Jul 18, 2011
Obama meets with Boehner; threatens veto of GOP plan
President Obama did not meet with the entire congressional leadership this weekend, but it turns out he did meet Sunday morning with a pair of key leaders: House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Republican leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.
“As we said throughout the weekend, the lines of communications are being kept open, but there is nothing to report in terms of an agreement or progress,” said Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck today. “We believe cut, cap and balance represents the best path forward, and we are looking forward to the House vote on it tomorrow.”
When a White House reporter shouted out a question to Obama about the Boehner meeting, the president replied: “We’re making progress.”
But, indeed, there is no agreement, at least with the House: This morning, President Obama threatened to veto the House GOP’s “cut, cap, and balance” plan, which includes a proposed balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
“The bill would undercut the Federal Government’s ability to meet its core commitments to seniors, middle-class families and the most vulnerable, while reducing our ability to invest in our future,” said a just-released statement of administration policy.
Even if the Republican-run passes its “cut, cap, and balance” plan, the Democratic-run Senate is not expected to follow suit.
Instead, White House officials are focused on a plan being developed by Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, one that allow Obama to raise the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling in exchange for about $1.5 trillion in spending cuts over 10 years. The plan would also create a new congressional panel that would look at other ways to reduce the federal debt, including possible entitlements and new tax revenue.
Same ol' crap for the last 40 years!
We know better than to fall for the doom and gloom mantra these days.
We MUST cut the spending and get a budget in place, one that shows some respect for restraint in political spending or we WILL be doomed in reality!
Why invest in the future if the future when all investment in government has lead to what we have today?