Senior GOP senator is concerned about Obama commission
Washington (CNN) – Sen. Judd Gregg, the senior Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, is expressing doubts about President Obama's plan to create a bipartisan deficit-reduction commission.
"I don't think it accomplishes the goal," Gregg said Friday in an interview. But the New Hampshire senator, who is retiring at the end of the year, said he is willing to look at the specifics before passing final judgment.
Obama is expected to sign an executive order within the next 10 days to create the commission, which would make recommendations to Congress for reducing the deficit, estimated at $1.3 trillion this year.
But Gregg said that only a commission created by Congress would have the power to force the legislative branch to make changes necessary to reduce the deficit.
Along a 53 to 46 vote last month, the Senate rejected a measure sponsored by Gregg and Sen. Kent Conrad, D-North Dakota, to create a bipartisan deficit-reduction commission which would force votes in Congress.
"A lot of things don't pass the first time," said Gregg, who added that he wants Congress to have another chance to vote on creating a commission.
Gregg said that he believes any deficit-reduction commission created by the president will wind up writing "just another good report that ends up on a shelf somewhere."
Gregg had been tapped by Obama to be his Commerce Secretary, but withdrew his nomination because of policy differences.
The New Hampshire Republican said he has another idea for how the government could get its fiscal house in order.
"Stop spending," Gregg said. "Let's stop spending. Let's stop adding to the debt."
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What happened to going through EVERY expenditure of EVERY government agency looking for places to cut?
Guess thats the hope/change that is still coming...Ill be here, holding my breath.
typical of a republican senator. Now, as always l know that when senator Greg complains about deficit, he is doing it just to show off. l kind of knew it already. Dam if you do what they suggest, dam if you do not. they would rather see this country fail, then work with our present president. That is the difference between liberals and conservatives. liberals love this country and freedoms more than conservatives. And there are tons of examples to prove it.
President Obama needs to realize he will never get any agreements, cooperation from the republicans. With their goals of destroy our president, win at any cost, keep big business in control and party first they will not support anything for the repairing of the crisises they created.
As President Obama said, he extended his hand and all he gets in return is a fist.
They are a disgrace to the political system and our country,.
Gregg why don't you get on the commission and start cutting government in half.. It will help the Economy and un-employment situation in this Great Recession....No?
Let the Democrats choose the GOP Members of the commission and the GOP chose the Democrat members.
They will each choose members that are the closest to the middle - and actually have the best chance of getting something done.
I have said that Obama has not done anything;But, I was wrong,I forgot,HE PICKED OUT A DOG FOR HIS FAMILY.Took him a year to realize we had a unemployment problem.Had a majority and he and the Dems did absolutely nothing.Does he/the Dems know anything other than blame their failure on the GOP.Well the people have spoken,Scott Brown and the GOP is coming back to save America.Can not wait till Nov. mass exodus of Dems.
Well since Congressional Republicans got together in DeMint's backyard treehouse and made a pact not to do doodlysquat about ANYTHING this year (or last year) – I'd say Congress has pretty much abrogated their right to 'legislate" or 'make changes'. Let the grown-ups deal with things now, kids.
Hey Dems,read TCMs post,he is absolutely correct,you just can not admit it.Go read the actual reports and you will know,or stay in denial.This was in Newsweek this year.The recession we are in now is due mostly by Dems. per Newsweek.
Tony L you are wrong,TCM is 100% correct whether you want to admit it or not it is history.Read a factual publication,or research.
Isn'T this guy one of the GOPER"S that approved all the junk that Bush came up with plus 2 wars not made part of the budget. Gregg is a typical New Englander Republican politician. Sit around and mumble about anything they do not understand then oppose it when they know nothing about it, That whole part of the country are the basic reason for the old addage about rowing a boat with one oar and complaining about going in circles.