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In a moment of Democratic toughness – if you can call it that – the Democratic House leader in charge of counting votes for the Debt Ceiling said there would be no democrat voting on a package that did not include revenues.
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told attendees at a White House gathering that a Republican-pushed plan to slash more than $1.5 trillion in federal spending — along with reforms to the entitlement program — would likely have to pass with only GOP support.
“In the room, the Democrats made clear they couldn’t get Democratic votes for such a cut-only package,” said a Democratic official with knowledge of the exchange. “And that is relevant because everyone knows that Cantor and Boehner will bleed a significant number of their caucus before we even start the process. So anything that passes requires significant Democratic votes and the thing they laid out that didn’t have revenues, that was all cuts, didn’t meet the test… Democrats made clear there was no Democratic support for it.”
A spokesman for Hoyer confirmed that the Maryland Democrat said he could guarantee “no Democratic votes on a package without revenues.”
Which means either the government defaults, the WH has the FED step in or there is a clean vote on a package to just raise the debt ceiling. I predict the latter. End of kabuki dance. Hope you all enjoyed it.
7 Comments
Sorry, but Steny Hoyer’s credibility is lower than LeBron James’s plus-minus rating in this year’s NBA Finals.
I still think that if he says there are no votes, there probably are no votes.
I’ll believe it when I see it. Still, it is encumbent on us to write, e-mail, and call our elected officials to let them know our opinion. Every action counts and letters have the heaviest weight especially if delivered personally to their local office. So everyone needs to stop whining and take some action. It may seem small, but it really isn’t.
BTW, it really shakes up your local Repulican Terrorist Organization (RTO) member when you stop by their office and air your grievence, not that it changes their mind, but its great sport. Its especially good if you go in well dressed and state you are a retired military officer (I am). The staff’s natural tendency is to believe you follow their idiot lockstep. Always fun to be polite but firm in your disagreement to stir the pot. Heh heh heh.
They are very tricksy as to how they count “revenues” and Obama as reported is only looking for 15% revenues/85% spending cuts.
And Steny? He’s in on the right wing “flag scam.” https://forms.house.gov/hoyer/webforms/flags.shtml
I’ve looked at all 435 House Critters Websites. The only other jerks who participate in in this creepy nationalist jingoism are Republicans, and only a few of them. Yes this is guilt by association. But it’s well deserved.
I hope democrats hold on to this new spine at least until Aug 2nd. This really is a terrible deal and we should all oppose it (even if they add token revenue increases).
Failing to raise the debt ceiling does not have to lead to default. I wrote a diary today about how Obama can pay all the nations bills by minting coins. This is perfectly legal. It would be illegal for Obama to default. So if he wants to abide by the law he HAS to do the prior.
Bullshit. IF there are new taxes they will be regressive. If the deficit was a problem they would tax the rich and end the wars. This is about finally destroying the new deal.
Hoyer just does not have that kind of control.