TPM: Dems reportedly offer 4 to 1 spending cuts to revenue increases. Republicans say no.

[flpoljunkie]

Emphasis mine

Obama, McConnell Prepare For Gridlock Ahead Of Key Debt Limit Meeting
Brian Beutler | June 27, 2011, 4:43PM

Updated 6:45 p.m.

With just over one month left until the government begins to default obligations to creditors, vendors, and entitlement beneficiaries, leaders of both parties in Washington made clear Monday that the underlying gridlock isn't going anywhere. That means a half-trillion dollar impasse will have to be bridged, quickly, if the country's to avoid a domino effect of economic consequences. And with the White House and Congressional Republicans staking out incompatible positions, it's unclear how that will happen.

In the hours before an evening meeting with President Obama, and in a number of different venues, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell renewed his insistence that Republicans will not accept any tax increases as part of a trillion-dollar deficit reduction package the GOP is demanding before agreeing to let the country pay all its bills on time.

But according to a top Democratic aide, Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) agreed at a White House meeting Monday morning that any such package must take "a balanced approach, and that revenues need to be a part of that approach, especially ending taxpayer-funded giveaways to corporations that don't need them."

Democratic aides aren't offering a complete list of the tax measures they want Republicans to consider, or how much each measure is expected to raise. Multiple accounts, however, indicate they want tax measures to raise $400 billion over the next 10 years -- 20 percent of the $2 trillion they hope to cut from the deficit overall.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/obama-mcconnell-prepare-for-gridlock-ahead-of-key-debt-limit-meeting.php?ref=fpb

[Atman]

1. It's time -- past time -- to tell the Republicans to fuck off.

The Dems should put forth a budget that raises the revenue we need while supporting the social safety net and cutting back on the war spending. It will be wildly popular with the American people, giving the president and the Democrats the upper hand. Tell the GOP to pass it or own the consequences.

[flpoljunkie]

2. The president needs to educate and involve the American people to avoid Republican blackmail

Otherwise the Republicans will refuse to budge. After all, they are Grover Norquist's puppets--the protectors of great wealth. Their constituency is the top 1% and above as represented in this chart:

[flpoljunkie]

3. Or is it 5 to 1 spending cuts to tax increases--$2 trillion to $400 billion?

Political Animal
Blog

June 28, 2011 8:00 AM

Debt talks going nowhere fast
By Steve Benen

The bipartisan debt-reduction talks broke down last week when Democrats asked Republicans to consider a compromise. According to the Wall Street Journal, participants were eyeing a package that would cut $2.4 trillion over the next decade, and Dems proposed a deal that leaned heavily in the GOP’s favor — $2 trillion in cuts with $400 billion in increased revenue.

It was, in other words, a roughly five-to-one split — for every dollar in increased revenue, Democrats would cut about five dollars in spending. In response, Republicans refused and walked out. The deal, apparently, just wasn’t sweet enough.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_06/debt_talks_going_nowhere_fast030553.php

[msongs]

4. when you are dealing with an easy mark no point in saying yes way too soon lol nt