Supercommittee Democrats Offer Major Capitulation (The Nation)

[chill_wind]

Supercommittee Democrats Offer Major Capitulation
George Zornick on October 26, 2011 - 2:52pm ET

Very distressing news broke during this morning’s meeting of the supercommittee: aides told Reuters that Democratic members of the committee have proposed $2.5 to $3 trillion in deficit reduction measures, including $400 billion in cuts to Medicare—a half of which would come from benefits.

The Democratic proposal consists of an even split between tax increases and spending cuts, and also $200 to $300 billion in new stimulus spending that would be paid for because interest payments on the debt would be lowered if the plan passed. The $400 billion in Medicare cuts would be split evenly between beneficiaries and providers. It was reportedly a formal proposal advanced by Senator Max Baucus, though Clyburn is said to object to the Medicare cuts.

The supercommittee has largely been deliberating behind closed doors, but as far as anyone knows the Republicans have not proposed anything this concrete. This begs serious questions, once again, about Democrats’ negotiating techniques in the ongoing budget and debt ceiling dramas

(snip)

But this magnitude of Medicare cuts, presumably meant to entice Republicans, is astounding and out of line with previous Democratic proposals. President Obama’s own deficit plan calls for $320 billion in healthcare savings, only seven percent of which—not 50—would affect beneficiaries. I thought at the time perhaps Obama’s proposal would push the supercommittee left; instead, it’s gone far to the right, thanks to Baucus and the Democrats who support his plan.

more: http://www.thenation.com/blog/164202/supercommittee-democrats-offer-major-capitulation

Exclusive: Democrats seek up to $3 trillion in budget savings (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/26/us-usa-debt-supercommittee-democrats-idUSTRE79P5AR20111026

Testifying at the hearing, Congressional Budget Office Director Doug Elmendorf said whatever the committee decides, spending on entitlements like Medicare is unsustainable.

"Entitlement programs, mandatory spending is a growing share of federal outlays, in some cases. Growing rather rapidly and without addressing that path of spending, it would be extremely difficult to put the budget on a sustainable path," he said.

Elmendorf has warned the committee that he needs its recommendations much sooner than that in order to officially score the savings. Like the beginning of November-- which is next week.

Democrats Balk at Non-Defense Spending Cuts, Float Alternative Proposal to Super Committee
Published October 26, 2011

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10/26/democrats-balk-at-non-defense-spending-cuts-as-supercommittee-is-warned-fast/

[mmonk]

1. This why OWS will not go away.

We're in this for the long haul.

[DesMoinesDem]

12. OWS won't go away because the government wants to cut Medicare spending?

If people are mad about what the government is doing they should be occupying DC, because that message isn't being sent by OWS.

[DonCoquixote]

14. do you really think DC runs this nation?

It is WallStreet that wants Medicare dead.

[Flatulo]

46. The enablers are in DC. nt

[Change has come]

47. And the funders are on Wall Street. n/t

[eomer]

73. I think you mean owners. We are the funders, they are the owners.

They steal the money from us and use it to own our government.

[Melissa G]

95. +1

:hi: eomer!

Nothing like taking our money, to buy our politicians, to give them more of our money... :crazy:

:thumbsup:

[DesMoinesDem]

64. Wall St. benifits from all government spending, including Medicare.

Pharma and the large health care providers make hundreds of billions from Medicare. They definitely don't want it dead.

[newspeak]

82. no, they just want it all privatized

so they can have their deregulatory hands on all of it.

Little boot's big pharma give away has seniors paying even more for meds and then there's the doughnut hole. What that bill did was take away bargaining rights with pharma from medicare, made it so seniors couldn't get meds from canada--prisoners to the pharma corporations. Oh, and the bill increased the deficit, seniors pay more, but big pharma makes a windfall at our expense.

[Zorra]

23. That message is being sent very effectively.

Just not singularly. It is part of a collective message, that the vast majority of progressives/liberals readily comprehend.

Wall St. and the government get it also.

They just won't acknowledge it or do anything about it until OWS forces them to..

