Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C.
Its so ridiculous as Ive said
it wouldnt even pass the House under Nancy Pelosi. And thats why even the most liberal members of Congress the presidents most ardent supporters havent come forward to support it" said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) during a pointed exchange on the Senate floor with Majority Leader Harry Reid Wednesday.
If the presidents proposal was made in good faith Democrats should be eager to vote for it" he added.
McConnell called for a vote on what he called President Obamas laughable" fiscal cliff plan. But
Majority Leader Harry Reid quickly objected another sign indicating that the presidents proposal for averting the Fiscal Cliff had little support among Congressional Democrats.
(... Read details here.)
McConnell also said Reids response telgraphs how in fact the President & Senate Deomcrats are more interested in political theater than substantive talks for at least this week.
The presidents plan delivered to Capitol Hill late last week by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner called for:
- $1.6 trillion in tax hikes
- $400 billion in spending cuts & economic stimulus measures and
- Give the president (Obamaaand future presidents) authority to raise the Debt Ceiling.
So Im surprised the majority leader just declined the chance for them to support it with their votes." Reid a Nevada
Democrat dismissed McConnells request as yet another example of GOP obstruction."
If Republicans were really serious about solving the fiscal crisis Reid said theyd take up the Senate-passed bill that would extend tax cuts for all but the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans.
So the question is really this: Are we going to get serious here and legislate or is this more of the obstruction we felt so much during this last Congress?" Reid said.
Or are we going to continue the sort of political stunts that the Republican leader is trying to pull today now? … The election is over. Its time to get down to business" responded Reid.
