Why Republicans Suddenly Became Afraid Of Their Own Budget Shadow

[ProSense]

Why Republicans Suddenly Became Afraid Of Their Own Budget Shadow

Brian Beutler

Republicans spent the last four years criticizing Senate Democrats for failing to pass a budget resolution, and for operating outside of what’s known as “regular order” on Capitol Hill, resorting instead to informal processes and “back room deals.” Earlier this year they even attached a rider to legislation increasing the debt ceiling that would have withheld member pay in the event that either chamber failed to pass a budget.

But now that they’ve gotten their way, and the Senate has passed a budget, suddenly they’re the ones squeamish about “regular order.” Instead of promptly appointing negotiators to convene a so-called conference committee and iron out the differences between the wildly different House and Senate budgets, House Republicans are eager to either return to the smoke-filled back rooms of legend, or kill the budget process altogether.

“We want to go to conference when we feel we have a realistic chance of getting an agreement,” Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), the GOP’s top budgeter, told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday, saying he wants members of both parties to take a detour and agree to a pre-conference “framework” before resuming formal negotiations. “We don’t want to conference when we have an endless process that focuses on our differences. … What we want to do is have constructive dialogues to find out where the common ground is and go to conference when we have a realistic chance of coming out with an agreement.”

To explain the about-face, consider what happens if conferees begin meeting and negotiating right away. In this phase of regular order, leadership has less control over the course of events, and pretty much everything is majority rule. Democratic negotiators will be able to relitigate the fight they won in the election. They’ll agree to entitlement spending cuts; they might even reluctantly embrace a provision in President Obama’s budget — chained CPI — that would among other things slow the growth of Social Security benefits. But only if Republicans agreed to ditch the anti-tax absolutism.

Republicans would be faced with the choice of either agreeing to new taxes and triggering a huge conservative revolt; or exacerbating the public’s sense that their party is pathologically unable to compromise.

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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/04/why-republicans-suddenly-became-afraid-of-their-own-budget-shadow.php

'The Excel Error Heard Round the World'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022686815

[ProSense]

1. Kick for

the Republicans' reality.

[Wounded Bear]

2. Once again, they hold out for a pre-nup.....

They won't bargain unless the bargaining is already done beforehand, it seems.

[ProSense]

3. That hasn't worked out for them lately. n/t

[zipplewrath]

6. Unfortunately

I suspect the president will accomodate them to some extent.

I'm thinking something like an agreed to ratio of cuts to revenues and "caps" on what revenues can come from where. But no caps on cuts. Probably various "off limits" areas as well (veterans, military pay, etc.)

[Laelth]

4. Republican are in a bad spot, no doubt.

I don't feel sorry for them one bit.

-Laelth

[ProSense]

5. Yes, they are. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. Not only this ...

Republicans would be faced with the choice of either agreeing to new taxes and triggering a huge conservative revolt; or exacerbating the public’s sense that their party is pathologically unable to compromise.

Even if offered significantly more than the CCPI, they still would likely see a net loss in support, as the seniors out-number and out vote the deficit hawk teapartiers. I say deficit hawk teapartiers because a signifcant portion of the teaparty would lose their nut on any vote to cut SS.

And finally, let's face it ... any goper voting to cut SS, will be doing so wilthout a single Democratic vote and very few gop votes, either.

[1StrongBlackMan]

8. Oh yeah ...

Don't you just love it (hate it) when thread after thread of &quot President) Obama is a sell-out" is destroyed by a single, well written explanatory post ... that drops like a stone by those unable to answer.