Ryan Says a ‘Grand Slam’ Agreement to Curb U.S. Federal Debt Is Unlikely

[steve2470]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-04/ryan-says-congress-unlikely-to-get-grand-slam-debt-agreement.html

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan said he doesn’t expect Congress to reach a “grand slam” agreement to curb government deficits as part of a vote to increase the nation’s debt ceiling.

“I don’t think you’re going to see everything fixed,” Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, said at a Bloomberg Breakfast in Washington today. He said any agreement should focus on a series of new mandatory and discretionary spending cuts and some form of budget process overhaul without revenue increases.

“My hope at this moment is to get a single or a double,” he said, using baseball terminology. “I’m hoping the debt limit is an opportunity to get a down payment on some spending cuts, to get a down payment on some spending reform.”

A less ambitious agreement to raise the debt limit is unlikely to include changes to programs like Medicare that are the long-term drivers of the debt, said Ryan, who last month proposed a plan to privatize the federal health program for the elderly as part of his 2012 budget blueprint.

[Johonny]

1. did he add because he won't raise taxes on the rich?

[Initech]

4. Or cut our overbloated military budget?

[n2doc]

2. I know who gets slammed

and It isn't those who can afford it.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Can I hope that Ryan either strikes out or gets beaned by a line drive?

[Scuba]

5. The only thing being "slammed" will be cell doors after these criminals are exposed....

Oh, and Ryan will get slammed in the next election.