White House agrees to $6 billion more budget cuts (Obama compromises before negotiations begin)

[Cali_Democrat]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/03/AR2011030302110.html

White House agrees to $6 billion more budget cuts
By JULIE PACE
The Associated Press
Thursday, March 3, 2011; 4:58 PM

WASHINGTON -- With only two weeks to cut a deal, the White House proposed more than $6 billion in spending cuts Thursday as part of its opening bid in negotiations with congressional Republicans over how to keep the government operating through Sept. 30 and avoid a shutdown.

White House economic adviser Gene Sperling did not specify where the cuts would be made, but the figure set the stage for fresh talks Thursday between Vice President Joe Biden, White House budget officials and the bipartisan leadership of Congress.

<snip>

"We're willing to cut further if we can find common ground on a budget that we think reduces spending in the right way while protecting our investments in education, innovation and research," Sperling said.

A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, Brendan Buck, dismissed the White House number as "little more than the status quo."

Read more...http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/03/AR2011030302110.html

[emulatorloo]

1. Who looks unreasonable here? I think it is Boehner

[rucky]

10. does it really matter?

how's being reasonable been working out?

[emulatorloo]

14. "protecting our investments in education, innovation and research"

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. And Boehner says it's not enough.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. Of course he's gonna say that

Until Obama moves firmly over to his position.

[ClarkUSA]

4. It's called negotiation and it's not anywhere near what Republicans want.

Read more here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=621978&mesg_id=622044

[JuniperLea]

7. BUT HE'S A MAGIC NEGRO!!!

He could fix all of our ills day one if he wanted to! He's faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!

Ugh... this is really getting old.

[WolfoftheWild]

25. Obama hate is getting downright ancient.

[ClarkUSA]

27. AND HIS MAGIC WAND CAN RULE THE TEABAGGERS IN CONGRESS WITH ONE WAVE!

Fortunately, Obama supporters always are vindicated in the end (e.g., DADT repeal, HCR being an open door to single-payer and the public option,etc.).

This budget process will be very contentious, but already Republicans are whining. They know that polls are not being kind to their POV so they better tread lightly in their threats to shut down government.

[JuniperLea]

5. "Gene Sperling did not specify where the cuts would be made..."

If you don't know where the cuts were made, how can you know Obama compromised at all? How do you know the cuts weren't from more bullshit earmarks like Boehner's building of war machines the Pentagon doesn't even want?

Sounds like hubris to me.

[truebrit71]

6. If you're so worried about the deficit, quit adding to it by giving tax breaks to the rich...

Here Mr. President I'll make it simple for you...


TAX.THE.RICH.FIRST.


See that? You stop adding to the deficit, the folks that voted for you will love you for it, and you'll be re-elected, because I promise you this, if you keep giving away the farm, you'll be unemployed come Jan 2013.

[rucky]

8. And the oil subsidies will remain untouched.

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/146843-house-thwarts-dem-bid-on-oil-tax-breaks

[ClarkUSA]

13. Because the House GOP voted unanimously against taking them out.

n/t

[rucky]

19. shouldn't that have been used as leverage?

how did they get a line-item vote on that one?

[ClarkUSA]

22. What are you talking about? House Dems have zero leverage.

n/t

[dkofos]

9. The master negotiator strikes again.

Not sure the country can afford much more his brilliance.

[ClarkUSA]

17. Well, considering Republicans are whining about his offer already, I'd say it's a good sign.

Read more: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=621978&mesg_id=622044

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClarkUSA]

15. Really?

Read this before you pack his bags:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=621978&mesg_id=622044

[emulatorloo]

16. Sorry, read the article, Boehner looks like a fool

[Bandit]

12. As long as they don't cut anything for the Corporations and the wealthy

Cut all children's programs and health related programs and all will be gravy..I would bet most anything that is basically where he is at.

[ClarkUSA]

21. Why blame Obama? How would you pass the budget against a House controlled by teabaggers?

Read this before you assume "where he is at":
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=621978&mesg_id=622044

[Bandit]

29. I have had two years now of where Obama's at

It is not with the American people. He had a strong Bully pulpit with a Super Majority in both Houses and yet what did we get? We got a Health Insurance Bill that was first introduced by Bob Dole and Newt Gingrich in 1994. We got a financial reform bill that reformed nothing, we got constant aid to the Corporations and nothing for the American people, we got more war and killing, we got tax cuts for the very wealthy after him promising they would be gone..I am pretty damn sure exactly where he is at and it makes me ill.

[ClarkUSA]

30. You haven't been paying close attention.

"Super Majority in both Houses"?? Not of Democrats. With Joe Lieberman? I think not.

As Obama supporters have said before, HCR's purpose was to open the barn door to single-payer and the public option, which President Obama did this week at the National Governor's conference at the WH.

<< We got a financial reform bill that reformed nothing, we got constant aid to the Corporations and nothing for the American people>>

Wrong.

