A look at this afternoon’s headlines shows Speaker Boehner is going to have a tough time passing his short-term debt limit proposal:
TPM: Jim DeMint: Boehner Plan Doesn’t Have The Votes
“Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), one of the leading hardliners on the right in the debt ceiling fight, is predicting Speaker Boehner (R-OH) will not be able to pass his new plan for a two-tier deficit reduction package without help from Democrats.”
“‘I'm getting mixed e-mails now form the House on whether they have the votes. I don't think they're going to have 218 Republicans,’ he said.”
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jul 26, 2011
Wanted to be sure you saw the Washington Post article highlighting the uncertainty felt by the business community as Republicans continue to hold our economy hostage. Republicans often say that we need to give our economy certainty so that we can create jobs, but rather than move forward with a long-term plan that ensures we pay our nation’s bills and reduces our deficit, they are advocating for a short-term proposal that kicks the can down the road and doesn’t give businesses the certainty they need.
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jul 26, 2011
Yet another poll is out showing that Americans support a balanced agreement to pay our bills and reduce the deficit. This one’s particularly significant, having been taken last night after the President and the Speaker laid out their respective positions. Unfortunately for Speaker Boehner, his short-term, kick the can down the road plan didn’t fare so well:
‘“It does seem to be that the popular narrative is falling on the side of the president on this one,’ Ipsos pollster Julia Clark said.”
“56 percent said they want to see a mix of approaches used in an agreement to raise the debt ceiling.”
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jul 26, 2011
Republicans are holding our economy hostage to their ideological agenda, putting our nation at risk of default just a week from today. Default would have a real impact on middle class families, and at a time when our economy is still recovering, American families can’t afford to pay the price. Take a look at the numbers:
Over $1,000: Increase in mortgage payments for the average family
$250: Increase in credit card interest for the average family
$318: Additional amount families could pay per year on food
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jul 26, 2011
As Republicans continue to argue for a short-term compromise, which would not give our economy certainty and hurt job creation, business leaders are calling on Congress to quickly take action and compromise so that we pay our nation’s bills and avoid the catastrophic consequences of default:
Key point: “All of us in the business community have been watching that issue unfold. I think like most Americans, we’ve been confident that people will come to a common agreement,” Smith told POLITICO. “Of course with each passing day and the approaching deadline, there is a heightening sense of nervousness in the business community.”
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jul 26, 2011
Wanted to make sure you all saw this AP story where Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said that when it comes to the Boehner plan, he is confident "that as of this morning there are not 218 Republicans in support of this plan."
At this late hour, Speaker Boehner should heed this warning from his own conference, drop his insistence on an irresponsible short-term bill and pass the proposal outlined by Senate Majority Leader Reid. As Mr. Hoyer said this morning at his weekly pen and pad briefing, Speaker Boehner should not count on Democratic votes to support his short-sighted proposal.
And now it appears he may not be able to count on Republican votes either.
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jul 26, 2011
We already know that Speaker Boehner has offered a short-term debt limit plan that would return our country to a state of imminent default within months, subjecting our economy to high levels of uncertainty. Now, CNN has reported that passing the Boehner plan would likely lead the rating agencies to downgrade America’s AAA credit—a step that would destroy jobs by dramatically raising interest rates for millions of Americans. On the other hand, passing the compromise plan put forward by Senate Majority Leader Reid would reduce the deficit by enough, and extend the debt limit by enough, to preserve our top-rated credit.
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jul 26, 2011
Wanted to pass along this handy list from National Journal summarizing the consequences of failing to ensure we pay our nation’s bills. These are costs Americans can’t afford. We hope Republicans will take note and work with us on a long-term, balanced compromise that would reduce the deficit and ensure we pay our nation’s bills.
National Journal
Six Costs of Not Raising the Debt Ceiling
By Julia Edwards
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jul 26, 2011
Polls show overwhelming support for a balanced plan to reduce our deficit and pay our bills—even among Republicans. House Republicans standing in the way of a compromise and pushing our country toward default are far to the right of most Americans. Last night, President Obama urged Americans who support a compromise solution to contact their Members of Congress and make their voices heard.
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jul 25, 2011
Pop Quiz for Senator Bob Corker (R-TN):
Which option will keep us from defaulting?
A. Compromise on a balanced package that includes revenues and spending cuts, and increase the debt limit
OR
B. Chill out
Sen. Corker’s Response: B