Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) To Vote In Favor of the U.S. Deficit Commission Plan!

[Better Believe It]

Durbin to vote in favor of the U.S. deficit commission plan
December 2, 2010

Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat and a close ally of President Obama, will vote Friday to support the final recommendations of the bipartisan deficit commission, arguing that the nation's growing debt requires lawmakers to make difficult choices.

"If we don't act now -- if we pass this issue on to another Congress, another generation -- the tough choices we face now only get tougher," he writes.

Illinois' senior senator acknowledges that many, particularly on the left, vehemently oppose many of the commission's recommendations. But he says both parties need to be candid about the precarious state of the nation's finances, and that when the hard choices are made, "I want progressive voices at the table."

The final vote of the full commission remains unclear. But four of the panel's 18 members have already come out publicly to say they would reject the proposals, including another Illinois Democrat, Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Under the executive order President Obama issued creating the panel in February, 14 votes are required for the recommendations to move to the Senate for consideration.

Durbin's vote is, however, the 10th public commitment in favor of it, ensuring a majority of members endorsed the plan. In the interview, Durbin said the work of the commission will remain front and center in the new Congress.

"There will be at least three Democrats and three Republican elected officials voting for it. That's a breakthrough. That's never happened before," he said.

That support could help Durbin lobby his colleagues to show the political courage that may be needed to enact the proposals. Fresh off a tumultuous campaign, lawmakers may not have the appetite to do so.

"I know that voting for this creates another opportunity for negative ads. But if you're going to turn tail, cut and run every time someone threatens a 30-second ad, you ought to get out of this business," he said. "You've got to stand up every once and while -- even if it's unpopular -- and do what you think is right. And that's what I'm doing."

Read the full article at:

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/12/durbin-to-vote-in-favor-of-the-us-deficit-commission-plan.html

[ananda]

1. Stick your "difficult choices" up your ass and get us out of wars!

nt

[golddigger]

2. Go fuck yourself Durbin.

[KharmaTrain]

3. He's Right And He's Wrong

Our government is not just broke but deep in debt. While many like to think of money as an endless resource it is finite and the money that is used to offer the many services we depend on our government to provide is running out. If we can't borrow, things could get real ugly real fast. This isn't some scare tactic, this is solid economics. And its only excelerated in these times when tax revenues have shrunk. Hugh defecits are what's doing in the "PIG" countries and thanks to the reckless policies of the previous regime, we're headed in the same direction.

The rub is what gets cut and where. Anywhere you do, you run into stiff resistance. While I'd love to see the military budget cut 50% and the wars for profit ended...that'd cut the defecit big time quickly, but there are few politicians who will dare be caught being called "weak on defense" in the millions of dollars of teevee ads that are sure to greet them in the next election. Unforutnately entitlement programs aren't as protected...but they still are potent. There aren't many rushpublicans who want to face voters after voting in favor of cutting or eliminating SSI or Medicare. To their accolytes they may rattle the sabre, but many know this a political third rail.

I see this as a lot of posturing and a reality check. But I don't see a lot of these recommendations going anywhere...especially in today's hyper partisan poitical world. Too many elements require compromise and the GOTB doesn't do compromise...period. If Democrats cave they also risk depressing a base that is already depressed.

[lldu]

4. Conrad says they only have 11 yeas

but says "in the senate this would be pass because it is over 60%"

Sheesh

[Better Believe It]

7. They have more than enough to get the proposals considered on the floor of Congress

And the essential proposals will be passed by Congress next year with some relatively minor changes and "tweaking" and with the blessing of the White House. President Obama will sign the bill to cut government jobs and benefits, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other measures that will balance the budget on the backs of the elderly and working people.

Congress will adopt budget cutting proposals and tax increases for working people that "won't be as bad" as the commission plan and this will be sold to the public as a great "victory" against the "extremist" deficit cutters, the "bad cops".

It's the old "bad cop, good cop" routine which has become so popular in Washington.

The "deficit cutting" legislation will also please Wall Street.

[rurallib]

5. you're dreaming, dick

just like your protege. You will believe something will happen that has been demonstrated over and over will not work.

[Better Believe It]

8. He just doing what his financial backers on Wall Street and La Salle Street direct him to do.

And he is surely doing this will the full backing if not outright encouragement of the White House!

[City Lights]

6. Sigh. I emailed him when I heard he was "leaning yes."

Oh well, at least I voiced my opinion to him.

x(

[Poboy]

9. They have declared war on us. Pick up your torches and pitchforks!

[QC]

10. He needs to be driven out of office. n/t

[PBS Poll-435]

11. What plan? nt

[Better Believe It]

12. This plan.

http://static1.firedoglake.com/1/files/2010/12/fiscal-comm-final-report.pdf

Congress consider the proposals next year and pass most of them with some minor modifications and "tweaks".

[PBS Poll-435]

13. sigh

Believe what you want to believe, I guess.

[somone]

14. It's jobs, not deficits, asshole

What a dick

[ComtesseDeSpair]

15. What the hell???

I used to think Durbin was one of our better senators - but that myth has been crushed in my mind. I just sent him a letter telling him that if he votes in favor of this debacle of a commission, he will have lost my vote forever. As well as my respect. Not that it matters, of course. Not that I matter of course.

I truly have lost my hope for this country. It's amazing what a 360 I've done since 2008. Two years that I expected to be hopeful and stirring have turned into two years of disappointment and dismay. The joke is on me, I guess...

[RC]

16. Some Americans still don't get it.

It is both a spending and a revenue problem.
It is a spending problem because of Bush's two wars of choice. Over one Trillion dollars and counting.
It is a revenue problem because of Bush's tax cuts.

Because of Bush's fiscal irresponsibility, the Federal income went down at the same time outgo went up. And also for the next ten years, our Living Wage Jobs were being outsourced, throwing millions out of work.
Because of job losses, federal tax revenues from those people went way down also, at the same time they started drawing unemployment, furthering the federal revenue problem.

The fix: Let all the tax cut expire, at least those above $100,000. (Not $250,000) Stop the outsourcing of our Living Wage Jobs. Stop both of Bush's illegal wars of choice.

In other words undo everything Bush did since 2001.

What is so hard to understand?