The very first thing that the Reform Act done was lower interest rates. In the past, credit card companies had the ability to charge outrageous interest rates and then had the leverage to increase that rate on people who had a hard time paying their credit card payments. Credit cards had to be written off due to non payment and the amassed bad credit paid a toll on the companies. They say this contributed to the credit crisis. It did, but then again the credit card companies were still giving credit to anyone and everyone knowing that they had the option of the card being written off. Lower interest rates mean that cards will be paid off and not written off.

More benefits of credit card reform:

Fees Controlled

The biggest thing about the Credit Card Reform Act that has helped consumers is that the credit card companies can no longer charge those outrageous fees. Now they have to keep the same due date each month and not change it because someone is late on their payment. Credit card companies can no longer charge fees for payments made online or over the telephone. The little outrageous fees that the credit card companies were profiting on are now eliminated.

http://www.usmoneytalk.com/finance/credit-card-reform-act-does-this-actually-do-anything-for-anybody-909/

Here are some definitive positive changes that credit card reform created for consumers:

5 Positive Aspects Of The New Credit Card Regulations:

1. No retroactive interest increases – a credit card company cannot increase the interest rate and have it apply to a pre-existing balance.
2. Limits on Fees – the fees on a yearly credit card can be no more than 25% of the initial credit limit
3. Rates Cannot be Changed for Late payments on unrelated loans. If miss payments on an unrelated consumer loan, the credit company cannot use the practice known as universal default to increase your interest rate.
4. Application of Balance – If you pay over the minimum amount on your credit card each month, the additional amount must apply the payment to the balance with the highest interest rate.
5. Timely Billing – The credit card company cannot issue a bill several days before it is due and then charge you late fees. The bill must be issued at least 21 days before you must pay the bill each month.

Other Aspects

One aspect that may impact college age consumers is that a new credit card cannot be issued to a person who is under 21 years of age. Students in college and young people who enter the military cannot be issued credit cards. This prevents them from abusing credit, but it also prevent responsible people under the age of 21 from building credit.

http://www.usmoneytalk.com/finance/credit-card-reform-act-5-positive-aspects-for-americans-904/

<<we got more war and killing>>

He never promised there would be no more war, so why are you blaming him for that? He has ended the Iraq war as promised, though.

<<we got tax cuts for the very wealthy after him promising they would be gone>>

Provide a quote where he promised that. He tried his best but Republicans held UI extension and middle-class tax cuts hostage so they will now end in 2014.

What makes me ill is the extent some people will go to misrepresent the facts in order to blame President Obama for anything and everything without any suggestion as to how they would have passed legislation any better.

[BlueCheese]

18. This is how it seems to go.

Dems: You want to cut $60 billion. Okay, we'll agree to cut $6 billion. We think it shows our good faith in starting talks.
GOP: Not enough.
Dems: Okay, $10 billion. What do you say?
GOP: Not enough.
Dems: Okay, $20 billion. Let's negotiate.
GOP: Not enough.
Dems: $30 billion. You have to agree that's more than fair.
GOP: Not enough.
Dems: Okay, $40 billion, we're stretching it as it is.
GOP: $55 billion. Take it or leave it.
Dems: Agreed.

Dems, to liberals: We really hate this deal, but we had to go along. But don't worry, we'll really fight hard next time. And good news! We managed to save $5 billion in spending cuts to programs for the poor that the GOP wanted.
Newspaper columnists: It's a great deal. It shows that the White House is serious about the budget, and yet preserves needed funding for the poor. It positions Obama well for 2012. He looks like the adult in the room.
Liberals: Wait a minute. What about these $55 billion in cuts to the middle class and poor? Aren't they cruel and gratuitous? Why did we extend tax cuts for the wealthy?
Dems: Look, we had to agree to this. Otherwise they'd shut down the government, and people would blame us. And besides, who are you going to vote for? Sarah Palin?

[ClarkUSA]

24. Can I borrow your crystal ball for next month's lottery?

:sarcasm:

[piratefish08]

20. $6B - what's that? A week or 2 of war?

[somone]

23. It's a well-proven winning strategy

[ClarkUSA]

28. Yeah, look at DADT repeal, HCR leading to opening the door for single payer & the public option, etc

Thus, your snark is as invalid as that whiny cartoon you proffer.

[ProSense]

26. McConnell, ready with his meme, is pushing it at The Hill:

Time for Democrats to present a serious plan

By Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Thursday regarding the need to reduce Washington spending.

Mr. President, for two years, Washington Democrats have taken fiscal recklessness to new heights. They’ve spent trillions of dollars we don’t have on things we don’t need and can’t afford.

The amount of red ink Democrats plan to rack up this year alone would exceed all the debt run up by the federal government from its inception through 1984. This recklessness is the reason we’ve seen a national uprising against their policies. Americans have demanded that we reverse this recklessness and restore balance.

Democrats have resisted at every turn. To conceal the extent of their spending plans, they didn’t even pass a budget last year.

After a nationwide repudiation of their policies in November, they proposed a massive spending bill loaded with new spending that amounted to a slap in the face to the voters.

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