Budget Fight May Freak Out Markets
Global financial institutions are keeping a close eye on Washington. And even if there is a budget deal, the damage may already be done. Whether the federal government “closes down” for this weekend remains unknown at this time. But for the sake of discussion, let’s assume that Congress …Bachmann Throws in the Towel
Did Bachmann just tweet the Tea Party's white flag? I think this Bachmann tweet is the Tea Party's white flag. I am ready for a big fight that will change the arc of history. The current fight in Washington is not that fight Looks like: no shutdown. TweetCan the GOP Avoid the Shutdown "Trap"?
Here's a question every Republican should ask: If the shutdown is an Obama trap, why not ... refrain from stepping into it? Question every Republican should ask: If the shutdown is an Obama trap, why not ... refrain from stepping into it? TweetBudget Battle: Boehner Keeps Freshmen in Line
Freshmen Republicans are resisting pressure from their base, and for the most part appear to be siding with party leadership in the budget negotiations. Freshmen Republicans are resisting pressure from their base, and for the most part appear to have been siding with party leadership over the …Why the Dems Should Take Ryan Seriously
Democrats may not like the Ryan budget, but they should be careful not to write off the chance to begin a serious dialogue about our nation's fiscal health. E.J. Dionne, one of the smartest and (justifiably) most respected commentators of our time, has labeled Rep. Paul Ryan’s 2012 federal …Reading Romney’s Mind
As Republicans edge closer to a shutdown and Democrats get ready to run against the Ryan budget, what's going through Romney's head? This has been my best week in politics since John McCain lost to Barack Obama. I face two huge problems: getting nominated and getting elected. To get …How the Dems Will Spin a Shutdown
My father, a dyed-in-wool leftist who is visiting Washington this weekend, has a pretty good take on what the Left will say if a shutdown takes place. My father, a dyed-in-wool leftist who, is coming to visit my wife, my son Andrew, and me this weekend included a PS on the email he just sent to me …Didn't the GOP Learn from the Last Shutdown?
From the experience of 1995-1996, you'd think there was one thing Republicans would know: don't shut down the government. As the GOP and President Obama go eyeball to eyeball over a government shutdown, I keep thinking of a story from one of Louisa May Alcott's novels, the story of the children …What the Ryan Budget Gets Right
There's a lot that's baffling in the Ryan budget plan, but also many proposals that are a step forward. I wrote yesterday about what is baffling in the Ryan budget plan. What is positive? 1) The Ryan plan accepts that tax cuts must be "paid for" with offsets elsewhere in the budget. That's …Ryan's Biggest Gamble
The conventional wisdom in D.C. is that Ryan's budget is political suicide for any who endorse it. But is that really the case? The conventional wisdom in Washington, D.C. Tuesday was clear: House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's FY 2012 budget plan is political suicide for anyone who …GOP Wants Deal, Tea Party Wants Shutdown
At a Capitol Hill rally, Republicans urged Sen. Reid to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government. But at another rally, conservatives cheered for a shutdown. Freshman Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) at the press conference. House Republicans held the latest in a series of …
A Budget That Can't Budge
The Ryan Plan won't become law. So what's it for? What is the much-discussed Paul Ryan plan ? You probably know the plan’s main elements: A huge cut in Medicaid, a big cut in the value of future Medicare coverage for those under age 55, substantial cuts in discretionary domestic spending, …Ryan's Rosy Job Numbers: Fact or Fantasy?
Ryan's budget has received the most criticism for his unemployment figures. FF spoke to the source of the numbers to see if they add up. The element of the new Ryan/GOP budget which has received the most condemnation and in some cases mockery are the unemployment figures. Specifically, the Ryan …Shutdown: Hard Times Or Paid Vacation?
As negotiations stall over the continuing resolution, Capitol Hill staffers have mixed feelings about the impending government shutdown. As negotiations stall over the continuing resolution that would fund government for the rest of the fiscal year, the House of Representatives and their staff …Will Congress Buy Ryan's No Nonsense Budget?
Paul Ryan has taken the great leap forward by proposing a budget which tackles the real drivers of our debt crisis. But is Washington ready to act? Paul Ryan, House Budget Committee Chairman and realist, has taken the great leap. He has publicly proposed a budget resolution for Fiscal Year …Is GOP Overplaying Shutdown Card?
By risking a shutdown over the 15% of the budget devoted to non-mandatory spending is the GOP losing political capital for the entitlement spending fight? Threatening to shut down the government over spending is certainly an effective, if drastic, measure. In principle, its good--even admirable--t…Ryan: 'It's Not A Budget, It's A Cause'
Tuesday morning, Rep. Paul Ryan unveiled his 2012 fiscal year budget proposal, calling for close to $6 trillion in cuts over the next 10 years. 12:57pm: The last question to Ryan: do you regret your vote on TARP? Ryan: No. I hate TARP, but …What's at Stake in Ryan's Budget
Paul Ryan’s budget plan could spur an intelligent conversation on spending. But what we’ll probably hear from the left are the same scare tactics and budget cut horror stories. Tomorrow, Rep. Paul Ryan will release his highly anticipated budget plan. Early reports suggest that along with …GOP Freshmen Flex Clout in Budget Fight
Freshman Republicans gathered on the Senate’s steps Monday calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to pass the GOP continuing resolution. Republican Freshman Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR), whose office organized the event, speaks at the press conference. Freshman Republicans …