Out-Of-The-Loop Lawmakers Try To Sway WH Debt Talks - RollCall

[WillyT]

Out-of-the-Loop Lawmakers Try to Sway WH Debt Talks
By Meredith Shiner
Roll Call Staff
July 9, 2011, 2:16 p.m.

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The weekend leading up to a marathon meeting between Congressional leaders and the president Sunday night is quickly turning into a display of who can make the most noise.

Beginning with a secret meeting between President Barack Obama and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) last Sunday, momentum toward making a deal to cut trillions of dollars from the deficit while averting an Aug. 2 government default appears stronger than it has been since the budget talks led by Vice President Joseph Biden broke down last month, sources close to Congressional leaders say. Those same people also acknowledge that whatever bargain might be struck will be up to Boehner and Obama.

However, that reality has not stopped others from trying to influence a closed-door debate from the proverbial hallways. And the clashing voices do not appear to be helping shore up anyone's place at the bargaining table.

Late Friday evening, Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) leaked details of a budget he has been working on for months that would cut $4 trillion from the federal deficit — the same total Obama told the Congressional leaders in a Thursday White House meeting that he'd like to see in any deal. Obama had presented leaders with three options, a "small," "medium" and "large" deficit reduction package, strongly opposing a smaller deal and preferring an agreement that would range from the "medium" $3 trillion to the "large" $4 trillion.

Just Thursday, aides said Conrad would hold off on unveiling his budget. He did not release his plan with the blessing of Senate Democratic leadership and did not inform House Budget ranking member Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) or Van Hollen's staff beforehand, a courtesy usually extended. Conrad had presented his plan to Senate Democrats in a closed-door Caucus meeting Tuesday, but the other members of his party did not want to move forward with the budget until they had a better sense of where the Obama talks were, even though many were supportive of Conrad's work.

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Much More: http://www.rollcall.com/news/Out-of-the-Loop-Lawmakers-Try-to-Sway-WH-Debt-Talks-207142-1.html

:kick:

[DJ13]

1. range from the "medium" $3 trillion to the "large" $4 trillion.

Here's something these politicians need to ask themselves in this deficit debate...

With an economy most people say is still in a deep recession, what happens to that weakened economy when you remove $3 to $4 trillion from it?

[WillyT]

2. Great Question !!!

:shrug:

:hi: