Obama & Republicans latest deal - "Super Congress" is back

[spedtr90]

from AP early this morning:

"A second, $1.4 trillion increase would be tied to a specially created congressional committee that would have to suggest deficit cuts of a slightly larger amount. If that panel did not act — or if Congress rejected their recommendations — automatic spending cuts would be triggered that could affect Medicare and defense spending, two of the most politically sacrosanct programs."

How is it constitutional to have 12 (2%) of the Congress decide cuts, and Medicare is held hostage if the other 523 (98%) do not rubber-stamp those cuts? I assume the no debate, just an up-or-down vote is still how the rubber-stamp component works.

Legislation without representation!


Whole deal explained here: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/126450768.html

[DCBob]

1. What's wrong with an up or down vote? That filibuster crap is crap.

btw, there will be debate... plenty of it.

[peacebird]

2. great - so our votes mean less and less, the corporations can easily purchase 12 votes.

And since those 12 will be all that matter....


If they agree to THIS then I believe we have to fight it in the courts...

[lame54]

12. plus those 12 will probably receive a 2nd gov paycheck

[BeyondGeography]

3. The Republicans get everything they want and all we get is a flyer until after the election

I don't know why I even bother paying attention.

[xchrom]

4. ominous. nt

[Autumn]

5. That will work well. If we get a

republican President, a republican congress will give him what he wants, and the Democrats will go along. If we get a Democratic President, the republicans will tell him hell no, and enough of the Democrats will vote with the republicans to tell him hell no.

That way any Democratic President can make damn sure nothing ever gets done, and we have one controlling party. Republican at that.
I think these little rat fuckers are all better chess players than Obama. Either that or they are playing chess and Obama is playing Candy Land.

[Inuca]

7. And that's whay they are talking now about specific truggers

If you want to go all rebellious and worried about something, I suggest you do it over the triggers not over this damn committee.

[Autumn]

9. Hey thanks for your suggestions, I'll make sure

to consider that before I "go all rebellious and worried" again." Or not.

[Inuca]

10. You are welcome

Or not.

[Inuca]

6. There are things ot be worried about

in the deal that is being alked about. The super COMMITTEE is among the least of them. It's not exactly new, I thik they are officailly called special committee on whatever, including an equal number of members from both chambers/parties. It will make recoemmendations, strong recommendations, that will then be voted on in both chambers. And you can be sure there will be plenty of debate. It's not a great solution, but it may be what is needed to force the parties' hand and force them to actually DO something rather than just talk and posture (and yes, this applies mainly to the Rs, but "our" guys and gals are not saints either). And you can be sure that the ones that will bein this committee will consult aplenty with the other memebers of their caucus. So I see no reason to go nuts over this. "Legislation without represenation!" is a "super" exageration. Just humble oppinion.

[ladywnch]

8. thank god we have rethugs and teabaggers providing us smaller

government! I was afraid we'd end up adding a whole new additional layer of government to further complicate, slow down and cripple government completely................oh,wait a minute



Never mind.

[Wilms]

11. ^