[Scuba]

26. The pols in Washington are doing what their masters want. n/t

[fascisthunter]

29. what a simplistic and disingenuous response

[WCGreen]

32. Don't forget Medicaid as well....

[ShockediSay]

42. OWS needs to form a political party to run against Democrat eunuchs and Tea Potty ideologs nt

[pa28]

79. Why confront middle management hacks when you can go straight to the owner? n/t

[trumad]

87. LOL

You're so naive...

[woo me with science]

62. "Representatives," my ass.

[nineteen50]

2. This is not a give away

it is as planned!

[NV Whino]

3. Are we surprised?

Nope, not me.

[Divine Discontent]

99. neither am I. I, and you, knew they would cut a large percentage out of social budgets. It goes to

prove that we are clearly not their style of Democrats. We do not fit into the party in DC and are clearly against their corporate loving mentality. I am a Democrat, but not one that most of these Dem Senators is, and a good portion of the House, too. We are for the people over party and corporation, and that just is not what many in both parties care about, whatsoever. The right wing (basically the entire GOP) is abhorrent to our futures, but damn, we need some new blood in many seats.



Get it here now, or one of a million other designs! http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486

[Tansy_Gold]

4. Paging Capt. Renault

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1DEG6BWgp0

[Octafish]

5. K&R

Keep on compromising! They may let us live!

[Modern_Matthew]

6. Paging Dr. Guillotin. nt

[Divernan]

28. Paging Circle D spinmeisters! They're on the phone to the WH as we post!

[leveymg]

7. Max Baucus - Obama's Go-To-Guy for destroying any hope of progress during his Administration.

Did you like the outcome of HCR? You're going to LOVE the package of cuts the Super Catfood Commission comes up with. The next crisis is just around the corner . . . in 5, 4, 3, . . .

[Enthusiast]

49. That's the way I see it.

Baucus, the guy that had single payer advocates arrested. We weren't even allowed to have single payer advocates heard. And as we know single payer is the only possible solution.

[KansDem]

8. For 20 years we won't be able to learn who's been ripping off the US government...

...but we're expected to replace the stolen money by surrendering Medicare and Social Security!

Fuck these people!

[Enthusiast]

50. PLUS ONE!

[woo me with science]

76. +1

[Autumn]

9. If they do this they can kiss

the Senate, Congress and the White House good bye.

[leveymg]

10. Unrecs already at work - suppression action 'til Central Command issues spin talk points.

Suppression fire by the Unrec Brigade
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7GF2kkMcTKc/ScuOilwl2vI/AAAAAAAAZpI/0OC1ZUaT4NU/s400/g+bazooka.jpg

[mmonk]

15. LOL

[chill_wind]

21. Heh.

Who knew Baucus had so many fans, really.

[Divernan]

30. They're neither allowed to nor competent to generate their own spin.

[fascisthunter]

31. hahahaha... probably spot on

[Enthusiast]

52. We have already heard the central talking point

that social security is responsible for the deficit.

[RegieRocker]

11. A average joe or joan non politician needs to replace all elected

officials if you want a change. You won't strike and you can't fight them just what can you do then?

[hobbit709]

13. to quote Gomer Pyle

"Surprise""Surprise""Surprise"

[redqueen]

16. K&R

Hardly unexpected news, really.

I can even see a bright side. Maybe this will cause people to re-think voting for that incumbent blue dog the next time a primary challenger tries to take a seat.

But no, probaly not. It'll probably just go to a republican. It's going to take a lot more than cuts to benefits for people to wake up, I fear.

[w4rma]

17. Expected, considering the make up of traitors on this committee. (nt)

[indepat]

18. I'm shocked, I'm telling you, shocked: actually this eventuality was fixed, was pre-ordained by the

careful selection a Cat-food Commission hand-picked to lay the ground-work for getting the job done. Criminally cynical and depravedly shameful with evil beyond comprehension thrown in for lagniappe. What will a corrupt and venal Congress with a 9% approval rating do for encores? How will the OWS movement react to this fuck you, all you 99%ers? :patriot:

[Itchinjim]

19. Unnamed aides telling Reuters about a reportedly formal proposal,

is certainly enough reason for me to light my hair on fire. ARRRRRRGHHH!~ OBAMA SUCKS! SUCKS! AND TRIPLE SUCKS! HE"S A GODAMN REPUBLICAN! ARRRRGHHH!1! GENERAL WAILING AND GNASHING OF TEETH!!!!1!!
Jesus Christ, I am sick and tired of what DU has become. Fucking FOX News as a source? Give me a fucking break.

