McConnell demands spending cuts, Medicare overhaul for deal on debt limit

[Roland99]

Source: Washington Post

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told President Obama on Thursday that he must agree to cut agency spending over the next two years and make significant changes to Medicare and Medicaid as part of a deal for raising the legal limit on government borrowing.

During a White House meeting with the entire Senate Republican caucus, McConnell (Ky.) told the president that the battle over the debt limit is a critical opportunity to overhaul the popular health-care entitlement programs, which are projected to be the biggest drivers of future borrowing.

A bipartisan agreement to curb entitlement costs would reassure financial markets concerned about the nation’s ability to rein in its spiraling debt, McConnell told reporters after the meeting. Doing it now, he said, would neutralize the issue for the 2012 presidential campaign.

“If there’s a grand bargain of some kind with the president of the United States, none of it will be usable by either side in next year’s election,” McConnell said. “That is the importance of this debt ceiling moment.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/mcconnell-demands-spending-cuts-medicare-reform-for-deal-on-debt-limit/2011/05/12/AFTvBh0G_story.html

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Hey, you Sonofamitch!

How about, oh, cutting a couple hundred billion per year out of defense?!!?

[yellowcanine]

1. "McConnell demands ...." By what right?

[OHdem10]

5. Just a reminder, Senator Harry Reid is Leader in the Senate.

McConnell is dmanding????????????????????

[notadmblnd]

2. I say call his freakin bluff and let Wall Street send him a message

I don't think the message he gets from them will make him happy.

[lark]

9. I agree, that's what should happen, but don't think it will

At every opportunity Obama has caved, giving the Repugs more than they even ask for, encouraging them to keep upping their demands. If the man has a spine in standing up to other American politicians, it's yet to be seen. I hope you are right, but I'm certainly not optimistic.

[Ship of Fools]

13. i don't know, though ...

medicare "voucher" stuff has been so spat upon -- could this be the grassroots edge Obama seems to pine for? i mean, he's had to wait for us (not necessarily any of you, but definitely me) to wake up enough to see what's going on, revolt at the town hall level, etc. etc. SURELY it's so reviled that he can win the poker game, no?

[xxqqqzme]

3. Hey mitch,

you only represent a little more than 4 million people in Kentucky. You DO NOT get to demand anything! STFU

[Blue Owl]

4. I demand McConMan go fuck himself

along with his billionaire constituents who are just trying to grub MORE money from the poor and middle class

[andlor]

12. +1

[freshwest]

16. :)

[plumbob]

6. McConnell existence is the best evidence for poorly-evolved life forms

existing. No gawd would ever have created such a piece of shit.

[jwirr]

7. Talk away you douche bag - every word you utter is counted against

you by one more of you former supporters who have suddenly opened their eyes to who it is exactly who is trying to destroy the USA.

[Iliyah]

8. So the gopers

continue to try and eff-up Medicare and gutting money inorder to keep their corporate masters rolling money.

[Enrique]

10. ransom n/t

[Harmony Blue]

18. Correct

It didn't take long for the Republicans to put on their Ski masks.

[on point]

11. Raise taxes on the rich and massive cuts to the penatagon before talking about ANY cuts

[tclambert]

14. Obama's response: "I demand you go fuck yourself. Now all of you, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

Amazing they didn't report that in the article.

Wait, I'm getting a report he didn't actually say that. He just should have.

[rasputin1952]

15. McConnell is a true loser...

he can't "demand" anything, he has no bargaining power; he's in the minority...he can't even "demand" toilet paper for the Senate crapper..:eyes:

Father Time better sit down, shut up and crawl back into his shell...

[TomCADem]

17. Hold The Nation's Credit Hostage To Cut Benefits To Elderly and Poor and Pay For Tax Cuts!

Will the American see the extortion taking place right in front of them? Will the corporate media hold Republicans accountable?

[eridani]

19. Come on Harry! Make the sumbitches VOTE on it ! n/t