super committee

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Super Committee May Punt on Toughest Tax Decisions

Temporary deal would defer details until after the 2012 elections

(Newser) - With Congress's debt committee apparently deadlocked and its Nov. 23 deadline looming, both parties are talking about putting off the toughest decisions until after the 2012 elections, reports the LA Times . Worried that a final deal would only inflame both bases and that outright failure would result in brutal...

Pelosi to Jon Stewart: Let's Televise the Super Committee

That would make for some scintillating viewing

(Newser) - Jon Stewart had some tough issues to discuss with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi last night , such as Congress’s abysmal approval rating (“You wonder, who are these people who approve of Congress, this 9%?” she mused). But Pelosi had one inspired idea to reduce America’s debt, as...

Deficit Talks Deadlocked, Despite GOP Revenue Offer

Democrats say it's not high enough

(Newser) - Republicans on the deficit super committee finally budged on revenues this week, in what Dick Durbin yesterday hailed as “a breakthrough” in the talks. But Democrats swiftly rejected the GOP’s offer for $350 billion in new revenue as insufficient, leaving the committee about where it was—with less...

GOP Offers New Tax Deal, Backs Higher Revenue

Democrats dismiss it, say it hurts middle class

(Newser) - With a Thanksgiving deadline fast approaching, the GOP members of a deficit-reduction supercommittee are pressing a plan to cut the deficit by about $1.5 trillion over the coming decade, showing flexibility on tax revenue increases for the first time while proposing to gradually raise the Medicare eligibility age to...

Lawmakers Vow to Stop Defense Cuts if Panel Fails

Pessimism mounts that supercommittee will reach a deal

(Newser) - Your latest sign that the debt supercommittee isn't going to reach a deal: Lawmakers in both parties already are scrambling to ward off the $500 billion in across-the-board defense cuts that are supposed to be triggered by such a failure, reports the New York Times . Legislation is being drafted...

Debt Plan Will Contain New Tax Revenues: Boehner

But entitlements must be adjusted, speaker says

(Newser) - Despite Republican leaders' push against a tax hike, the super committee debt deal will include new tax revenues, John Boehner said yesterday. "I think there is room for revenues, but I think there clearly is a limit to the amount of revenues that are available." His comments follow...

Bipartisan Letter to Super Committee: Blow Past $1.5T

40 GOP reps now open to revenue hikes

(Newser) - A collection of 100 House members—including, critically, 40 Republicans—have sent a bipartisan letter urging the deficit reduction “super committee” to create a broad deal that would both trim entitlement cuts and boost revenue. “To succeed, all options for mandatory discretionary spending and revenues must be on...

Should We Cut &#39;Useless&#39; Defense Spending?
Should We Cut 'Useless' Defense Spending?
Krugman vs. Samuelson
Oct 31, 2011 1:41 PM CDT

Should We Cut 'Useless' Defense Spending?

Paul Krugman and Robert Samuelson both say no, but for different reasons

(Newser) - With the deficit super committee’s deadline looming , debate is raging over whether to cut defense spending. Robert Samuelson calls that urge "dangerous," writing in the Washington Post that military spending is actually down as a percentage of our budget. In recent decades "spending on social programs...

Super Committee Republicans, Democrats Not Even Close
 Clock Ticking, 
 Super Committee 
 Still Worlds Apart 
DEADLINE: NOV. 23
Oct 27, 2011 7:59 AM CDT

Clock Ticking, Super Committee Still Worlds Apart

Republicans continue to refuse to give ground on taxes

(Newser) - With their November 23 deadline looming, Democrats and Republicans on the deficit “supercommittee” exchanged initial plans yesterday—and they weren’t even close. While both sides are willing to cut entitlements, Republicans remain unwilling to compromise on taxes, Politico reports. The Republican proposal—which is about a third smaller...

Super Committee Dems Propose $3T Debt Deal

It includes big slashes to Medicare

(Newser) - Democrats threw a whopper of a deal onto the table in a closed-door super committee meeting yesterday, offering a plan that would slash between $2.5 trillion and $3 trillion from the deficit over the next 10 years, while providing between $200 billion and $300 billion in new stimulus spending,...

