Dems Should Be Scared of This Man—and His Budget

Brown breaks with party over Medicare overhaul

(NEWSER) - Scott Brown is taking flak from fellow Republicans over an op-ed in Politico in which he explains why he opposes the House GOP budget drafted by Paul Ryan. The Massachusetts senator, who opposes Ryan's plan to privatize Medicare, "ought to be ashamed of himself," says Rep. Joe Walsh, an Illinois Republican. "This is the defining moment of this generation. We have got to be bold. We know these entitlements have to be reformed to be saved. He knows that." More»

Both parties' fixes amount to 'wishful thinking': Robert Samuelson

(NEWSER) - Republicans and Democrats both claim to have a plan to fix the budget, but neither party is offering a realistic approach. It’s time for Dems to admit that “spending control requires genuine cuts in Social Security and Medicare”—and it’s time for the GOP to recognize that “tax increases will be needed to balance the budget,” writes Robert Samuelson in Real Clear Politics . Instead, we’ve got “a public relations war,” with both sides employing “wishful thinking designed to make it seem that they're accomplishing more than they are.” More»

Congress would have to act if 'magical' growth fails to materialize

(NEWSER) - Amid the reaction to President Obama's budget speech (ranging from it was terrific to it was "a disgrace" ) at least two columnists think his proposed trigger—Congress would have to cut more spending or raise taxes if deficit targets aren't met—is significant. This "may be the most important specific proposal in Obama’s plan, and a sign of its credibility, because it addresses the glaring flaw in almost every budget proposal: magical assumptions about economic growth, tax revenue, efficiencies and cost reductions," writes Fareed Zakaria in the Washington Post . If those "magical" numbers don't materialize, "Congress is forced to act." More»

Both parties are 'incompetent and cowardly,' says Kristof

(NEWSER) - Both the Democrats and Republicans are acting like squabbling adolescents, slams Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times . "It’s unclear where the adults are, but they don’t seem to be in Washington," he says, adding "it’s painful how vapid the discourse is and how incompetent and cowardly our leaders have proved to be." Among his criticisms:

• The whole shutdown mess is because Democrats, afraid of GOP criticism ahead of midterm elections, didn't pass a budget last year. "So in gross dereliction of duty, the Democrats punted." Great.

At the same time, it would lower taxes on corporations, the rich

(NEWSER) - Republicans unveiled a bold 2012 budget proposal today that, architect Paul Ryan boasts in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, “moves the debate from billions in spending cuts to trillions.” Ryan’s budget comes in at $3.53 trillion , or $179 billion less than President Obama’s . But he boasts that it would shave off $6.2 trillion over the next decade, balancing the budget by 2015. The budget would:

• Roll domestic spending back to 2008 levels and freeze it there, proposing cuts in agriculture subsidies and the federal workforce, among other things.