Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Cliff Report

Various sources are saying the new budget offer from President Obama to the Republicans is close to agreement.  From TPM:

The details, via a source familiar with the negotiations, include: a movement on revenue demands to $1.2 trillion from an initial $1.6 trillion, a permanent extension of Bush-era tax rates for incomes less than $400,000 (Obama initially set the threshold at $250,000), $1.2 trillion in spending cuts, a “fast track process” for corporate and individual tax reform once the new Congress convenes, permanent extension of tax extenders and the alternative minimum tax, an extension of unemployment benefits set to expire at the end of the year, additional stimulus in the form of infrastructure spending and a two-year debt limit increase.

The White House proposal would also allow the payroll tax cut to expire, and call for $130 billion in savings from Social Security benefits by adjusting the program’s inflation index. The offer would include protections for the most vulnerable recipients, the person said.

Both sides have folks that don’t like it — MoveOn.org is calling on members to block it — and I am sure there are teabaggers who think that giving the Secret Gay Mooslim anything is tantamount to treason.  Which means that this is probably the deal we’re going to get.