Annie
Diamond Member
- Nov 22, 2003
- 50,848
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I really haven't anything to add to this, it's what is:
No budget? No problem! The strange politics behind a budgetless America. - CSMonitor.com
I think I agree that the problem is that the public haven't reacted to this in any meaningful way:
No budget? No problem! The strange politics behind a budgetless America. - CSMonitor.com
I think I agree that the problem is that the public haven't reacted to this in any meaningful way:
No budget? No problem! The strange politics behind a budgetless America.
President Obama has proposed a federal budget. Congress looks sure to ignore it, and Senate Democrats show no desire to pass any budget. It would be the fourth straight budgetless year.
By Gail Russell Chaddock, Staff writer / February 14, 2012
...Unless the public reacts to the lack of a budget which is seen as unlikely for such a seemingly arcane issue theres little pressure on lawmakers to commit to votes on a comprehensive budget plan before November. And Congress has other issues on its mind.
Both Democrats and Republicans are already looking ahead to even tougher tax-and-spend decisions outside the budget process that come due after November. Here are the top tax-and-spend measures to be decided by Dec. 31, most likely in a lame-duck session of Congress.
* The Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire on Dec. 31. The Obama budget for fiscal year 2013 proposes extending tax breaks only for people with incomes less than $250,000. Many Democrats, especially from high-cost-of-living states like New York, want to see those tax breaks extended for incomes up to $1 million.
* A 2 percentage point cut in Social Security payroll taxes, extended unemployment insurance, and the doc fix to avert cuts in reimbursement rates to doctors treating Medicare patients are all set to expire on Feb. 29. If extended, as expected, Congress will face another decision point on the entire $160 billion package on Dec. 31.
* The debt-limit deal mandates that Congress begin $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts, to be divided between defense and domestic spending, in January 2013. Congress has 10 months to come up with an alternative deficit-reduction package. Any agreement before the elections is seen as unlikely....