Democratic aide: Fiscal 'cliff' deal reached

AP ^ | December 31, 2012 9:03 PM EST | By DAVID ESPO

[bd476]

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Democratic aide says the White House and congressional Republicans have reached an agreement to avert the so-called fiscal cliff.

The measure would extend Bush-era tax cuts for family incomes below $450,000 and briefly avert across-the-board spending cuts set to strike the Pentagon and domestic agencies this week.

[Democrat_media]

the Republicans in the House aren’t even there to do your deal, Tokyo rose, they are home right now

[fatnotlazy]

Calling my congressman is a waste of time. He told me that Obamacare was going to be wonderful...even though he like the others didn't read the bill before it was passed.

I'm sure if his party's leaders tell him to, he will vote for this deal. He doesn't wipe his butt without instruction from his party leadership.

[Ciexyz]

Does it include a cost of living increase for Social Security recipients and federal and postal retirees, configured the same way as before, meaning no monkeying with the formula so as to deliberately decrease the COLA - please provide details when known.

[tennmountainman]

So why did u post a Capital Telephone number to call GOP Congresscritters
If they are all home. What was that about?

[SkyPilot]

and briefly avert across-the-board spending cuts set to strike the Pentagon

Great. So now, we get to go through all of this AGAIN in a very short time.

Thanks GOP! What a great political party!

Now that the GOP has given Bath House Barry (who clearly demonstrated what a street punk he really is today) and the Democrats 85% of what they wanted (higher taxes, $200 Billion for the perpetually "unemployed", tuition tax credits for Obama's perpetual "students", etc - the GOP is left with very little leverage. The debt ceiling debate will be more of the same, and they will cave, because they have proven 100% incapable of reforming what is really breaking the back of this nation - ENTITLEMENTS.

67% of the Federal dollars spent direct payments in the form of Entitlements. And it is getting worse by the day.

It looks like in just days or weeks we will now have to endure Sequestration, because it cannot be stopped.

The DoD will have to cut Operations and Maintenance much, much more than the 9.4%. They cannot touch troop strength (Obama will cut that soon and pay no political price for it anyway), so they will cut O&M, probably by 25% or greater. That will devastate the military.

And it won't stop there.

10 Devastating Sequestration Cuts That People Are Afraid Will Happen Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/10-devastating-sequestration-cuts-that-people-are-afraid-will-happen-2012-12?op=1#ixzz2GgfCoA9H

"The military is already contending with a $487 billion cut over the next ten years as a result of existing budget cuts. Since the existing funds for the war and military pay are exempt, the remainder of military funding will take a harder hit as well. The sequestration would lead to an additional $55 billion cut from the military over nine years, and some analysts think this could national defense to the bone. General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, says that the cuts will leave the armed forces “hollowed-out”.

Every military contract may need to be completely renegotiated

Small, local contractors could be forced out of business

The entire defense industry could be thrown into chaos

Massive rises in unemployment in a number of states

"Several states have an abnormally high proportion of employees who work for the government. As a result of sequestration, there will be firings, furloughs and hiring freezes in many agencies, depending on how each individual agency may decide to implement different cuts. Here are the five states that may be hit the hardest as a result of their high levels of federal government employment:

Maryland
Virginia
Washington
California
Arizona

And here is the best part! The cost of delaying the Sequester for the next 2 years is less than the cost of extending "unemployment" benefits to the layabouts, but the Sequester is going to take place but the "benefits" to the lazy 99ers is already agreed to! Isn't that great!!!

We don't need enemies with "friends" like this.

[God luvs America]

where’s Rand Paul on this??

[soycd]

>Then too the President probably already has his jammies on and is ready for bed.

I’d bet real money that after the wookie’s kids go to bed he will be tooling around with one of his buddies while the wookie gets all sweaty with some serious Shaft.

[Democrat_media]

you can still call tomorrow, or tonight and leave a message.

the House is not even there ,they adjourned , so they haven't agreed to any deal

[xkaydet65]

I’d say let Obama own it, but there is no way the media would allow that. The GOP and conservatives will be pilloried if they allow the country to go over. That’s just reality.

[jeltz25]

so, just to be clear, this deal has no impact on raising the debt ceiling, and that will be whole nother separate issue in a couple months?

[SkyPilot]

Does it include a cost of living increase for Social Security recipients and federal and postal retirees, configured the same way as before, meaning no monkeying with the formula so as to deliberately decrease the COLA

Yes, don't worry. You'll get your higher COLA. Hope you enjoy it.

[tennmountainman]

call GOP Congressmen , tell them not to vote for this nor any deal , go over the news media’s stupid cliff(which is not a cliff):

Congress switchboard number: (202) 224-3121.

This is your post. The number 2 post on this thread.
I’m confused. U r suggesting posters to call this number, but then u tell
me they are all home?
Let me make a suggestion. Put democrats on your call list as well.
Because if a deal is done, it will be the Rinos and Rats that push it thru.

[Democrat_media]

Just what is the media’s “fiscal cliff” . Nobody knows what this bs is , at least not most Americans nor people of the world but the media has been saying since the election that the country is going over the cliff(finished): that is pure bs.

The real cliff is growth of government

[SkyPilot]

So, this “deal” won’t even pay for the added year of unemployment payments they’re tossing in there.

Yup! The layabouts will continue to get paid NOT TO WORK.

But since the Sequester will devastate the defense industry, a lot more people will be force into unemployment, so instead of costing us $200 Billion (on top of the 750 Billion spent since 2008 in PAYING PEOPLE NOT TO WORK), unemployment will end up costing the Feds and States even more.

What a great "deal" huh?

[rfp1234]

Boehner may get RINOs + Rats to pass this latest crap sandwich,
but it may cost him the speakership.

[Democrat_media]

The House adjourned for the Day today in the afternoon. So they haven’t agreed to any deal. This is democrat/media lies. So there is still time to call congressmen and tell them not to agree or not to vote etc.

[Arm_Bears]

The GOP and conservatives (I appreciate your making that distinction) will be pilloried no matter what—So put on the big boy pants and do what’s best for the country for a change.

[MaryLou1]

his “speech” today was just complete (embarrassing) propaganda to put more pressure on the repubs (who pretty much suck as well)

(clapping ‘middle class’ people around o - how fake, how orwellian-scary stuff)

it will pass and there will be tax increases and no cuts-

a temporary fix will just lull the masses back to sleep and there will never be cuts ever

obama should be ashamed of himself-this ‘cliff’ is on his head

[Democrat_media]

They House will come in again tomorrow so we can call them. they haven't agreed to any deal . where is the statement from House Republicans? you are parroting an AP article and telling us to accept it

[Arm_Bears]

Aha—The silver lining!