No Deal, Mr. President - by Sherrod Brown

[kpete]

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

Dear Mr. President,

With our economy struggling, our working families hurting, and our deficit crisis worsening every year, we need to take action to create jobs, bolster the middle class, and bring our budget into balance.

But the agreement you’ve struck with Senate Republicans is a bad deal. It doubles down on a failed strategy of tax cuts for the super-wealthy that would explode our deficit without strengthening our economy. It’s too high a price to pay for the support of those who have continually refused to put the middle class first.

Instead of giving in to obstruction, we should fight it. I am willing to stay in session as long as it takes to overcome a filibuster and extend both unemployment benefits for jobless Americans and tax cuts for the middle class. If our colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to spend their holidays refusing to help working families struggling to enjoy a Christmas of their own unless their wealthy friends get another bailout, let them.

Mr. President, I know that you share my desire to pass good economic policies that help working families. But a deal that also includes bad policies that will worsen our deficit and fail to help our economy falls short. By standing our ground and standing strong for the middle class, we can do better. And I urge you to do just that.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/10/927907/-No-Deal,-Mr.-President

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Atta boy, Sherrod Brown!

A true voice in the wilderness.

I wish there were many more like him.

Recommended.

[krawhitham]

23. but the GOP will not give in and vote for what we need

fight all you want, they will not give in. They did not in 1995 and they will not now

In 1995 repukes demanded a balanced budget Clinton refused

November 5, 1995
Web posted at: 6:15 a.m. EST

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In his radio address Saturday, President Clinton underscored his intention to veto the Republican balanced-budget plan. Among other things, the plan calls for slowing the growth of Medicare and Medicaid over the next seven years

Government shut down twice



In the end Clinton gave then a balanced budget

January 6, 1996
Web posted at: 11:55 p.m. EST

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history is over.


President Clinton cleared the way for a complete lifting of the 22-day partial shutdown Saturday by bowing to a key Republican demand: submitting a seven-year balanced budget plan scored by the Congressional Budget Office

Granted Clinton won the Media Spin war, but he gave the GOP what they wanted

[montanacowboy]

2. Way to go Sherrod

Between him and Bernie, we have two excellent Progressives

[AtomicKitten]

3. All monies spent should be stimulative and tax cuts are not.

After bellyaching about the deficit these past two years, the GOP has a lot of nerve demanding tax cuts for the rich. I understand pragmatism but at the very least the Dems should wipe the GOP's nose in that mess.

[golfguru]

12. I don't think a new taxcut is being proposed

but a 2 year extension of current tax rates for the rich
and a permanent continuation of current tax rates for middle class.
If this deal falls through my taxes go up a couple of hundred dollars
every month starting in January and I am not gonna be happy about that.

[AtomicKitten]

13. I'm not aware that the middle class taxcuts are being made permanent.

?

[AtomicKitten]

14. I just checked to be sure, and the middle class taxcuts are extended 2 years, not permanently. FYI.

[golfguru]

18. hmmmm...if true that is not good

if you checked it, I am pretty sure you are right.

[Doremus]

17. Your willingness to throw Social Security under the bus is noted.

Also noted is any absence of concern for unemployed Americans.

But kudos that you're doing so well that a return to Clinton-era rates will result in a $200/mo. increase for you.

If you listen closely you might hear my applause.

[golfguru]

19. I can't see any comments on UI or SS in my post

At my age if I am not in a happy middle class situation after
toiling 44 years in various jobs, something is awfully wrong in my
money management skills.

As for the 2% tax holiday in SS & extending Unemployment compensation,
I thought that is part of the proposed package, and both are fine with me.

If this bill goes down, low wage earners will have their tax bracket
jump from 10% to 15% come January 1st, a 50% jump in tax rates.
The unemployed whose benefits are expiring will be in even more dire straits.

[rucky]

4. Him and Jungle Jim's Market are the only things keeping me in Ohio. n/t

[Cali_Democrat]

5. Ouch

Obama should listen to him.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Will Brown bring up the Republicans' role,

or does he think they have nothing to do with anything?

