Count me among those skeptical that a new deficit summit/commission/gang will produce bipartisan consensus – and not just political theater. It’s no big secret what needs to be done to reduce the nation’s debt – raise taxes, cut spending or do both. While the details of what gets cut and who gets taxed are open to negotiation, …
kent conrad
Recall the Recall?
Politico has an interesting story about about Tea Party efforts in several states to recall politicians — when, you know, the electoral thing just isn’t working for you. Bob Menendez in New Jersey, Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu and Kent Conrad of North Dakota have all been targeted.
Yes, because the $66 million recall of California …
The Bismarck Bank Job, A Bungle Going Down
House and Senate Democrats gave Republicans a gift Wednesday by including the following phrase in its summary of the new health reform bill:
Section 2213. Agreements with State-Owned Banks. This section amends Part D of Title IV to direct the Secretary to enter into an agreement with an eligible lender for the purpose of providing
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Health Care Summit: Not So Great Expectations
There’s little bipartisan agreement on what President Barack Obama’s health care summit on Thursday will truly be, though low expectations are popping up across the political spectrum.
“What’s disturbing is the continued media reports that [Democrats] already have their plan to move forward … no matter what the result is of …
Howard Dean Votes for Reconciliation
OK, so Howard Dean doesn’t have an actual vote, but his contention that Democrats should kill the public option-less Senate bill and instead push pieces of health care reform through via reconciliation is still significant. Greg Sargent at the The Plum Line got early word of a public radio interview with Dean scheduled to air in a few …