-hawks-hope-deficit-panel-was-starting-point-for-budget-deal


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Third Way Applauds Bipartisan Vote on Commission Recommendations; Major Milestone Should Lead to Congressional Action on Deficit Crisis
President of Third Way, Jonathan Cowan, issued the following statement:

December 3, 2010

“Today’s vote by the Commission marks a major milestone and provides the best hope yet that our leaders in Washington can rally to meet our deficit challenge. Today, a bipartisan majority of the Commission rose above ideology and partisan affiliations to back serious, credible solutions designed to address the biggest threat to America’s economic growth and leadership. Through its 11 to 7 vote to approve the Bowles-Simpson plan, the Commission has moved the ball into the red zone. It’s now up to President Obama and Congress to take their recommendations across the goal line and show that we can act to safeguard our prosperity.

“Third Way expresses its deep gratitude to the eleven Commission members who voted yes for their courage and foresight. Co-Chairman Erskine Bowles, Co-Chairman Alan Simpson, Senator Tom Coburn, Senator Kent Conrad, David Cote, Senator Mike Crapo, Senator Richard Durbin, Ann Fudge, Senator Judd Gregg, Alice Rivlin, and Representative John Spratt performed a great service for the nation and we commend them.”

http://www.thirdway.org/press_releases/128#

[stray cat]

1. The tax cuts are equal to the entire deficit plan

[annabanana]

2. Funny thing about the preferred diet of deficit hawks . . .

[yourout]

3. Almost everything they recommend would hit the middle and.....

lower classes the hardest.

It's all bullshit.

[Laelth]

11. Excellent toon. Thanks for posting. n/t

-Laelth

[MrModerate]

4. None of these guys is very good at "listening to the American voter" . . .

The American people don't give a rat's ass about deficit or its reduction. That's entirely a Washington thing (and a wedge issue to get corporate butt-boys in the form of 'Lican politicians into office so they can serve their masters).

The American people care about employment, and don't have confidence that the government is competent to do anything about it. The people don't object to government per se, just to failed government.

And we're well down the road to failure even before the new Congress is seated.

[The Wielding Truth]

5. What is a "democrat deficit hawk"?Do you mean that there are few

Democrats on the panel?

[xchrom]

7. It's Obamas panel - how much more democratic could it be? Nt

[The Wielding Truth]

13. Yea, I get ya now. The "Democrat" used as a adjective always throws me.

[xchrom]

6. You can't divorce the deficit panel or it's conclusions

From Obama.

I dislike that some how the deficit commission even exists without Obama.

[Angry Dragon]

8. Lets start then with getting rid of pensions for congress

I also feel they should be able to live without medical.
How about starting to cut their staffs.
I would start with their spokespersons, they should be able to talk themselves
or have their chief of staff.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. "reasonable compromise"???????? ????????????

The commission's suggestions were neither reasonable nor a compromise.

They were for the most part a total disembowelment of everyone who is not a millionaire.

[gratuitous]

12. Yes, let's all be reasonable here

We'll raise the retirement age, cut social security benefits for future retirees, and pretend that it will do something for the deficit. And when it doesn't, we'll fuck with the underclass some more. Means testing! Yeah, why should rich people get social security benefits? It just stands to reason, and think of all the money we'll save. Then a couple of years after that, we can get cracking on ending the social security "welfare" "entitlement" for all those greedy poor people who didn't have the foresight to have a career in investment banking.

What could be more reasonable?

[pa28]

10. From the same piece . . .

"One administration official said a six-month timeframe for new negotiations on a deficit-deduction plan could be proposed as a compromise with Republicans in exchange for a temporary increase on the debt ceiling."

Alan Simpson's "bloodbath" might end up being a bloodless surrender from the looks of it.