[redqueen]

22. LOL... well that's what trial balloons are for really...

but yeah, I hear you.

[chill_wind]

25. Get over yourself, please.

Douglas Elmendorf (fox news direct quote) was just telling news outlets what he's been telling them all for a long time.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/monitor_breakfast/2011/0614/CBO-director-US-budget-problem-fundamentally-different-than-in-past-VIDEO

[flamingdem]

35. +1 let's not fall for what the "aides" said yet

we'll know what the deals are soon enough

[jtown1123]

69. This was in CQ, Reuters, AP...you really want to say this is a lie manufactured by FOX?

[sendero]

106. LOL...

... this is always the argument. When the stinking deal is formally announced, what will your lame assed defense be then?

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RC]

24. With Democrats like this doing the dirty work, who needs Republicans to do anything?

"The supercommittee has largely been deliberating behind closed doors, but as far as anyone knows the Republicans have not proposed anything this concrete."

1 - STOP the damn wars.
2 - Raise taxes on those most able to pay them.
3 - Reinstate the Depression-era Glass-Steagall Act.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aQfRyxBZs5uc

4 - Penalize business that outsource our Living Wage Jobs
5 - Put the criminals that caused the recession/depression behind bars.
6 - Rescind the Corporation as persons fiction.
7 - Reinstate the Fairness Doctrine (Equal Time Rule)


See? Is that so hard to figure out?
If I can figure this out, why can't the people making a quarter to a half million or more a year figure it out? ... Oh. Never mind.

Maybe it is time for a house cleaning.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that IF the PETITION OF GRIEVANCES approved by the 870 Delegates of the NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY in consultation with the PEOPLE, is not acted upon within a reasonable time and to the satisfaction of the Delegates of the NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY, said Delegates shall organize a new INDEPENDENT POLITICAL PARTY to run candidates for every available Congressional seat in the mid-term election of 2014 and again in 2016 until all vestiges of the existing corrupt corporatocracy have been removed by the power of the ballot box.
https://sites.google.com/site/the99percentdeclaration/

[Divernan]

33. The 1st party to make a concrete demand in negotiation is the loser.

Now the GOP knows the minimum the dems on the Super Committee are willing to concede. Negotiations then start and the dems will give up more. It's the Obama Standard of Negotiations.

[Laelth]

27. This plan is utterly boneheaded.

Who needs enemies when we have friends like these?

Who needs Republicans when ... well, you know how it goes.

How depressing!

-Laelth

[chill_wind]

34. ABCNews, WAPO

By John Parkinson
Oct 26, 2011 5:29p

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/details-of-dem-proposal-leak-out-of-super-committee-gop-silent-on-next-move/

"If these reports of massive cuts to Medicaid and Medicare are true, I will do everything in my power to stand against them. I will join forces with my colleagues and do all I can to defeat them,” Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., wrote in a statement. “The people of this country are looking for fairness. They are sitting in and sitting down to protest the unwillingness of government to legislate with their best interests in mind. These proposals rob from the poor, the sick and the elderly, the very least among us.”

Democratic sources say the proposal is “not take it or leave it” but puts the ball in the GOP’s court “to come back and say they’re serious too, and interested in having a conversation of a balanced approach that a bipartisan deal would take.”

October 26, 2011: Rep. John Lewis Condemns Reported Super Committee Trillion Dollar Cuts

According to the latest news reports, Democrats on the debt-reduction supercommittee have advanced an aggressive plan to offer $3 trillion in cuts, more than twice the $1.2 trillion mandated goal of the committee. Slightly different reports in CQ Today and in a Reuters exclusive suggest cuts to Medicare and Medicaid are both on the table. CQ says cuts will be as high as $500 billion to Medicare and Medicaid, and Reuters reports that $400 billion will come from Medicare alone--$200 billion in cuts to health care providers and $200 billion in cuts to beneficiaries. These reports are still unconfirmed by any formal statement from the committee, however, The Washington Post just released a news story confirming these details. Rep. John Lewis issued this statement in light of these reports.

http://johnlewis.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=876&Itemid=1


Congressional Democrats offer $3 trillion debt deal (WAPO)
Lori Montgomery and Rosalind S. Helderman, Wednesday, October 26
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/senate-democrats-offer-3-trillion-debt-deal/2011/10/26/gIQAhgvMJM_story.html?hpid=z1

[tnlefty]

36. Thanks to Rep. Lewis!

And thanks for the thread.

