Top Dems: Entitlements Off The Table In Cliff Talks

[DonViejo]

Democratic leaders, frustrated by the GOP’s unwillingness to reckon with the need to raise taxes, are publicly airing the hard-bargaining demands they’re bringing to budget negotiations with Republicans.

The Senate’s top two Democrats, in separate remarks Tuesday, each said that Congress could avoid looming across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts if House Republicans agree to freeze all the Bush tax rates except those benefitting top earners. If that were accompanied by an increase in the debt limit, and the creation of a separate track for reforming the tax code and social safety net programs in 2013, the near-term austerity problem will be solved, and lawmakers can call it a day.

In other words, Senate Democrats are staking out the position that entitlement reform should not be on the table in fiscal cliff negotiations.

“If we fail to reach an agreement, the average middle-class family will see their taxes go up by $2,200 a year,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told reporters at his weekly press availability. “As I’ve indicated, the Senate has already reacted to stop that and the House is one vote away from making that a reality for many millions of Americans who are middle class.”

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read more:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/11/democrats-big-budget-ask.php?ref=fpb

[still_one]

1. do not touch entitlements. If they "go off the cliff", then submit a new bill that just include tax

breaks for those that make less than 250K

Have a spine Congress, we won the election

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

2. I really would like

a different word than entitlements to be used for SS and Medicare. The word has been hijacked by the right and it sounds like a giveaway now. How about 'earned benefits' are off the table?

[CTyankee]

3. Great suggestion! It's disturbing to me that the Dems haven't already started calling

them "earned benefits." Doing so would just about finish the Republicans arguments. Most people would say "Yep, I EARNED those benefits, no one 'gave' them to me!"

[Samantha]

5. I have already started using it

Maybe more will start. Good suggestion.

Sam

[frazzled]

4. Till 2013

They're just saying, "renew tax cuts for middle class and let the top ones expire, and also raise the debt ceiling now, and we'll talk about entitlements and tax code reform separately, later." This is just about avoiding the so-called "cliff," in which the Bush tax cuts expire altogether and automatic cuts (draconian) voted in last year occur.