U.S. deficit report will emerge regardless of vote

[struggle4progress]

Source: Reuters

By David Morgan
WASHINGTON | Fri Nov 19, 2010 11:08am EST

The co-chairmen of President Barack Obama's deficit commission on Friday said they will make public the panel's report on how to balance the U.S. budget even if it doesn't get enough votes from commission members to be submitted to Congress.

Former Republican Senator Alan Simpson and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles have already issued their recommendations aimed at cutting the deficit by reducing spending, eliminating tax breaks and modifying Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

But the commission's final report must win support from 14 of the commission's 18 members before it can be officially submitted to Congress for a vote, according to a mandate imposed by Obama.

The recommendations have drawn skepticism from both sides of the political spectrum, with Republicans rejecting proposed tax hikes and Democrats chafing at prospects for altering the Social Security retirement system or the Medicare and Medicaid healthcare programs for the elderly and poor ...

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AI3C620101119

[damntexdem]

1. Of course: they want to push their rightwing agenda whether or not Congress agrees --

or, rather, complies.

[MiniMe]

2. The republicans will push their agenda no matter what

They want to make the Bush tax cuts permanent, and they will try their hardest to do it.