Obama finally tackling the National Debt by supporting a bipartisan fiscal commission

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,738
126
CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/23/under-pressure-obama-backs-fiscal-commission/

"declared his public support for creating a fiscal commission that could propose sweeping tax increases and spending cuts to try to slash the soaring federal debt."

But it wasnt all altruistic on Obama's part:
"lawmakers were adamant that they would not support an increase in the debt ceiling unless the administration supported the full-scale statutory fiscal commission "

THe fiscal commission:
10 Democrats (eight members of Congress and two Obama officials) and eight Republicans (all from the House and Senate)

"If 14 of the 18 members approve the package, giving it a bipartisan nod, it would force an automatic up-or-down vote in the House and Senate on whether to implement the recommendations. "


Finally, doing something about our runaway National Debt!


edit:
Lets see if:
- the bipartisan commission can come up w/something good, or succomb to infighting

- Will House/Senate actually pass their recommendations w/just an up/down vote? Or will they water down the recommendations and add attachments galore?
 
Last edited:

Ozoned

Diamond Member
Mar 22, 2004
5,578
0
0
CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/23/under-pressure-obama-backs-fiscal-commission/

"declared his public support for creating a fiscal commission that could propose sweeping tax increases and spending cuts to try to slash the soaring federal debt."

But it wasnt all altruistic on Obama's part:
"lawmakers were adamant that they would not support an increase in the debt ceiling unless the administration supported the full-scale statutory fiscal commission "

THe fiscal commission:
10 Democrats (eight members of Congress and two Obama officials) and eight Republicans (all from the House and Senate)

"If 14 of the 18 members approve the package, giving it a bipartisan nod, it would force an automatic up-or-down vote in the House and Senate on whether to implement the recommendations. "


Finally, doing something about our runaway National Debt!

I like dog and pony shows. They make me lol!
 

EightySix Four

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2004
5,122
52
91
Err...10 vs 8? How the eff is that bipartisan?

Because even if all of the dems agree at least half of the repubs would have to agree for it to automatically go to vote. More than likely 14/18 will be a tough number to get to.
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
Because even if all of the dems agree at least half of the repubs would have to agree for it to automatically go to vote. More than likely 14/18 will be a tough number to get to.

And it's representative of the makep of Congress.
 

drebo

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
7,034
1
81
What the hell? I thought we had commissions on banking and the economy and taxes already. Why do we need another one?

This is just another vehicle the liberal elite is going to use to fuck over the middle class by raising taxes. Raising taxes is NOT the answer to deficit spending and debt.

NOT USING DEFICIT SPENDING AND NOT TAKING OUT DEBT is the answer to deficit spending and debt.

Another pretty speech from the circle-jerk parade. Couldn't tax the hell out of us with a "healthcare reform" bill that didn't actually do anything, so now they're just going to tax us without a cover story. Wonderful.
 

Double Trouble

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,270
103
106
Dog and pony show. Obama's advisors figured out that the public is very concerned with the out of control spending, so now it's damage-control time. They are taking steps to pretend to want to control the deficit. In reality neither the repubs (when they had the house, senate and white house) nor the dems have done anything other than spend spend spend.
 

marincounty

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2005
3,227
5
76
We need more Republicans on this commission, if there's one thing they know about it's deficits and debt.
Another round of tax cuts should fix everything.:)
 

marincounty

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2005
3,227
5
76
Dog and pony show. Obama's advisors figured out that the public is very concerned with the out of control spending, so now it's damage-control time. They are taking steps to pretend to want to control the deficit. In reality neither the repubs (when they had the house, senate and white house) nor the dems have done anything other than spend spend spend.

Not completely true. Clinton's tax increase (which not a single Republican supported) led to an almost balanced budget, and he did pay down some debt. The vast majority of the debt happened under Republican administrations.
 

drebo

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
7,034
1
81
Tax Increases are a vital part of a solution. Sorry.

No, they're not. Our tax rate is already too high.

The solution, the ONLY solution, is a more fiscally responsible government.

The government needs to operate within its means. Period. The federal government was designed to be funded by tariffs and bonds. If it needs more money, it needs to do more about encouraging local manufacturing and exportation. Our trade deficit is killing us, and the bloated federal government is now floating on the backs of the middle class. Raising taxes does nothing to fix those root causes.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,705
6,261
126
No, they're not. Our tax rate is already too high.

The solution, the ONLY solution, is a more fiscally responsible government.

The government needs to operate within its means. Period. The federal government was designed to be funded by tariffs and bonds. If it needs more money, it needs to do more about encouraging local manufacturing and exportation. Our trade deficit is killing us, and the bloated federal government is now floating on the backs of the middle class. Raising taxes does nothing to fix those root causes.

Nope. Tax Increases are necessary if you're serious about eliminating the Deficit. Cut them later once Surplus is achieved. Otherwise you'll be dicking around Needing funding forever with all kinds of Issues popping up requiring more Deficit Spending. You do it as quickly as possible and to do that you Increase Taxes. No exceptions.
 

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
10
0
Dog and pony show, that's all it is as usual, and the only thing they'll recommend is higher taxes.
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,161
7
0
After getting his ass kicked in the last three major elections Obama now wants to balance the budget.... color me surprised.
 

RedChief

Senior member
Dec 20, 2004
533
0
81
Nope. Tax Increases are necessary if you're serious about eliminating the Deficit. Cut them later once Surplus is achieved. Otherwise you'll be dicking around Needing funding forever with all kinds of Issues popping up requiring more Deficit Spending. You do it as quickly as possible and to do that you Increase Taxes. No exceptions.

Maybe you should pay attention to how tax increases have affected downturn economies in the past. Take California in 1992. Takes were raised at the end of the recession to cover a budget deficit. The tax increases netted less the half the projected revenue the first year and revenue actually dropped the second year after the increases went into affect. Add in that these tax increases causes the CA economy to stay in a recession for 12+ months after the rest of the nation had come out of it.

All tax increases will due in the current economy is suck necessary capital out of the economy and hold off any economic recovery.
 

Hacp

Lifer
Jun 8, 2005
13,923
2
81
Why do you need a commision to figure out how to reduce the national debt? This is typical government waste. The path to paying the debt is easy. Just cut spending!
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Why do you need a commision to figure out how to reduce the national debt? This is typical government waste. The path to paying the debt is easy. Just cut spending!

Cut which spending?
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
126
Wait, this gets a commission, but health care can't get a panel of experts for reform?

Hmmm... Tax increases and health care. I guess we know what has priority.

I suppose everyone knows that this won't decrease the deficit, it's just another source of money. This will go to bring it down? Yeah, like my Social Security tax is going in the lock box.