House Republicans Consider Reneging On Budget Deal To Force Even Deeper Cuts

[jefferson_dem]

House Republicans Consider Reneging On Budget Deal To Force Even Deeper Cuts
By Marie Diamond

After months of partisan wrangling and GOP threats to let the U.S. default for the first time in history, Democrats and Republicans reached a budget deal in August to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. As Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) himself conceded, the deal was a lopsided victory for Republicans, consisting entirely of cuts with no revenue increases. “I got 98 percent of what I wanted. I’m pretty happy,” Boehner said afterward.

But apparently 98 percent is no longer good enough, and the Republican House leadership is gunning for the last 2 percent. Politico reports that the GOP is considering reneging on the compromise to force even deeper budget cuts:

In a surprising bit of hardball, House Republicans confirmed that they had been actively considering a plan to tamper with the August budget agreement by cutting even more from 2012 spending in order to put pressure on Senate Democrats to come to terms faster on domestic bills for the coming fiscal year.

Instead of the agreed-upon appropriations target of $1.043 trillion, a stopgap continuing resolution or CR this week would be calibrated at a lower $1.035 trillion level. The idea – promoted by Speaker John Boehner — was to effectively withhold about $8 billion for the first two months of the fiscal year, with the money becoming available only as Senate Democrats come to terms with the House on the dozen annual spending bills that cover government operations.

This GOP strategy is driven by the party’s desire to prevent further defense cuts and use the budget to advance its anti-regulatory agenda. Whatever the justification, their reckless decision to go back on their word risks yet another government shutdown.

<SNIP>

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/09/13/317761/house-republicans-consider-reneging-on-budget-deal-to-force-even-deeper-cuts/

[Enrique]

1. how could it be "surprising"?

In a surprising bit of hardball, ...


edti: oh, I see now. That's Think Progress quoting Politico. :eyes: at "surprising" but credit for reporting it...

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Whatever they want, they will get.

Obama will likely pressure the Dems in Congress and give the Republicans what they want in the name of bipartisanship and compromise.

x(

[msongs]

3. Obama's reward for giving in is to be bullied some more. but he knows that already nt

[truebrit71]

4. This is why you don't negotiate with a bully, you punch them in the mouth...

..and then ask them if they want some more...

[ProSense]

5. Are Republicans

"This GOP strategy is driven by the party’s desire to prevent further defense cuts and use the budget to advance its anti-regulatory agenda."

...nervous about something?

Why, I believe they are!

Kyl has defense industry-sponsored hissy fit

<...>

There is the slight problem that if he quits and the committee fails, defense cuts are automatically triggered. Of course, he might not have intended that to be a factual statement.

If they don't come to an agreement via the committee, that will trigger larger defense cuts.

[Chan790]

6. If we were smart...

we'd encourage that shithead to walk away.

I think it's fair to ask: "Why does Senator Kyl hate our troops?"