Debt ceiling deal is there, but it's all up to McCarthy

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By Jonathan Bernstein / Bloomberg Opinion

The odd thing about the debt limit negotiations is that it isn’t hard to imagine a compromise on the big issues separating the two parties.

As part of a deal to raise the borrowing limit, Democrats could offer to accept some Republican cuts in federal spending, coupled with a few other GOP priorities such as changes to the permitting process for energy projects and a deal to rescind unspent covid relief funds. Republicans wouldn’t get all they want; spending would be trimmed, not slashed, and the big Democratic legislative achievement passed last year, the health-and-climate measure officially known as the Inflation Reduction Act, wouldn’t be repealed.

If the contours of a deal are obvious to most of us, why can’t the two sides get there?

The primary problem remains the pernicious politics of the House GOP caucus. Some 50 or so of the most extreme House Republicans are almost certain to oppose any deal that President Joe Biden would sign on to. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy barely managed to keep them on board for the partisan messaging bill passed last week that gave far-right members a lot of things they wanted (most of which would never be tolerated by Democrats). And since many mainstream conservatives in the House are reluctant to allow any room between themselves and the extremists, it will be hard to get as many as half the party on board with a compromise, so any deal will fall short in the House.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-debt-ceiling-deal-is-there-but-its-all-up-to-mccarthy/

[riversedge]

1. Its like the border issue--repugs do NOT want it fixex-they just want blame the Dems for

any and all problems.

[The Magistrate]

2. Mr. Bernstein, Sir, Engages In Prime Palaver

There is no righteous second bite at the apple. The spending has been voted into law. Republicans had the opportunity to defeat spending measures then. They failed.

Now they try extortion, holding the nation and global economy hostage. They do this for two reasons.

First, in order to be cruel, to harm many citizens, mostly people who do not vote for them, to make people's lives more difficult financially and socially.

Second, to further enrich fossil fuel corporations and other special interests, and by doing so, to enrich themselves personally.

Neither goal is worthwhile, achieving either would not justify squashing a louse.

If these shit-heels had any interest in reducing government debt, the discussion would consist of what taxes shall be raised and on whom.

[mac56]

4. This

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Whittling away Democratic priorities to suit energy and spending cuts demanded by extremists

Vague offer. "some Republican cuts", a "few other priorities", "permitting process"