[chill_wind]

40. +1 Nadler to super committee: Entitlement cuts off the table

Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York joined a group of House Democrats and progressive organizations in a rally on Capitol Hill to urge the super committee not to recommend Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefit cuts, arguing that the nation’s $14.9 trillion debt is “not as big a crisis” as the 9.1 percent unemployment rate.

The crisis is joblessness — the debt is not as big a crisis as jobless. We’ve got to direct our attention to the joblessness and to increasing the economy but if there are going to be cuts, not in the areas that people need it the most that low income people need it,” said Nadler Wednesday at the rally led by House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers of Michigan.

(snip)

“Many of us will oppose any proposal that comes from the super committee that has any cuts in Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid,” said Nadler.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/26/nadler-to-super-committee-entitlement-cuts-off-the-table-video/#ixzz1bwVyPyk6

October 26, 2011
Nicholas Ballasy
Nadler to super committee: Entitlement cuts off the table

(video at link)

[erodriguez]

54. That's my rep. You go, Jerry!

[Marr]

72. I love this quote: "Democratic sources say the proposal is “not take it or leave it”

Their initial offer is to completely sell-out, but they want to make it clear to Republicans that they're willing to go further if Republicans will provide a little political cover in the form of demands.

[chill_wind]

37. AP

re: Baucus plan

(snip- see beginning http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700191870/Supercommittee-GOP-Democrats-swap-offers.html)

According to several officials, he called for $1.3 trillion in increased tax revenue over a decade, and $1.3 trillion in spending cuts. Another $1 trillion in savings would come from the presumed reduction of Pentagon costs in Iraq and Afghanistan and $500 billion more from a reduction in interest costs resulting from declining deficits.

(snip)

For Democrats on the committee, it appeared that the most contentious of the items would slow the growth of monthly checks to recipients of Social Security and other benefit programs, curtail Medicare spending by $400 billion over a decade and Medicaid by another $75 billion.

Several Democrats said during the day that the presentation had the support of a majority of the six Democrats on the panel, leaving the impression that at least one, and possibly two, of the party's lawmakers had not signed on.

Others suggested that Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., a member of the party's leadership, and Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., had not agreed to support the recommendations.

Supercommittee GOP, Democrats swap offers
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700191870/Supercommittee-GOP-Democrats-swap-offers.html?pg=2

[Hotler]

38. I have no hope. I see no future... eom.

[chill_wind]

39. L.A. Times

Democrats on 'super committee' propose a 'grand bargain'
By Lisa Mascaro, Washington Bureau
October 26, 2011, 5:31 p.m.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-super-committee-20111027,0,7821935.story

[customerserviceguy]

41. We may have to raise Medicare payroll tax rates

It's been the same rate for over twenty years, adequate for the parent generation of the baby boomers, but inadequate now that they're hitting the retirement rolls. Being as there is no cap on wages for Medicare taxes, a raise in the rate would affect everyone in proportion to their wage incomes.

[City Lights]

43. No one could have predicted...

Fuck. It. All.

[emilyg]

44. Ditto - what you said.

[McCamy Taylor]

45. So beneficiaries premiums will rise by 5% and providers will get a 5% cut.

That is based upon $500 billion a year in expenditures and premiums.

Typical premium is about $250 a month, so it goes up about $15 a month.

Providers who have 70% overhead will now take home about 25c on the dollar rather than 30c on the dollar. If a doctor sees only Medicare, this could drop his salary by $20k a year. More for surgeons.

Wonder why doctors and the elderly can get taxed more, but corporate CEOs need to get taxed less.

[Matariki]

48. How is this news

when we all knew that was precisely what was going to happen. Almost as if by plan.

But got to keep up the charade of a 'for the people' party.

