Kochs Throw GOP Under The Bus

[TruthOut10]

When you've lost the Koch brothers, you've lost the game.

Republicans intent on smashing through the debt ceiling in order to wring some spending concessions out of President Obama are finding themselves awfully lonely these days, but they've kept soldiering on. The latest ally to abandon them may be the toughest to ignore, though. The president of the group Americans For Prosperity, bankrolled by Charles G. and David H. Koch of Koch Industries, yesterday said the group wants spending cuts, but warned Republicans that screwing around with the debt ceiling "makes the messaging more difficult," the Financial Times writes. The AFP president also warned Republicans not to be seen as "hostage takers." That's a marked change from the summer of 2011, when AFP objected to a debt-ceiling deal because it didn't cut spending enough, the FT notes.

Even The Koch Brothers Disagree With The GOP On The Debt Ceiling

 

[kyzr]

Agreed. they should extend the debt ceiling a few months to ensure that sequestration happens first.

 

[Stephanie]

They should just change the name of this board to Hufferpost 2nd

 

[squeeze berry]

now all of a sudden the Koch brothers are not evil

 

[waltky]

House passes debt limit bill...

US House passes temporary debt ceiling rise
23 January 2013 - The US House has passed a bill to extend the country's debt limit until May, deferring a budget debate with the White House.

The proposal, passed in a 285-144 vote, also requires lawmakers to pass a budget by mid-April or forgo pay. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said the upper chamber would quickly pass the debt-limit bill, moving it to the president for final approval. White House spokesman Jay Carney called the vote a "welcome development". The Obama administration said on Tuesday the president would not block a short-term extension if it passed Congress.

'No budget, no pay'

The US Treasury is approaching its $16.4tn (£10.3tn) debt limit, and Congress must allow it to borrow more money. Wednesday's bill would extend the federal borrowing authority until 18 May. Republicans added a clause to the bill to keep lawmakers from collecting their salaries if they do not pass a budget by 15 April.

The US has not passed a full budget plan in four years, instead maintaining the government's spending through a series of stop-gap bills, the latest of which is set to expire on 27 March. "We are going to pursue strategies that will obligate the Senate to finally join the House in confronting the government's spending problem," Republican House Speaker John Boehner told lawmakers. "The principle is simple: 'no budget, no pay."' Republicans had previously threatened not to pass an increase in the debt limit unless it was paired with spending cuts. But President Obama refused to negotiate, demanding that lawmakers pass an unconditional debt-limit increase.

The vote comes less than three weeks after Congress and the White House struck a last-minute deal to prevent the so-called fiscal cliff of sharp spending cuts and tax increases. The spending cuts were the result of the last debt-ceiling stand-off. The White House and Congress are expected to clash again over the ultimate outcome of those cuts, delayed for two months. The last debt-ceiling battle between Congress and President Barack Obama ended in July 2011, after bringing the nation close to default, resulting in a credit-rating downgrade and financial market turmoil.

BBC News - US House passes temporary debt ceiling rise

 

[francoHFW]

If the GOP wants spending cuts, they should propose some, in exact terms, and stop just telling DEMS to do so. And forget all quid pro quo ransoms- their brinksmanship and refusal to compromise is disastrous to the recovery.

 

[whitehall]

When you've lost the Koch brothers, you've lost the game.

Republicans intent on smashing through the debt ceiling in order to wring some spending concessions out of President Obama are finding themselves awfully lonely these days, but they've kept soldiering on. The latest ally to abandon them may be the toughest to ignore, though. The president of the group Americans For Prosperity, bankrolled by Charles G. and David H. Koch of Koch Industries, yesterday said the group wants spending cuts, but warned Republicans that screwing around with the debt ceiling "makes the messaging more difficult," the Financial Times writes. The AFP president also warned Republicans not to be seen as "hostage takers." That's a marked change from the summer of 2011, when AFP objected to a debt-ceiling deal because it didn't cut spending enough, the FT notes.

Even The Koch Brothers Disagree With The GOP On The Debt Ceiling

What would the left do without the Huffington spin on reality? If you read it correctly it seems the Koch brothers are concerned that republicans will give in to the crazy democrat party agenda.