Posted on 07/07/2011 4:26:08 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
WASHINGTON — Heading into a crucial negotiating session on a budget deal on Thursday, President Obama has raised his sights and wants to strike a far-reaching agreement on cutting the federal deficit as Speaker John A. Boehner has signaled new willingness to bargain on revenues.
(snip)
The president’s renewed efforts follow what knowledgeable officials said was an overture from Mr. Boehner, who met secretly with Mr. Obama last weekend, to consider as much as $1 trillion in unspecified new revenues as part of an overhaul of tax laws in exchange for an agreement that made substantial spending cuts, including in such social programs as Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security — programs that had been off the table.
(snip)
Congressional Democrats said they were caught off guard by the weekend White House visit of Mr. Boehner — a meeting the administration still refused to acknowledge on Wednesday — and Senate Democrats raised concerns at a private party luncheon on Wednesday.
(snip)
Officials said Mr. Boehner suggested that he was open to the possibility of $1 trillion or more in new revenue that would be generated by addressing tax issues already raised in the talks, like killing breaks for the oil and gas industry, eliminating ethanol subsidies and ending preferential treatment for corporate jets.
(snip)
One official said some revenue could be generated by allowing Bush-era tax cuts for affluent Americans to expire at the end of 2012, which would produce hundreds of billions of dollars, though those savings would be offset by the costs of retaining lower rates for those below the income threshold.
Aides to Mr. Boehner said that no tax increases were on the table and that he had not agreed to the expiration of any tax cuts.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Yep immediate tax hike , spend now and never any cuts.
My gut tells me they “bonded” on the golf course last week and have cut a deal. It’s pretty ez to read the tea leaves. Clinton played Newt like a cheap violin and Obama is doing the same with Boehner. What is it about GOP House Speakers that allows them to be dominated by Dem Presidents? That said they still have to come up with enuff votes to pass the darn thing which nobody will read completely.
Boehner with ears....
This has gotten so bad I’m not convinced he even cares about himself.
Yeah, good question!
I read from another freeper’s comments once that Boehner likes to drink......overly....and considers Pelousy his friend. (sounded like a Freeper “in the know”, concerning DC dirt.)
Boehner needs to be given a REAL reason to cry, soon—loss of position.
Tammy Faye will come out to the microphone and sniff into his hanky and say “thats all we could get” one more time. What else is new? They are going to cave just like they always do.
Why speculate when you can call him up and ask him?
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