CRAM IT! ALL Senate Dems Tell Boehner His Debt Limit Plan Is DOA -short-term extension unnacceptable

[jefferson_dem]

CRAM IT! ALL Senate Dems Tell Boehner His Debt Limit Plan Is DOA
Brian Beutler | July 27, 2011, 6:45PM

The entire Senate Democratic caucus -- including independents Joe Lieberman (CT) and Bernie Sanders (VT) -- have a succinct message for House Speaker John Boehner: cram it!

In a Wednesday letter, the Democrats seek to prove what Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has been saying for days: nobody in his party will vote for Boehner's debt limit plan, and he should stop claiming it's a viable solution to the looming default crisis.

"With five days until our nation faces an unprecedented financial crisis, we need to work together to ensure that our nation does not default on our obligations for the first time in our history," the Dems write. "We heard that in your caucus you said the Senate will support your bill. We are writing to tell you that we will not support it, and give you the reasons why. A short-term extension like the one in your bill would put America at risk, along with every family and business in it. Your approach would force us once again to face the threat of default in five or six short months."

More than just a warning that the Boehner bill is DOA in the Senate, the letter suggests Dems fear he may be trying to jam them, betting they don't have the resolve to vote it down at the 11th hour.

It comes moments after a revised Congressional Budget Office analysis late today shows that the Reid and Boehner plans are actually growing more similar -- the only point of argument at this point is over how much to raise the debt limit. Republicans accuse Democrats of wanting to extend it through 2012 only to protect President Obama during election season. That's never been the entire truth -- the much bigger concern is that it'll be much harder for the parties to find common ground on another conditions-based debt limit increase in the middle of 2012.

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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/07/cram-it-all-senate-dems-tell-boehner-his-debt-limit-plan-is-doa.php

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. I just heard on the newsbreak, that Reid has 58 votes lined up against it. Which means...

there are a couple of sane Republicans in the pack. I'm betting on McCain, the two Senators from Maine & Scott Brown.

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. Might also be Kirk, who was in Gof6

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. Forgot about him. He's also a possibility. I hope the "grown-ups" figure this out.

:hi: