Reid dares Republicans to oppose debt limit plan, White House offers support

[ProSense]

Reid dares Republicans to oppose debt limit plan, White House offers support

by Jed Lewison

Harry Reid has formally unveiled his proposal to raise the debt limit, offering a package that would extend the debt limit through 2013 while cutting $2.7 trillion. His proposal wouldn't touch Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security, nor would it raise taxes. Because it gives Republicans exactly what they've been demanding—spending cuts equal to the amount of the debt ceiling increase without any new taxes—Reid said it was a proposal that Republicans should be able to accept.
Reid nonetheless recognized that House Republicans haven't shown a willingness to say yes to anything, saying they appear "more interested in trying to embarrass the president than doing what's right for the country."

Reid announced his proposal alongside Sen. Chuck Schumer, who said the plan included $1.2 trillion cuts in discretionary spending, including both defense and domestic programs. It also includes $1 trillion savings from ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, $100 billion in non-health care mandatory spending reductions, and $400 billion in interest savings.

Schumer described Reid's plan as "an offer Republicans can't refuse." If they do, he said, "It simply means they want to default." He placed blame for the crisis on House Republican leadership. "There are 100 people in the House who don't care if we default <...> and you've not seen the House Republican leadership stand up to them," Schumer said. "That's the problem here."

In a statement following Reid's press conference, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said President Obama supported Reid's efforts and said that it was time for Republicans to step up.

Senator Reid’s plan is a reasonable approach that should receive the support of both parties, and we hope the House Republicans will agree to this plan so that America can avoid defaulting on our obligations for the first time in our history. The ball is in their court.

Reid will file cloture on his plan today, which means there will be a cloture vote on Wednesday. He expressed optimism that it would get the 60 votes it needs to move to a final vote, saying that there wasn't anything in the proposal that Republicans hadn't supported in the past.

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[damntexdem]

1. There IS something in the plan that Repukes haven't supported in the past:

Obama has endorsed it. ;-)

[Mnpaul]

27. That was a mistake

Obama should have said he didn't like it to get the Repubs on board.

[gateley]

2. You know, just scanning the "highlights" of this in your post, it

doesn't sound all that bad to me! Primarily, of course, since it doesn't touch SS/Med/Med, but I like the $1T in "savings" from ending the wars.

What do you guys think?

[Liberalynn]

4. Sounds at least marginally better than the Boners plan, IMHO

[DocMac]

19. I could reach in my pocket

and pull out a better plan than boner!

[66 dmhlt]

20. I think it sounds even better than "marginally better" ...

Repubicans were claiming two necessities:
(1) That any increase in the debt ceiling must be met with matching-dollar spending cuts, and
(2) That no revenue increases could be a part of the deal
Reid looks like he pulled a pretty neat end-around by agreeing. Plus Reid’s plan doesn’t take revenue increases off the table, because it doesn’t mention anything about the expiring Bush tax cuts.

Of course what the Repubicans are REALLY wanting is to end Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

But the critical thing will be to get this debacle past the 2012 elections. Right now it’s looking like a pretty good plan, all things considered.

[murielm99]

6. Doesn't sound all that bad to me, either.

I called my Senator's office today, and my stupid repubbie Congressman.

I hope everyone else is calling, too. We have to keep doing that.

[gateley]

9. I e-mail and call every single day -- the WH, my Sens and my Rep.

I have no idea if they're getting my messages (I keep them short, one sentence in the subject line, hoping they'll just put another check in the yea or nay column), but I'll do it up until there's a vote. Then I'll being again at the next crisis. :7 :hi:

[murielm99]

16. I know my messages are getting through to Durbin.

I know his aide in Springfield, and have known him since he worked for the Chairmen's Association. He even called me back one day last week.

The messages are getting through, but are they doing any good?

[gateley]

23. Ah, that's the question, isn't it? You wouldn't think so by their

actions -- or inactions. Sooooo frustrating!

[ProfessionalLeftist]

3. Good to see them standing their ground (for now)

Especially Reid. I just hope they keep standing.

[earthside]

5. Reid sponsors the 'Buchanan plan'

If it weren't so tragic it would be funny.

Reid's plan is exactly what Pat Buchanan has been saying on MSNBC that the Repuglicans should do in the end.

I am underwhelmed.

The Boehner plan is even worse since it means this pro-wrestling (as Ratigan appropriately calls it) will go through at least November 2012.

Pres. Obama should have laid down the line months and months ago: a clean rise in the debt ceiling ... period.

But it is too late now; I guess he is going to be stuck with either the Reid/Buchanan plan or the Boehner plan.

[Jester Messiah]

7. No new revenues and a ton of cuts. Yep, Reid sure showed them.

Yet again the rich skate while the rest of us foot the bill. Spineless.

[Sheepshank]

13. Yes, lets screw the rich right now and throw in the SS and Medicare recipients to prove a point?

dumbass response. You do realize the Bush cuts will expire all on their own anyway right?

[Deep13]

8. Any spending reduction means the Rs win and we all lose.

I realize the fascists are forcing this issue instead of just raising the debt limit like they ought to do because all spending bills must originate in the House; but it is still exactly what the country does not need. I means reductions in employment, regulation and services and less money in the economy while absolving the rich of any responsibility.

[Sheepshank]

11. I disagree...ending wars, leaving the big 3 alone and we all win,

except the Reps. They are having shit fits over losing any military spending.

[Deep13]

24. Right, I should have said domestic spending.

Of course, one negative consequence of ending the wars means that when all those soldiers etc are discharged there will be no jobs for them at home. So while I'm all for ending the wars, that money should be shifted to domestic programs rather than simply eliminated from the budget to save money.

[hfojvt]

14. probably the cuts will be made at some future date

because cuts now would be bad for the economy. So it probably makes small cuts in 2012 and bigger cuts in 2013, etc. After all, the $2.7 trillion is a TEN year number. Not an 18 month number.

[hfojvt]

10. it seems brilliant

although I doubt if I will like the details of the $1.2 trillion in cuts. Hopefully those cust are postponed, for the sake of the economy, until after the next election when we might be able to vote some of those Republican lunatics out of office. Probably the end of the wars is delayed by a year or so as well, so Hamsher/Greenwald will be furious. As laid out here, though, it really seems to put Republicans on the spot, and I would note, it only needs something like 20 Republican votes in the House to pass. Can the President make some calls, or call-outs to those in swing districts?

[Leontius]

12. Is this based on the usual 10 yr timeline?

Not in the article but it seems to be the standard timeline now.

[DocMac]

15. Harry Reid saves the day?

I want some toons immediatly!

[DocMac]

18. Hey!

My understanding was that this did not involve cuts. That this was mostly about the draw down from the wars and the money saved therefore.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. Reid thinks that he can get 60 votes for this?

Either he's smoking something pretty powerful or already has enough votes lined up. His confidence about this is unusual (which is good b/c I think that this is a palatable plan). However, getting it through the Senate is, of course, only half the battle.

[alcibiades_mystery]

21. He should put it on the floor tomorrow

Through committee and to the floor. Tomorrow.

Let's see what they do.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

22. The sooner the better

If enough Pubs in the Senate support this plan, that could send a pretty strong message to the Pubs in the House. Everybody would then have to turn their attention to the House and might actually begin wondering what the hell the Pubs are doing there.

[AlinPA]

26. I don't see McConnell allowing any republicans to vote for Reid's plan. The repigs are in

lockstep when things get tough for them. Paul would filibuster it anyway.

[Thrill]

25. Not raising taxes on the rich but cuts Pell Grants?

Explain to me why the fuck any average american should be ok with this bullshit