Deficit 'super committee' may put off decisions

Los Angeles Times ^ | November 11,2011 | Lisa Mascaro

[Hojczyk]

Rather than risk stark failure, the congressional panel could decide now on only the outline of a deal, deferring the tougher calls until after the 2012 election.

Some Republican leaders believe the White House would prefer to see the committee fail so that Obama could continue to run against a "do-nothing Congress."

"It does raise your suspicion," said Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader. "If the joint committee succeeds, it steps on the story line that they've been peddling, which is that you can't do anything with the Republicans in Congress."

Democrats have their own suspicions — that Republicans do not want any action that might seem to be an Obama success.

A compromise would assuredly result in an uproar on the political left and right, signs of which have already emerged. AARP is running ads warning lawmakers not to dare cut Medicare or Social Security. Top conservatives have made it clear that compromise on new taxes would be politically unforgivable.

Alienating so many important constituencies just as the 2012 campaign season is underway would be a tall order, even if the result could be followed by a grand political bargain.

But with time running short, many in Congress are loath to walk away from the possibility of a history-making achievement. Never before, experts say, has one group of lawmakers been given as much power as the super committee wields. Any proposal the committee members agree to has a guarantee of an up or down vote in both houses of Congress, bypassing the Senate's ability to filibuster.

"At this point it's in our hands on Capitol Hill," said Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.). "We have this committee with extraordinary power and opportunity, and I hope they use it."

[Captain Kirk]

Pull the triggers! No delays.

[Rudder]

So far this super committee looks like it was One Big Assed Mistake.

[SkyPilot]

Prediction:

Entitlement and endless welfare will never be cut - the Democrats won't allow it. It is only when our nation suddenly finds itself in a financial crisis of horrific proportions that the checks and gravy train to greedy voters will even be minimally curtailed.

Defense will be decimated beyond the carnage that has already been enacted.

Republicans will try to compromise, agreeing to tax reform and some increases (i.e. scrapping the mortgage deduction and other taxes), the Democrats will deal in bad faith.

Obama and the Democrats don't want a "deal", and they won't allow one.

[Parley Baer]

The Republicans should not have agreed to this “super committee” in the first place. The rules and every thing else about it just stinks. We need new leadership in the House and Senate as these guys are not cutting it.

[Truth29]

I wonder if such a postponement would require new legislation passed by both houses and signed by Obama?

[chuckee]

“the congressional panel could decide now on only the outline of a deal, deferring the tougher calls until after the 2012 election.”

Outline=copout. The Dem members of the panel can submit an outline rather than cutting spending provided they agree that rather than actually being permitted to run for reelection we will accept an outline of how they would have voted had they been reelected.

[Rocky]

To quote Tom Daschle (when he was a senator): “I’m shocked. And deeply saddened.”

No one ever saw this coming, right?

[Mark17]

It is only when our nation suddenly finds itself in a financial crisis of horrific proportions that the checks and gravy train to greedy voters will even be minimally curtailed.

That day is coming, maybe sooner than people think. I think the violence that follows, will be worse than the Greeks ever thought of. I am so cynical of the Demon Rats, that I think they want the economy to collapse, so Obama can be a dictator.

[Calusa]

Bull$$TT!!! The rats win again!! Delay, obfuscate and conquer. Oh, well we all knew this would happen, but we played along with the make believe . So we deserve what’s coming to us now.

[Brandonmark]

Another example of politicians in both parties who care more about their next election than the future of our country!

[Jabba the Nutt]

Thursday evening, I got a call from my Congressman Dave Camp, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and member of the super committee to participate in a telephonic townhall. I had just heard on Hannity's radio show, how Rand Paul reported that the Democrats walked away from the committee.

Camp made a few opening remarks... blah, blah, blah ..., then opened it up for questions. The first question was to ask why Republicans and Democrats couldn't work together in Washington. Camp: blah, blah, blah. I got the 4th or 5th question, I reported that Sen. Paul said the Democrats left the negotiations. I asked Cong. Camp hadn't told the people this, that the Democrats didn't want a deal. Camp: blah, blah, blah. Another question, Camp: blah, blah, blah .... click. I couldn't take it any longer.

Camp protected the Democrats. Camp signed on to the deal that he'd be willing to accept more "revenue" to make a deal with the Democrats. Camp is a squish. I'm sick to death of Republican squishes. The nation is on the brink and elected Republicans are squishes. It's sick.

[Starboard]

“The Republicans should not have agreed to this “super committee” in the first place.”

The Stupid Party got snookered again by the Dems.

[musicman]

Just A Reminder
Please Don't Forget
To Donate To FR

Sponsoring FReepers are contributing
$10 Each time a New Monthly Donor signs up!
Get more bang for your FR buck!
Click Here To Sign Up Now!

[jpsb]

Is the can reaching the end of the road?

[MontaniSemperLiberi]

“Defense will be decimated beyond the carnage that has already been enacted.”

What? Defense spending has increased 44% since 2007. It’s gone from 4% of GDP to 5%.

Nothing will be cut. This is a tax raising committee.

The US economy will continue to stagnate as the politicians talk about more tricks and enact half hearted measures that will apply to the “out years”. We will crash and I see two likely scenarios, we will either dissolve the US or come under socialist rule.

[MontaniSemperLiberi]

Two to five years per the lessons of economic history and simple calculations..

[LS]

Stunned, I tell you, stunned! Who would have thought that the congresscritters would duck making a tough decision?

[LS]

Er, check, check, check, and check. Yep, I think you pretty well summed up what the supercowards will do.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Everyone who didn’t know this would happen raise their hand. I rest my case.