Boehner "optimistic," demands trillion-dollar cuts

[cali]

WASHINGTON | Thu May 5, 2011 12:34pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Speaker John Boehner voiced optimism on Thursday about new deficit-reduction talks led by Vice President Joe Biden, but said Republicans will not vote to raise the debt limit without trillions of dollars in spending cuts.

"I'm always optimistic that these conversations will lead somewhere," Boehner said shortly after Biden opened the first meeting of a seven-member, bipartisan congressional group.

"I wish them well. I hope we that we can come to some agreement and as soon as possible," said Boehner.

The speaker reaffirmed his position that he and his fellow Republicans would not agree to an increase in the U.S. debt limit with budget reforms and "real spending cuts."

Asked to define "real spending cuts," Boehner said, "It is time to start talking about trillions" of dollars, instead of the billions and tens of billions debated in earlier budget battles this year.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/05/us-usa-budget-boehner-idUSTRE74453D20110505

[Deep13]

1. Boehner's sniffing glue. nt

[sakabatou]

2. That or tanning oils

[sadbear]

3. They can start with the Pentagon

[Drale]

4. HES A TERRORIST ARREST HIM NOW!!!!!!!

[LeftofObama]

5. Let's start with congressional salaries and benefits

and see where it goes from there.

[JohnnyRingo]

6. His next breath will undoubtedly reveal trillion dollar tax cuts.

The whole budget cutting exercise by Republicans is a ploy to eliminate funding for programs they don't like. The first casualty was predictably The National Endowment For The Arts, a so non-threatening institution that I never understood why it was always #1 on their hit list.