No deal in sight, says super committee co-chair
(CNN) – The Democratic co-chair of the debt-cutting congressional super committee said Sunday her panel was not close to a deal that would cut the federal debt, but remained optimistic of a compromise in the hours left before the group’s deadline.
“There is one sticking divide, and that is the issue of what I call shared sacrifice, where everybody contributes in a very challenging time for our country,” Washington Sen. Patty Murray told CNN’s Candy Crowley on “State of the Union.”
“That's the Bush tax cuts, and making sure that any kind of package includes everybody coming to the table and the wealthiest of Americans, those who earn over a million dollars every year, have to share, too. And that line in the sand, we haven't seen any Republicans willing to cross yet,” Murray said.
Democrats are key on letting the Bush-era tax cuts, which provide cuts for wealthier Americans, expire in 2012.
The bipartisan committee of 12 has until Wednesday to officially present a plan that would cut $1.2 trillion from the federal deficit, but practically must have a proposal in place by Monday for review by lawmakers and the Congressional Budget Office.
Members of Congress must vote on a deal by December 23. The consequences of not reaching an agreement are stark: automatic across-the-board cuts, including major reductions in defense spending.
Murray said she was still optimistic a deal would be made, and that she would be waiting for lawmakers from the other side of the aisle to come forward with a compromise solution.
“I'm going to be waiting all day,” Murray said. “I'll be at the table, as I've been, willing to talk to any Republican who says, look, my country is more important, this pile of bills is not going to go away, the challenges that we have is not going to disappear, we need to cross that divide. I'm ready, I'm waiting. Today I'll be at the table, all night long. We have a few hours left.”
Murray took harsh aim at Republicans who have taken a pledge not to raise taxes from the president of the conservative group Americans for Tax Reform.
“I'll tell you one of the problems has been a pledge that too many Republicans took to a Republican wealthy lobbyist by the name of Grover Norquist, whose name has come up in meetings time and time again,” Murray said.
“As long as we have some Republican lawmakers who feel more enthralled with a pledge they took to a Republican lobbyist than they do to a pledge to the country to solve the problems, this is going to be hard to do.”
Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET. For the latest from State of the Union click here.
Total system failure. Welcome to the banana republic of the USA.
$1.2 trillions cut is nothing we can’t bring economy on track with out increasing tax in all level.
Supper committee won’t reach a deal then congress will use the trigger so $ 1.2 trillions equals to zero same old politics
“As long as we have some Republican lawmakers who feel more enthralled with a pledge they took to a Republican lobbyist than they do to a pledge to the country to solve the problems, this is going to be hard to do.”
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And this is where Patty Murray is exactly wrong. Republican lawmakers who have taken a stance to keep taxes from increasing did this precisely to solve our nation's problems and to not let political games perpetuate these problems. The bottom line is very simple. Government has gotten way too expensive for our nation. It needs to use the same difficult financial discipline that families and businesses have taken over the past 4 years. The Democrats strongly resist any financial discipline and try to take the easy way out ( for the short term ) by raising taxes. This does no good for our country and no good for our economy. In fact, they are so undisciplined, they will raise taxes $100 billion in the name of deficit reduction and then turn around and spend the $100 billion right away. This has to stop. It will stop in 2012. American voters are wise to the game and know it's time to fix, not perpetuate or problems. Obama is not the guy.
Since they have no future in compromise, cut the wages they have. Take away their benefits. Stand up to Obama who wants to run America through his Executive Decision. Find common ground Congress, get a back bone and if you disagree with Obama tell him no on money he wants. Obama must realize himself he cannot have it all his way or no way. Remember Democrats you were in power in Congress when our economy was bad. It takes more than one person to make laws. Again the ones who are causing a problem are to blame just as well as the ones who allow the problem to occur. Stand up, Congress, be a part of the solution. Also, voters, become educated do not be followers. I don't care how you vote but be informed.
GOP does not believe in any Tax increases. They do not compromise. It is time to shut the committee down and move on.
When republicans like to point out how families make cuts to their budgets in hard times....why do they never say dads or moms might find another job or work extra hours to make ends meet!!! Most of the time they do both!!! Wow there you go!! If repubs weren't so busy cutting things like education they could have thought of that ALL BY THEMSELVES!! Then they wouldn't need " leaders" like Newt or Bachmann or Perry. No the only excuse is GREED!!!
Democrats just don't seem to get it! You can't cut down the budget by spending more!
Sen. Patty Murray explained well what we all know. The pledge to Lobbyist Norquist illustrates that the GOP/TP will make negotiations fail, working intense to avoid ANY revenue increase paid for by their 1%!
2012 cannot come soon enough to give the smart ones of the 99% a chance to vote these “pledges” OUT! (Believe it or not – there will still be a few voting against their own and the country's interest!)
@ Four and The Door
Perfectly said, thank-you!
In life, when we dont do our jobs, we get fired...
she sure looks like a democrat. We will be greece as long as we have these democrates enslaving there base with benefits from people who actually work.