"Dems have an ace in the hole in coming battle"

[applegrove]

Dems have an ace in the hole in coming battle

by Greg Sargent at the Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/08/19/dems-have-an-ace-in-the-hole-in-coming-battle/

"SNIP.............................


This hidden leverage, Van Hollen says, flows from a little noticed wrinkle in the design of the sequester that is only being focused on by Capitol Hill aides right now. Because of that wrinkle, defense programs are set to absorb a much bigger spending cut next year, compared to this year, than non-defense programs are. If the sequester is not replaced, defense will be cut an additional $20 billion in 2014 below current levels.

Since the defense cuts are already prompting some Republicans to say the sequester needs replacing, these additional cuts should increase pressure on GOP lawmakers to agree to replace it partly on Democratic terms, i.e., with a combination of spending cuts and tax hikes via the closing of loopholes.

“We believe this should bring Republicans to the table,” Van Hollen told me. “This will become more acute now. They should be willing to make targeted cuts in special interest tax breaks in order to prevent these additional sequester cuts. We think this will create the conditions for a longer term plan to replace the sequester.”

Remember, the path to a budget deal runs through the Senate. With a few Senate Republicans (particularly “defense hawks” like John McCain and Lindsey Graham) already seemingly prepared to deal to replace the sequester, the prospect of deeper defense cuts could only further intensify pressure on Senate Republicans to make concessions, which in turn would theoretically put more pressure on the House.


...........................SNIP"

[MotherPetrie]

1. You'd think he of all people would know Repugs better than that.

[TDale313]

2. That was supposed to be the part of this...

That would get Republicans to the table- that insured these cuts never went into effect in the first place. Guess what? Enough Republicans hate social spending more than they love defense spending. It didn't work.

[Scuba]

3. $20 billion? Out of a trillion?

[kentuck]

4. $100 billion might get their attention?

I'm not sure $20 billion will get their attention either.