Pressure grows on Senate Democrats to act on ‘fiscal cliff’

The Hill ^ | 12/22/12 | Alexander Bolton

[Evil Slayer]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is resisting pressure from Republicans pushing for the Senate to take a more active role to avoid the “fiscal cliff” after House legislation stalled Thursday.

Reid has rejected Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) assertion that avoiding the fiscal cliff now depends on President Obama working out a deal with the Senate. Reid’s allies said it is unrealistic to expect him and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to step in and hammer out an eleventh-hour agreement.

On Friday, Reid dismissed McConnell’s proposal that he bring to the floor legislation extending tax rates that could be molded with a variety of amendments.

Reid argues the Senate has already done its work on the expiring tax rates by passing a bill in July shielding family income below $250,000 from tax hikes. He has insisted for weeks that the House take up and pass that bill.

Republicans, however, say the legislation is inadequate because it would allow taxes on inheritances and dividend income to soar.

Until now, Reid has had a limited role in the talks. President Obama kept him informed of negotiations with Boehner, but he was not an active participant.

That may now change. Reid met with Obama at the White House Friday in what could be preparation for a bigger role.

With the talks between Obama and Boehner at an impasse, some Senate Republicans think getting a deal in the upper chamber first is the most likely path forward. Boehner’s failure Thursday to advance his “Plan B” proposal to extend income tax rates for family income below $1 million intensified concerns that he does not have enough support within his own conference to reach agreement with the president.

“We’re now in a bad spot,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). “I hope we don’t go

[texican01]

“Shut off funding for AF1.
Here’s the problem: The House can’t shut off funding for anything so long as Harry Reid’s system remains in place.

So long as the Senate refuses to deal with any budget passed by the House, we remain on the Baseline Budgeting Autopilot — the departments get last year’s budget plus X or Y%.”

This sounds like poppycock. If there ain’t a continuing resolution approved by the House things shut down!!! i.e. Newt Gingrich shut down in 1995-6!!

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I hope you're right because if you are, there is hope; if you're not right, there is no hope.

Now, who can, and will articulate the truth and be able to get the message beyond the MSM?

[The_Media_never_lie]

When I see the weak actions of the GOPe, far weaker than their position would mandate, I often wonder about the skeletons. After all, they are only human. John Roberts, I.e. , to come up with such a contorted rationalization of Obamacare, must have 3d skeletons, too.

I think the decline in standards and the ability of the unscrupulous to exploit weaknesses has undermined our governance to where it no longer works.

[houeto]

I think the decline in standards and the ability of the unscrupulous to exploit weaknesses has undermined our governance to where it no longer works.

I can agree with this comment as long as the double standards by the MSM are added to it. Dems are rarely held to account. Reps NEVER get away with ANYTHING! The media will go to whatever extremes necessary to destroy a conservative if they think they can.

The most distressing part is our dumb-ass populace that falls for media shenanigans every single time.

[okie01]

This sounds like poppycock. If there ain’t a continuing resolution approved by the House things shut down!!!

It's not poppycock. They can vote to fund something or de-fund something else -- but it has no effect unless the Senate agrees.

A continuing resolution is, in fact, now the only control that the House has over total spending. They don't necessarily have any control over individual elements of the spending.

Which is to say, that the only lever they have IS to shut the government down. And they've repeatedly said they wouldn't do that.

I would remind you that Congress has not passed a budget since FY 2009. All budgets since have been a product of the previous year's Current Services Baseline, plus an arbitrary escalator.

[Soul of the South]

The House can reassertion it’s powers any time it chooses. The House can end the spending escalator any time it chooses. All it takes is being willing to call Obama and Reid’s bluff and shut the government down. When the Social Security and welfare checks don’t go out, the Senate will have to come to terms.

[texican01]

“The House can reassertion it’s powers any time it chooses. The House can end the spending escalator any time it chooses. All it takes is being willing to call Obama and Reid’s bluff and shut the government down. When the Social Security and welfare checks don’t go out, the Senate will have to come to terms.”

I agree. They CAN to this point, they HAVE NOT. We are cursed with lying monkey Congress critters orchestrated by a lying Monkey-in-Chief!

[okie01]

All it takes is being willing to call Obama and Reid’s bluff and shut the government down.

You understand they've already said they won't do that.

They won't even fight for their own constitutional rights.