Franken, Klobuchar among signers of deficit-reduction letter to Obama
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 8:26 am
- 3 Comments
Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar are among 62 U.S. Senators — 32 Republicans and 32 Democrats — who’ve signed a letter urging President Obama to do more to reduce the federal deficit. Drafted by Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado and Republican Mike Johanns of Nebraska, the letter left many pundits scratching their heads: If so many senators are pushing Obama to engage in deficit reduction ideas, why haven’t they done it themselves?
“Beyond FY2011 funding decisions, we urge you to engage in a broader discussion about a comprehensive deficit reduction package,” the letter states. “Specifically, we hope that the discussion will include discretionary budget cuts, entitlement changes and tax reform.”
The letter says that negotiations on budget issues will be more successful with Obama’s support.
The fact that a supermajority of senators — it takes 60 pass legislation in the Senate — are urging Obama to act on the deficit wasn’t lost on the Washington Post’s Ezra Klein:
In this letter, 64 senators manage to sound like an interest group begging the White House for support rather than a supermajority of the United States Senate — which is to say, a coalition of men and women who could, on their own, draft and pass the very legislation they’re talking about. Which raises the question: Why are they writing this letter rather than the legislation this letter claims to want?
The letter urges Obama to support the Simpson-Bowles Commission’s recommendations for tackling the budget. That commission was a bipartisan effort put together by Obama to generate ideas for reducing the deficit.
Matthew Yglesias added his own thoughts:
The first thing that’s ridiculous about this, is that if 64 Senators want to vote for the Simpson-Bowles Commission’s recommendations, then there’s nothing stopping them from voting for the Simpson-Bowles Commission’s recommendations. They don’t need support from Barack Obama to do so. If anything, Barack Obama endorsing Simpson-Bowles would make it more difficult for Republicans to endorse it.
The full letter can be viewed here:
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Comment posted March 22, 2011 @ 9:50 pm
Letting the Bush tax cuts expire would have been a great start, getting out of Afghanistan, Iraq and not Lybia would be another wise move, taxing high volume trades on wall street, would be another, but Kloubachar thinks cutting social security is a good idea.A rude aid in her Washington office said her cuts would only effect those entering the sytsem now, I asked if she thought he cost of living would be less in 50 years when those folks are retiring, she didn’t understand the question. Amy better hope Bachmann runs for President and doesn’t set her sights on the Senate, any Democrat running on cutting social security is going to have a pretty rough ride.
Comment posted June 5, 2011 @ 7:01 pm
WHY WOULD TWO MINNESOTA SENATORS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES MAKE A DECISION NOT TO RESPOND TO A CITIZEN’S LETTER REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S BUTTING INTO A SHORT SALE WHERE A BUYER WAS REFUSED THE PURCHASE OF THE HOME BY THE USDA?
I NEVER EVEN GOT AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT MY LETTER, ADDRESSED TO BOTH SENATORS’ OFFICES WAS RECEIVED. I NOW AM THE PROUD OWNER OF THE FIRST DEFAULT ON A LOAN IN MY ENTIRE 38 AND 1/2 YEAR MARRIAGE, NOT INCLUDING MY STATUS AS A SINGLE PERSON. MY CREDIT LINE HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY DAMAGED FOR A DECISION MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTING ITS CITIZENS.
HOW CAN I THANK THOSE TWO SENATORS ENOUGH? OBVIOUSLY, THERE WILL BE ONE LESS VOTE FORTHCOMING NEXT ELECTION. BUT WHO CARES ABOUT ONE VOTE? WHO CARES ABOUT ONE CONSTITUENT LOSING A HOUSE?
WHO CARES ABOUT CONCERN FOR MY NEEDS. I HAVE NEVER ASKED FOR HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT. I WORK TWO JOBS TO SUPPORT MY WIFE AND I. I AM NOW FACING AN AFFECTED CREDIT LINE WITH JUST A FEW YEARS LEFT UNTIL RETIREMENT.
A DISAPPOINTED CITIZEN OF THE GREAT STATE OF MINNESOTA,
EVERETT I. THIES
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