Andy Stern will vote No on deficit commission

[ProSense]

Andy Stern will vote No on deficit commission

By Greg Sargent

Former top labor leader Andy Stern has privately informed deficit-commission co-chair Erskine Bowles that he will vote against the commission's package of proposals, a source close to Stern tells me, effectively ending hopes of getting the desired 14 members to support it.

Stern is the fifth of 18 commission members to decide against backing the commission's proposals. While it has long seemed unlikely that the proposals, which are filled with controversial spending cuts, would get the needed supermajority in tomorrow's vote, his opposition appears to officially put this out of reach.

Stern also retains influence among Dem politicians, so his opposition could build further resistance to the proposal among Dems who are still undecided.

Describing Stern's opposition to the proposals, the source close to him would only say the following: "In the end, there is not enough investment to create jobs, economic growth, and increase America's competitiveness."

The other commission members who have come out against the proposal are Dem Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Senator Max Baucus, and GOP Reps. Paul Ryan and Dave Camp.

Stern Opposes Debt Plan, Gives Fifth Vote to Reject


Edited to add links to alternative proposals by Andy Stern, Jan Schakowsky, Our Fiscal Security, and Joseph Stiglitz (PDF).

[TwilightGardener]

1. Surprised about Baucus.

[ProSense]

3. Dick Durbin, on the other hand, is making no sense.

<...>

The question my closest political friends are asking is this: Why is a progressive like Dick Durbin voting for this deficit commission report? First, all politicians, left or right, Democrat or Republican, have to acknowledge the deficit crisis our nation faces. Borrowing 40 cents out of every dollar we spend for missiles or food stamps is unsustainable. And being indebted for generations to China and OPEC does not make American a stronger nation.

When we engage in the critical decisions about our nation's future budgets, I want progressive voices at the table to argue that we must protect the most vulnerable in our society and demand fairness in budget cuts.

link

[TwilightGardener]

4. Yes, I saw that. WTF?

[bluestateguy]

2. In just a few hours I will claim absolute vindication

I told everybody here that this silly Commission would produce nothing and accomplish nothing, and go the way of so many of these other blue ribbon/"bipartisan" commissions in the past.

Start warming up Fat Lady!

[dionysus]

7. so did i, but don't expect any apologies....

;)

[boppers]

5. I thought this was a right wing commission? Guaranteed to cut SS?

What happened?

[yourout]

6. Almost every idea from the "Cat Food Commission" would hit the middle and.....

lower classes the hardest.

Most of the mess we are in was caused by the "elite" and the war mongers....let them pay for it.

[ShadowLiberal]

8. Good, glad to hear it, the 'revised' version they're considering is even worse then the original

[OhioBlue]

10. I didn't even know there was a "revised version"

sad to hear it is worse than the original... but... I'm glad to hear it won't get the votes needed.

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. Andrew Stern, of SEIU, appointed to Commission by President Barack Obama?

Oh, right right right. THAT Andrew Stern.

:thumbsup: