White House: 'Significant' debt deal possible (Dems propose $400-600 billion in new taxes)

YahooNews ^

[quesney]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Monday that a "significant" deal with Republicans on cutting government spending and raising the nation's debt limit is still possible, even as the administration hardened its stance on the need for increased tax revenue to be part of any agreement. President Barack Obama made his first direct foray into the deficit negotiations Monday. He met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the Oval Office for about 30 minutes Monday morning, and planned to meet with Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell in the early evening. White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama's meeting with Reid was "constructive" and the president concluded that there are still opportunities for a deal to be reached. But he said the only way to achieve that objective would be to include tax increases or the elimination of tax breaks for big companies and wealthy individuals.

"It's the only way to get it done," Carney said. The White House has proposed raising about $600 billion in new tax revenue, including ending subsidies to oil and gas companies, an idea that failed in the Senate.

[Lancey Howard]

The sole purpose for the rats pressing for tax increases is because the rats know that approval of any tax increases by the GOP would mean the death of the GOP. Period, end of discussion. All that’s left is to see if the GOP indeed commits suicide.

[LowTaxesEqualsProsperity]

If the Rupublicans raise taxes $1 to pay off the bankers’ debts, which is what a tax increase would be, I will NEVER vote for them again under any circumstances.

It they want to go for political suicide, they can.

[Raycpa]

You will NEVER get the Republican House to go along with tax increases.

I wish I could be so sure.

[ilgipper]

So the Dems jack up the debt by more than 4 trillion by tacking on several bills at nearly a trillion a pop. The subsequently get destroyed at the polls losing 70 seats in the house and 7 in the senate.

Now as part of the deal to up the debt ceiling that THEY was to increase because of their spending, we have to agree to THEIR tax increases. Seems like a pretty unlikely deal.

[Lancey Howard]

If taxes need to be selectively raised until this downward spiral is reversed, then that is an alternative. Those that see taxes as fixed in stone should come up with that 'big' help.

You're on the wrong site, Bunky. You should take your big government diarrhea someplace else.

[Seruzawa]

Raising taxes won’t raise any more revenue.

[Venturer]

If we cut 600 Billion dollars—a sum that is not possible in this Congress and then raised the taxes by 600 Billion we would break even and still spend a trillion dollars more than we take in.

Dos that make sense to anyone here?

[savedbygrace]

Obama farted and is pretending the fart sounded like “a significant deal with Republicans can be reached”.

Democrats are exuberant because they always believe Obama’s farts.

[GeronL]

Tax government employees 10-15% of their paychecks as a “debt reduction act”

[GeronL]

Tax government employees 10-15% of their paychecks as a “debt reduction act”

[EGPWS]

Well past the time to cut spending, as it will mean riots and revolution.

There is no alternative left, spending has to be cut.

Prepare yourself.

[GeronL]

if they raise a half-trillion in new taxes, they will spend at least a trillion more.

[cranked]

A “significant deal” courtesy of the spineless GOP..... =.=

[GeronL]

raising taxes is not going to help. period.

[EGPWS]

Tax government employees 10-15% of their paychecks as a “debt reduction act”

But...but...they are public servants giving their lives for their country and all who reside here!

[Colonel_Flagg]

Why is Chairman Zero meeting with senators when spending bills must originate in the House?

Either he’s an idiot, or the Weepin’ Of Mass Destruction has already caved.

[Colonel_Flagg]

But...but...they are public servants giving their lives for their country and all who reside here!

Our military are government employees. I wouldn't favor a pay cut for them.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Obama is carrying the same tired line as his operatives on TV.That ‘the wealthy’ are not taxed enough that the pubs favor the rich and that it is all still Bushes fault.

It was just announced that Obama is trying to pull in long term campaign donations because he knows his failure will remain. Yet he thinks the push granny off the cliff pubs and only democrats care for the poor; line of crap will work!

[Ingtar]

They count the military as government employees now. That is how Clinton claimed to shrink the government even as it grew.

[The KG9 Kid]

"You wanna test how damn serious I am about leaving this world, screw with my check that pays for this apartment and food. Try it. See how serious I am. I don't care. I have no problem killing myself. Take away the last thing keeping me here, and see what happens. Next time you see me on the news, it will be me in a body bag." -- Stanley Thornton

I hear that this idiot is finally in a booby hatch under observation as a result of the mental anguish caused by his worldwide humiliation over going public with his "AB" (Adult Baby) fetish.

And that's good, because I was thinking of ways that I could introduce giant buckets of water and enormous XXXL-sized dry cleaning bags around his house for him to drown or suffocate in.