http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/31/debt.talks/index.html?iref=BN1
Two days before the deadline for a possible U.S. government default, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders reached agreement Sunday on a legislative package that would extend the federal debt ceiling while cutting spending and guaranteeing further deficit-reduction steps.
The proposed deal, which still requires congressional approval, brought some immediate relief to global markets closely watching the situation play out and to a nation filled with anger and frustration over partisan political wrangling that threatened further economic harm to an already struggling recovery.
However, there is no guarantee the plan will win enough support to pass both chambers of Congress.
"There are still some very important votes to be taken by members of Congress, but I want to announce that the leaders of both parties in both chambers have reached an agreement that will reduce the deficit and avoid default," Obama said in brief remarks to reporters.
Democratic and Republican leaders in both the House and Senate were briefing their caucuses about the agreement on Sunday night and Monday. A Senate Democratic leadership aide told CNN that the Senate planned to vote first on the measure on Monday afternoon, and if the measure passes an expected Republican filibuster attempt, the House could vote on it Monday night.
According to information from the White House and a PowerPoint presentation for his colleagues by House Speaker John Boehner, the proposed deal includes $2.4 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years while authorizing an increase in the federal debt ceiling by a slightly smaller amount to allow the government to pay its debts through 2012.
The agreement proposes a two-stage process.
In the first stage, it includes $917 billion in spending cuts and other deficit reduction now, as well as a $900 billion increase in the debt ceiling.
Because of the pending Tuesday deadline, Obama would have immediate authority to raise the debt ceiling by $400 billion, which will last through September, according to the White House document. For the other $500 billion of debt ceiling extension in the first stage, Congress can vote on resolutions of disapproval that, if passed, the president can then veto, the White House said.
In the second stage, a special joint committee of Congress will recommend further deficit reduction steps totaling $1.5 trillion or more by the end of November, with Congress obligated to vote on the panel's proposals by the end of the year.
If the recommendations are enacted, Obama would be authorized to increase the debt ceiling by up to $1.5 trillion -- as long as the additional deficit reduction steps exceed that amount. The president also can get the additional debt ceiling increase if both chambers of Congress pass a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution in votes to be held by the end of the year.
However, Obama would be able to request only up to $1.2 trillion in additional debt ceiling if the special congressional committee fails to agree to at least $1.2 trillion in cuts.
At that point, across-the-board spending cuts would be activated, equal to the difference between the committee's recommendations and the $1.2 trillion in additional debt ceiling. The across-the-board cuts would be split between defense spending and non-defense programs, an unpopular formula intended to inspire legislators to approve the special committee's recommendations instead of triggering such automatic cuts.
In addition, the across-the-board cuts are automatically enacted if Congress fails to pass the special committee's recommendations.
"You want to make it hard for them just to walk away and wash their hands," Gene Sperling, the director of Obama's National Economic Council, told CNN earlier Sunday. "You want them to say, if nothing happens, there will be a very tough degree of pain that will take place."
The White House document said the debt ceiling increase of the second stage also would be subject to a congressional vote of disapproval that can be vetoed.
It said the special congressional committee would comprise 12 members -- six from each chamber, equally divided between Democrats and Republicans. The panel's recommendations would be due by November 23 and guaranteed an up-or-down Senate vote without amendments by December 23, the White House document said.
In an important concession to Democrats, benefits from entitlement programs including Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare and veterans benefits will be exempt.
"Is this the deal I would have preferred? No," Obama said. "I believe that we could have made the tough choices required -- on entitlement reform and tax reform -- right now, rather than through a special congressional committee process. But this compromise does make a serious down payment on the deficit reduction we need, and gives each party a strong incentive to get a balanced plan done before the end of the year."
Boehner also told his caucus the deal represents a compromise, but he also praised his colleagues for moving the focus of the talks in their direction.
"This isn't the greatest deal in the world," Boehner said, according to excerpts of remarks to his caucus. "But it shows how much we've changed the terms of the debate in this town."
Minutes before Obama spoke, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, also announced the deal on the Senate floor and encouraged colleagues to support it.
However, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, earlier told reporters that she needs to see "the final product" in writing before she can decide if she supports it.
Pelosi said she would meet with the House Democratic caucus on Monday to discuss the matter.
"I don't know all the particulars of what the final product is in writing and what the ramifications will be," Pelosi said, noting the measure will have an impact for a decade or more. Asked about the outcome, she warned: "We all may not be able to support it or none of us may be able to support it."
If Congress fails to raise the current $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by Tuesday, Americans could face rising interest rates and a declining dollar, among other problems.
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Originally posted by wittywonkaI'm with you on this one.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/31/debt.talks/index.html?iref=BN1
Two days before the deadline for a possible U.S. government default, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders reached agreement Sunday on a legislative package that would extend the federal debt ceiling while cutting spending and guaranteeing further deficit-reduction steps. ...[text shortened]... s and a declining dollar, among other problems.
[Etc. etc. etc.]
Where are you on this one, anyway?
Originally posted by wittywonkaWe're going to face those problems despite raising the debt ceiling. In fact, we're going to face those problems because we never fail to raise a debt ceiling.
If Congress fails to raise the current $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by Tuesday, Americans could face rising interest rates and a declining dollar, among other problems.
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Originally posted by SleepyguyWe've been raising the debt ceiling for a century. That doesn't even make sense.
We're going to face those problems despite raising the debt ceiling. In fact, we're going to face those problems because we never fail to raise a debt ceiling.
Originally posted by SleepyguyMore Tea Party lies!!! Debt is our friand and necessary to have a growing economy. In fact, the more debt you incur to "stimulate" the economy the stronger the economy will become. After all, Keynes told us so and as we see today, he knew exactly what he was talking about.....NOT!!!
We're going to face those problems despite raising the debt ceiling. In fact, we're going to face those problems because we never fail to raise a debt ceiling.
Watching this whole charade is enough to make any sane man weep. The US economy remains in a pathetically weak state with GNP growth only at 0.4% in the first quarter of the year and 1.3% in the second and with unemployment still over 9%. Clearly the country is suffering from a lack of aggregate demand.
So our elected leaders have concocted a brilliant plan: to cut hundreds of billions in government spending! This will obviously further damage the economy (as have cuts and layoffs in the State governments caused by their idiotic balanced budget requirements) which is what the Republicans actually want; a poor economy is the only chance they have of ousting Obama. But it is economic and political madness for the Democrats to acquiesce in this policy.
Raising the debt ceiling simply kicks the can down the road, and the 14 T debt is only the tip of the iceberg. It doesn't include the unfunded mandates of Social Security and Medicare.
As late as the Carter administration, we had a small national debt. The argument for ignoring it, from both sides of the spectrum was that debt wasn't bad if it remained a stable percentage of GDP.
The crisis has been brewing for many decades now, and comes to fruition with the last two Presidents adding entitlements to an already bloated budget.
If the cuts take place, they are too small to make much difference. The first year cuts amount to a rounding error.
Originally posted by no1marauderThe first year, the cuts amount to 22 billion. That doesn't even come close to the baseline.
Watching this whole charade is enough to make any sane man weep. The US economy remains in a pathetically weak state with GNP growth only at 0.4% in the first quarter of the year and 1.3% in the second and with unemployment still over 9%. Clearly the country is suffering from a lack of aggregate demand.
So our elected leaders have concocted ...[text shortened]... g Obama. But it is economic and political madness for the Democrats to acquiesce in this policy.