President Obama needs a few people like this one in his Cabinet...

[kentuck]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/schakowsky-unveils-progressive-deficit-reduction-plan.php?ref=fpb

<snip>
A member of the White House's fiscal commission has released her own progressive plan for deficit reduction, after the commission's chairmen unveiled recommendations she vehemently opposes.

"Their proposal would have serious consequences for lower and middle class Americans, and that is why I cannot support it," says Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) in a statement. "I am releasing my own plan today because I believe that there is a better way to achieve our goal - one that protects the poor and the middle-class."

Her plan, which she claims would achieve fiscal balance by 2015, includes a host of ideas that were not included in the report released last week by Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles. It makes provision for another $200 billion worth of stimulus to take the form of unemployment insurance extensions and additional aid to states.

On spending, the Schakowski plan calls for $8.55 billion in non-defense discretionary spending cuts in 2015, largely by ending overpayments by federal agencies for various programs, including Medicaid. She says her plan would save over $110 billion on the defense side, by reducing overseas troop deployments, and shrinking the nuclear arsenal, among numerous other options.

....more

[gateley]

1. Although it's probably not realistic for him to surround himself with progressives --

after all, he does have to have more than one-sided advice, I'd sure like to see a lot more than he has now. I guess I'd better send him a memo. :7

Schakowsky is wonderful - I've always liked her.

[midnight]

2. K&R

[FrenchieCat]

3. We need a new media......

If we had that, the rest would fix itself pretty quickly.

When Bristol Palin who can't dance worth a lick can beat Brandy on Dancing with the stars....
then you know that anything is possible.....and that it doesn't really matter what Obama does,
if it has already been decided that with enough on the Left helping the Right and the media
put the Right back in the White House. Nothing.

[eridani]

4. Some good ideas, but why no financial transaction tax? n/t

[truedelphi]

5. Especially given that Obama himself used to talk about how

It should happen. It's not like he is unfamiliar with the idea.

he mentioned it many times while running for the Oval Office in 2008.