Budget negotiators close on debt, agency spending deal

[left-of-center2012]

Source: AP News

The Trump administration and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are on the cusp of the critical debt and budget deal, one that would amount to an against-the-odds victory for Washington pragmatists seeking to avoid politically dangerous tumult over must-do fiscal deadlines.

Aides on both sides of the talks say the tentative deal would restore the government’s ability to borrow to pay its bills into the next administration and build upon recent large budget gains for both the Pentagon and domestic agencies. The deal would mostly eliminate the risk of a repeat government shutdown this fall.

The agreement on an outline for $1.3 trillion in agency spending would represent a win for lawmakers eager to return Washington to a more predictable path amid political turmoil and polarization, defense hawks determined to cement big military increases and Democrats seeking to protect domestic programs. Nobody can claim a big win but both sides view it as better than a protracted battle this fall that probably wouldn’t end up much differently.

The pact would defuse the debt limit for two years, meaning that Trump or his Democratic successor would not have to confront the politically difficult issue until well into 2021.

Read more: https://www.apnews.com/b72be6c420bb478ea469da72c73065e2

[yaesu]

1. working with the fascists on anything will not return Washington to a more predictable path,

it will only embolden the fascists, normalize tRump.

[lark]

2. Ha, like drumpf has ever honored these agreements in the past.

He'll disagree over some stupid wall, ICE, child torture provision and not sign. PUtin doesn't want America on a "regular" track, he wants us disheartened, dishonored, disrespected by another stupid government closure and drumpf will give his master anything he asks so long as he promises to steal the next election for him and keep him out of jail.

[ehrnst]

4. What was the alternative for Democrats?

Do tell.

[alwaysinasnit]

5. Social Security might be the "third rail" but defense spending seems to be viewed in the same light,

unfortunately. I would have liked to see a proviso in the defense budget along the lines of, any increase approved be contingent on passing a federal audit (just like every other federal agency). As far as I know, there has only been one attempt (2017 I think), and that one didn't even come close.