Dems want taxes raised, and frankly our tax code is excessively complex. Will these negotiations simplify the tax code? Doubtful.
If Republicans get roped into a “grand bargain” with Obama’s bunch, they are already screwed. This is about spending cuts.
Obama does need to sign any bill that gets implemented.
The broad outline of any deal has been known for at least 6 Months. With a few Republicans being impolitic enough to admit to it.
1. Someone pays more in taxes. Only detail I have seen has been producers of Ethanol for blending with gasoline losing their tax credits.
2. Some program ends. There have been a few proposals from republicans, but none that seem to even have the support of the GOP leadership.
3. the debt ceiling gets raised.
The details matter, and there is little to no agreement on the details where anyone is speaking publicly.
...which would help to explain why Cantor is resorting to the empty gesture of putting a BBA up for a vote. Sounds like they’re calculating that in 2012 they’ll not only win but pick up seats by default. But why bother?