[Laluchacontinua]

51. So disappointing.

[JCMach1]

53. Maybe I should start on NGO for medical tours to Cuba...

Will America ever get its thumb out out its a$$ and face the fact that medical care cannot be based on Capitalism!!!

[Capitalocracy]

70. I wonder why more people don't do that

I mean, it's not just Cuba that offers free health care. If you set up a good travel agency to places that have free health coverage and offer a support structure for patients, you'd be a millionaire.

[mopinko]

77. india

they do great surgery there. joint replacements are big. if i didn't have insurance and needed a new hip, i would be very sorely tempted. no pun intended.

[JCMach1]

92. Yep, you can get bypass surgery there for 2K

[piratefish08]

55. if anyone is surprised by this - shame on you now........

fool me once.....

[Better Believe It]

56. K & R

[Ikonoklast]

57. The committee is at stalemate, the Republicans refuse to raise taxes, period.

They got played, and will now look like the fools that they are. Looks like massive defense cuts are on the way.

Oh, and for everyone above, they have medication for those jerking knees now, it's called DON'T FUCKING BELIEVE FOX NEWS.

[chill_wind]

74. The essence of the OP is from Reuters. That's what the Congressmen (Lewis and other Dems)

were reacting to. That and WAPO. Lewis also stated it he'd seen it in CQ. (Then there are also the several other press stories (ABC,LA Times,AP etc.)

eta- The Doug Elmendorf direct quotes I included are simply a secondary, but still important part of the developments. Tempus fugit.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

58. What did anyone expect from Baucus? The man is a rather smug

sociopath - nice and cozy in HIS publicly-funded healthcare, but hellbent on taking everyone else's away or in the case of the 'affordable care act' - seeing that they never get any.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

59. I was told I was imagining this eventuality just a few short weeks ago.

Now what's the story?

[MoonRiver]

60. Despicable!

Bring on more OWS plus a viable THIRD PARTY! The people must DEMAND total reform of our crooked political system.

[Azathoth]

61. We all know how this going to end. We're going to get a GOP plan with Baucus as the deciding vote

This was just a throwaway political move so Democrats can claim "we tried to compromise but the GOP were too rigid!"

[chill_wind]

65. Nailed it, I bet. n/t

[Inuca]

71. I don't think so

but we shall see...

[riderinthestorm]

78. I'm afraid you've called it. Wish it weren't so but... nt

[femrap]

63. I think we're going to

see a lot more senior citizens at the OWS Protests throughout the country.

This Super Committee is not democratic....more fascism.

[bvar22]

66. "Centrist" "Democrats" ... putting the CON...

...in Super CONgress.

Thats the problem I have with "Centrist" Democrats.
They agree with Republicans on Economic Issues!!!



You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity99!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Ganja Ninja]

67. Only the beginning.

This is just the start and it will probably get worse before it comes out of the committee. I shudder to think what Obama will cut after that.

[truebrit71]

68. No, really? I am completely surprised by this...

...:eyes::sarcasm:

[matmar]

75. Why not just eliminate Medicare?

Who needs healthcare in their elder years anyway?

With Democrats like this, who needs Republicans?

[chill_wind]

80. Pelosi: "Let's just see a package," she said. "Let's not … exclude anything."

She's not weighing in for now until she sees it, calling for more transparency.

"It's no use asking me about specific things until we see the whole package," Pelosi said Thursday during a press briefing in the Capitol. "I'm not making any judgment about any package until I see the fuller package that it's a part of."

Still, the California Democrat reiterated her party's insistence on a "balanced" deficit-reduction plan, suggesting that she and her caucus won't support a package that fails to spread the pain of austerity across a class spectrum.

"It's not fair to say to a senior, 'You're going to pay more for Social Security,' and we're not going to touch a hair on the head of the wealthiest people in our country," Pelosi said.

(snip)


The California liberal also repeated her calls for the supercommittee to be more transparent, arguing bluntly that later negotiations must be open to the public.

Pelosi stays mum on proposed Medicare cuts in Dems' supercommittee plan
By Mike Lillis - 10/27/11 12:29 PM ET
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/190221-pelosi-stays-mum-on-dems-supercommittee-plan

[alfredo]

dupe

[alfredo]

81. The Dems knew it would be rejected. Now they look "reasonable"

and the Republicans look, well, like Republicans.

