John Boehner is currently sending around this PowerPoint presentation. (h/t CitizenCohn)
Obama statement on debt ceiling agreement: No real surprises. Key line: “Is this the deal I would have preferred? No.” They’ve reached a deal, but he doesn’t seem particularly pleased with it, or the process it took to get here. But he hopes that politicians will agree to the deal. He took no questions, BTW.
Obama’s got something to say on this debt ceiling mess. As soon as we have it, we’ll tell you guys all about it.
Here’s the outline of the debt ceiling deal as of now, according to officials on both sides:
- $900 billion in the first stage of deficit reduction.
- $1.5 trillion in second stage of deficit reduction to be defined by a bipartisan special committee of lawmakers appointed by leaders of the House and Senate.
- If the special committee fails to deliver a deficit-cutting package that would trigger $1.2 trillion in cuts, half would be Defense cuts and the other half would be non-Defense cuts, exempting low-income programs Social Security and Medicaid, and only impacting providers in Medicare.
- The debt ceiling increase would be done in three phases: $400 billion initially; another $500 billion later this year would be subject to a vote of disapproval; a third increase of $1.5 to get the rest through 2012 and would also be subject to vote of disapproval.
- There is also a provision to have Congress vote on balanced budget amendment.
- The special committee would not necessarily tackle tax reform. But Mr. Obama is threatening to veto any extension of the Bush-era tax cuts for those making $250,000 a year or more unless Congress acts on an overhaul of the tax code.
Who’s the winner here, Dems or GOP?
Senator Reid has signed off on the debt-ceiling agreement pending caucus approval.Reid spokesman, several reports. (via brooklynmutt)
Harry Reid says debt ceiling vote expected tonight: You know it’s important because it’s in all caps. And it’s from Reuters.
So, those Republicans finally got a framework! If anyone feels like you might be on the most boring roller coaster ever, you are, as there have been so many high and low points with this debt ceiling dramarama today that you probably feel so dizzy that people might mistake you for being drunk. Anyway, in the latest developments, Republicans have apparently reached a framework with the White House to make this debt ceiling deal happen. Based on this, which side do you think won the day? Here’s a roundup:
There is, it appears, an emerging sense of panic developing on the cable news circuit over the state of a deal on the nation’s debt ceiling. On Fox News Saturday afternoon, Patricia Powell, founder and CEO of Powell Financial Group, advised viewers that they would be wise to have $1,000 in cash on hand if Congress were unable to come to a deal.
“Everybody needs a cash reserve and I’m talking … seriously about cash, cash dollars in your wallet — not just maybe money in the bank, but you also want money in the bank and not just in the money market fund,” said Powell. “None of us know, if they … choose to default, whether there is going to be a credit crunch, whether you might have some trouble accessing some of your credit, and you might even have some trouble with your money market funds. So none of us know. Make sure you have cash.”
This is irresponsible. We do not need to tell people to stuff their mattresses. News channels should NOT actively instill hysteria into our population.
Because we keep seeing this story: No. Because if Steve Jobs gave Apple’s $76 billion in cash to the U.S. government, it would just mean that the U.S. would have a few more weeks to solve their debt crisis, instead of a few days. We’re essentially comparing a high point for a U.S. corporation to a low point for the federal government. The U.S. spends billions of dollars a week. Apple makes billions of dollars a quarter. It’s not the same thing.
“The Speaker’s bill was perfect in one way, perfectly absurd… I will not yield to you.” - Rep. Nancy Pelosi
We miss this Nancy Pelosi. It’s been a while since we’ve seen her.
The problem: Democrats don’t want a balanced-budget amendment, and the Democrat-controlled Senate has tabled both Republican House bills – the legislative equivalent of telling House Republicans they are an out-of-control romper room and the adults in the Senate aren’t impressed.Tell us what you really think, Christian Science Monitor.
Great.