Tom Harkin lays it down: any balanced fiscal deal MUST include 1-to-1 ratio of cuts to revenue!

[Report1212]

I was getting sick of Democrats saying 2-to-1 is "balanced." Thank you Tom Harkin!

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As Democrats and Republicans continue to negotiate over the contours of a fiscal deal, many Democrats have propositioned the idea that any agreement should include a ratio of cuts-to-revenue of 2-to-1. This is a model that President Obama chose for his most recent budget request, for example.

But 2-to-1 isn’t balanced. Balanced means at least equal parts cuts and revenue. Progressive Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) has stepped up to the plate and unveiled a new petition to Obama that not only calls on him to reject damaging cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits, but also assure a 1-to-1 ratio of cuts to revenue in any deal:

Read more: http://boldprogressives.org/senator-tom-harkin-says-any-fiscal-deal-must-include-1-to-1-ratio-of-cuts-to-revenue/

[Gregorian]

1. Cuts to the military are the only ones we should be making.

[unblock]

2. even 1-to-1 is silly. just look at what caused the deficits and reverse that.

of course republicans are all over any logic that lets them justify cutting spending for those in need, but the reality is that we didn't get into this fiscal situation because of the rather small increase in food stamp spending.

we got here primarily because of the tax cuts, the recession, the the surge in military spending, and the stimulus/bailouts.

to the extent spending needs to be cut at all, it should be in the military as we're no longer spending what we had been in afghanistan and iraq, and winding down any remaining stimulus/bailout programs.



republicans constantly make gains by causing problems that benefit the rich, then solving problems on the backs of the poor.

[limpyhobbler]

5. +1

Find what caused the deficit and reverse it.

[DJ13]

6. agreed

the lower classes have sacrificed enough over the last 30 years, let the upper classes pay for their good times.

[uponit7771]

3. Yes, cut military spend and increase taxes on the rich. Middle class as suffered already

[woo me with science]

4. No, the looting and the pain were not 1:1

so neither should be the solution.

As others have said above, if they want cuts, cut the damned wars. Cut the drones, and cut the Department of Homeland Security. Cut the militarization of our police forces. Cut the surveillance state and the new spy center in Utah. Cut the warmongering.

[Report1212]

7. Also fair points nt

[Oilwellian]

8. Now they have Harkin on board for cuts to the safety net?

I get so goddamned sick when any Democrat calls for safety net cuts.

[HiPointDem]

10. the whole party with few exceptions is on board.

[oasis]

9. Harkin's my hero

[HiPointDem]

11. how is this heroic? "the rack is too extreme, we'll stick with the lash" the fact that there *will

be* punishment is assumed, only the degree is at issue.

good guys vote for the lash!