The Reps have already said that they'd reject any new revenues.

[Dont call me Shirley]

83. Called my Sens and Rep, said the Supercomittee is Gangbangers of 12

and no cuts to ss, Medicare, Medicaid. Raise taxes on the rich.

[MilesColtrane]

84. A report from anonymous "congressional aides"?

Those aides wouldn't happen to work for Republicans, would they?

Nah, no way!

[chill_wind]

88. Democratic leadership aides, per WAPO, ABCnews

and a few of the other sources.

“This was a good-faith effort to put something on the table to see what kind of response we would get,” said one Democrat familiar with the talks.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) broached similar ideas in a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio). Democratic leadership aides said the goal was to determine whether a big deal could come together.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/senate-democrats-offer-3-trillion-debt-deal/2011/10/26/gIQAhgvMJM_story.html?hpid=z1

Democratic aides close to the negotiations confirmed that at a closed-door meeting Tuesday, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., presented a plan on behalf of a majority of the Democrats on the 12-member panel. He urged the committee to resume where President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner left off in negotiations on a so-called Grand Bargain, which included a balanced plan to raise new tax revenue, increase the Medicare eligibility age and use a more stingy method to calculate inflation and determine Social Security benefits.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/details-of-dem-proposal-leak-out-of-super-committee-gop-silent-on-next-move/

Saw Sam Stein (HuffPo) has stated since yesterday's reporting that the age eligibility detail isn't/wasn't reportedly part of the entitlement cuts equation.

[MilesColtrane]

90. That adds some credibility.

I still say, even if the committee can come up with a compromise, Congress will never vote for it.

All this gamesmanship and haggling is for naught.

[chill_wind]

107. Depressingly true, if all the recent past is prologue. n/t

[fasttense]

85. Austerity for the working class, luxury for the idle rich.

The new plan man. Bank of America gets .25% loans that they loan to us for 4 to 30%, only a total fool could not make money off of that deal. But if your grandmother wants to see a doctor, then she needs to pull herself up by her own boot straps. No body cares about her dying from lack of medical care but they sure love those cheats and cons on Wall Street.

[stlsaxman]

86. Looks like even Baucus' planned cuts weren't enough for GOP- UPDATE:

UPDATE: In a not-so-shocking development, Republicans on the super-committee have already rejected Baucus' attempt to go big on deficit reduction. They don't like the stimulus and tax measures, and the committee is now deadlocked. Now that the GOP has pushed those items off the table, it will be very interesting to see if the Democrats pull the deep Medicare cuts right off the table as well.


DAMN!!! :wow:

[chill_wind]

89. No surprise, of course.

Thanks for the update.

[spanone]

91. it includes raising taxes....dems know republicans won't touch it.

[quakerboy]

93. Question

How does this proposal compare with the auto cuts that go into effect if they do not make a deal?

[chill_wind]

110. With all the closed door secrecy and conflicting

stuff over the last couple weeks, I'm not one even feeling qualified to guess. One thing, though, is that this latest supposed $3 Trillion package overshoots greatly what they actually have to do ($1.2 trillion) (And medicaid would have been exempted):

If the panel fails to agree on a spending cut package or Congress rejects its plan, a budget enforcement trigger would secure $1.2 trillion in budget savings through across-the-board cuts.

The cuts would be equally divided between defense and non-defense programs but would exempt Social Security, Medicaid and low-income programs.

https://mninews.deutsche-boerse.com/index.php/us-hills-supercommittee-spawns-super-confusion-over-its-work?q=content/us-hills-supercommittee-spawns-super-confusion-over-its-work

L.A. Times says of the $3T package:

The proposal was not aired publicly, but sources indicated that it would combine spending cuts to the Medicare and Medicaid programs with higher taxes on the wealthy. Those familiar with the presentation differed on its ratio of spending cuts to new taxes, with some saying it relied more heavily on tax revenue.

The $500 billion it would cut from Medicare and Medicaid picked up where the summer's negotiations left off. It proposes $400 billion in Medicare cuts equally divided between beneficiaries and providers, and up to $80 billion in cuts to Medicaid.