For Obama, Populist Fighting Is &#39;Suicide&#39;
 For Obama, Populist  
 Fighting Is 'Suicide' 
David Brooks
Oct 25, 2011 10:30 AM CDT

For Obama, Populist Fighting Is 'Suicide'

He's a conciliator, and he looks fake trying otherwise: David Brooks

(Newser) - With trust in government at an all-time low and independent voters identifying with Republicans over Democrats by a two-to-one margin, it's "suicide" for President Obama to try being a partisan fighter, writes David Brooks in the New York Times . Obama was elected to be a conciliator, not a...

Deficit Panel Floundering
 Deficit Panel Floundering 
5 weeks til deadline
Oct 19, 2011 7:40 AM CDT

Deficit Panel Floundering

Party leaders may have to light a rocket under 'supercommittee'

(Newser) - The bipartisan panel tasked with finding ways to cut more than $1 trillion from the federal deficit is only five weeks away from its Nov. 23 deadline, and you might not be flabbergasted to learn that it is having trouble reaching an agreement—or even agreeing on basic starting positions....

Debt Super Committee an Open Book—for Lobbyists

Influence peddlers get their due

(Newser) - The debt “super committee” tends to meet in secret, won’t disclose its donors or post its documents online, and has turned a deaf ear to calls for greater transparency from good government groups—but it’s an open book to the best connected lobbyists on K Street, Politico...

If We Took Buffett's Advice, How Much Would It Help?

Quite a bit—but it likely won't happen

(Newser) - Warren Buffett made waves yesterday when he told the federal government to stop "coddling" him and other wealthy Americans and raise taxes on the rich. His plan would roll back the Bush tax cuts on people who earn more than $1 million and on capital gains and dividends income,...

Special Interests Gave 'Super Committee' Members $3M

Donors have a stake in spending cuts

(Newser) - The 12 members of the new budget super committee have received more than $3 million over the past five years from special interests directly affected by potential cuts, an AP review finds. The money came from groups linked to defense contractors, labor unions, and health care providers, and buffered the...

Pelosi's 3 'Super' Picks: Becerra, Clyburn, Van Hollen

Panel charged with finding $1.5T in cuts is now complete

(Newser) - The "super committee" is complete: Nancy Pelosi filled in the final three positions of the 12-member panel today by picking James Clyburn of South Carolina, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, and Xavier Becerra of California, reports the Hill . Clyburn and Becerra are the top-ranking African-American and Latino lawmakers in...

Why Fred Upton Is a Smart Pick by Boehner

He has a reputation as a moderate, but he won't act like one: Steve Kornacki

(Newser) - John Boehner raised eyebrows by selecting Michigan congressman Fred Upton for the debt super committee. After all, explains Steve Kornacki at Salon , Upton has the reputation of being a moderate and an "individual thinker" unafraid to buck his party. Might he provide Democrats with the crucial GOP vote they'...

Keep These Debt Talks Behind Closed Doors

Transparency would reward special-interest groups: Joshua Green

(Newser) - The "super committee" that will try to find $1.5 trillion in agreed-upon cuts is nearly in place , and there's a growing sentiment that their negotiations should be open to the public. "That's an absolutely terrible idea," writes Joshua Green at the Atlantic . Only special-interest...

GOP Makes Its Debt Super-Committee Picks

Here you go: Hensarling, Camp, Upton, Kyl, Toomey, Portman

(Newser) - We're three-quarters of the way there. The GOP today announced its picks to serve on the debt "super committee," bringing the total number of seats filled to nine. At the top of John Boehner's list is Texan Jeb Hensarling, who will co-chair the committee with Democratic...

Patty Murray Will Co-Chair Debt 'Super Committee'

Harry Reid's other picks for panel are John Kerry and Max Baucus

(Newser) - Three down, nine to go. Harry Reid made his three picks for the bipartisan "super committee" that will try to come up with $1.2 trillion of cuts in about 3 months. Reid picked Patty Murray, who will serve as co-chair with a yet-to-be-named Republican, along with John Kerry...

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