Revenue would be raised mostly by bumping up the high-end tax bracket and limiting deductions for upper-income earners, those familiar with the talks said.

The Democrats' plan also included using interest savings to pay for elements of Obama's $447-billion jobs proposal, an idea Republicans have shot down.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-super-committee-20111027,0,7821935.story

Reuters said about $400 billion in Medicare savings, split between beneficiaries and cuts to providers and about $100 billion in Medicaid.

Friday, October 21, 2011 - 13:49
US Hill's Supercommittee Spawns Super Confusion Over Its Work
https://mninews.deutsche-boerse.com/index.php/us-hills-supercommittee-spawns-super-confusion-over-its-work?q=content/us-hills-supercommittee-spawns-super-confusion-over-its-work


(It's an interesting piece that talks about all the recent press stories at variance with each other, because of all the transparency problems.)

[hulka38]

94. Can we stop giving the leaders of the Democratic Party cover

by calling them inept at negotiating? They were paid to do this.

[pam4water]

97. +1

[pam4water]

96. Pulls out my hippie lingo: The Super Committee is such a cop-out . Congress what no we

could do anything it all up to the super committee.

[russspeakeasy]

98. I thought democraticcapitulation was one word..

[valerief]

100. Fucking asshole Dems are not better than Repubs. All whores for the .01%. nt

[Fool Count]

101. Capitulation? They want it as much as the republicans, if not more.

I bet it is an absolute love fest in that committee behind closed doors. Sure, they will
make it look good as they always do, like there is an uncompromising partisan struggle
going on. But who are they fooling?

[Marnie]

102. You get the feeling the spinless dims really don't want

their jobs.

Cause that is certainly where they are headed if they give away money, SS & Medicare, that isn't even government income, isn't even their money to misuse.

[yurbud]

103. Does Congress have to approve of their plan before it's enacted? This is a piece of shit.

[chill_wind]

109. That's my understanding. They need to present something

to the larger Congress by November 23. Congress has until sometime in December (Dec 23) to pass something. (Both dates fall close to around holiday times when most people will be getting really busy and won't even be paying that much attention.) That's why Elmendorf is pushing them hard now-- he needs time to look at/score it.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/deficit-super-committee-keeps-congress-in-the-dark-as-deadline-nears/

"By Nov. 23, the panel is supposed to come up with a plan to slice $1.5 trillion in federal deficits over the next 10 years through spending cuts, tax hikes or a combination of both. If seven members agree on a plan, the resulting bill is guaranteed an up or down vote in both houses of Congress. Only one super committee Democrat or Republican would have to switch sides.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/11/nation/la-na-super-committee-20110812

[yurbud]

104. Baucus should be primaried by a real Democrat.

[Stuart G]

105. k & r thanks for posting...nt

[librechik]

108. generations of delaying and obfuscating the REAL costs of doing business

have sent us over the cliff with no rope to hang on to. Years and years of get rich quick and screw the workers. Years of don't ask me, I'm just doing like everybody else has ruined us. Greed kills.

[blkmusclmachine]

111. This is what drowning this Country in a bathtub looks like folks,

with a Big Assist from the DC "Democrats."

[Samantha]

112. Medicare like Social Security is a domestic debtholder in that

the U.S. Government owes the program money due to its surplus.

Sam

[Safetykitten]

113. "Let's go out there and lose one for the team!"

[Dover]

114. Lobbyists claim victory against tax rule

Source: The Hill



The House is expected to approve legislation this week that would repeal an IRS plan to withhold 3 percent of payments to contractors at every level of government.

..//..

Critics of the repeal drive say lawmakers are removing what would be a tough enforcement mechanism for the IRS to help close the gap between what taxes are owed and what’s actually collected.

“It’s the latest sad reversal of cutting down on tax cheating,” said Chuck Marr, director of federal tax policy for the liberal-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “Withholding is a very effective way to enforce the tax code.”


..//..

The lost revenue will be offset by legislation sponsored by Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) that sets strict limits on Medicaid eligibility — a move that was also recommended by the president to the supercommittee. Black’s bill will also be voted on Thursday, the aide said.


http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/189769-lobbyists-claim-victory-against-withholding-tax