Considering that Brown didn't write an open letter to the GOP
after they voted down the tax deal he supported,
perhaps he should have......

[karynnj]

7. Only problem is that I think only one Republican needs to be there

calling for cloture votes. So, most will be home enjoying the holidays, maybe taking their turn - while all 58 Democrats need to be there. (Why because as soon as one is far away, they just need to send 2 Republicans to vote yes - and they then argue that it would have passed cloture.) The point is 60 votes are needed whether against 0 or 40.

[democrat2thecore]

15. FINE. Put the Republicans on record as stopping the cuts for the middle class to help the rich

Not to mention blocking unemployment benefits two weeks before Christmas.

[karynnj]

20. I think that was the point of the two votes last Saturday, though they clearly did not get the cover

they should have and it was framed, "the Democrats failed to get the votes" for a tax cuts on income below $250,000 and $1,000,000. The same with the unemployment benefits, the media took Scott Brown's (the lesser Brown and the lesser MA Senator) unwritten bill to pass them if they were paid for - ignoring he did not even have the support of his leadership or a real amendment specifying exactly where the money would come from - as equivalent. Ignoring that, just as war funding is usually not balanced by spending cuts, UI NEVER is.

We need to find a way to communicate - beyond ourselves, as the MSM is mostly there's.

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. There are some bright lights of courage and truth shining out today!

:toast:

[TwilightGardener]

9. Here's the problem: Jim Webb and Ben Nelson. Both are up for re-election

in 2012, if I'm not mistaken. Both are conservative, neither want to have ads run against them in their home states that they raised taxes in a bad economy. Obama knows this. Harry Reid knows this. Sherrod Brown probably knows this. The only tax plan that will succeed must get the approval of these two men.

[Echotrail]

10. Well said

I'm looking for a similar statement from my senators.

[ProSense]

11. "I know that you share my desire to pass good economic policies that help working families."

But what are they all going to do about it?

They can debate this until the last day, but they are going to have to act on something.

Are they going to wait until the last day to put together an alternative plan that can pass?

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jenmito]

25. EXACTLY!!! And nobody points that "little fact" out to him or the others! n/t

[Pistarkle]

21. Easier Said Than Done

I hate the thought of having to compromise on the tax cuts as much as you do, but no compromise is only in your corner when YOU have the upper hand. Right now the Republicans HAVE the upper hand – more than enough “no” votes in the Senate to keep tax cuts for the wealthy in ANY compromise. If Democratic candidates campaigned on tax cuts for the wealthy during the 2010 Campaign as the President suggested, perhaps 90% rather than 40% of eligible voters would have voted in the midterms and the Democrats would have the upper hand regarding the tax cut controversy, but that’s past history.

Because of the midterm results, Republicans will be in charge of the House and the 60 vote filibuster-proof Senate on the side of Democrats will be out the door come January 1st. At least now a compromise will benefit the middle class, the poor, and the unemployed and small businesses with the extension of unemployment benefits, tax cuts for the middle class, payroll tax cuts, and incentives for small businesses to create jobs. It’s not the best of both worlds, but it’s better than nothing at all. After January 1st when the Republicans are in charge of the House, you can be guaranteed that those benefits will be ‘gone with the wind’.

WE criticized the President and Democrats when we didn’t get the public option but WE didn’t fight for it. We let the Tea Party and health insurance industry do ALL of the squawking and we didn’t start raising Cain until after the fact. WE must deliver the upper hand. WE must speak out in ONE voice. WE must shame the Republicans into ending those tax cuts THROUGHOUT the next two years. WE must hold local rallies. WE must fight for our rights in local AND national newspapers, internet, radio and media outlets. WE must email, fax and call Republican Congressional offices EVERY DAY. We must let Tea Party-backed Republicans know that if they continue to fight for the wealthy and ignore the middle class, the poor and the unemployed, WE WILL vote them out in 2012 and WE must mean it!

[krawhitham]

22. Sherrpd is assuming one thing

That the GOP will give in and vote for both unemployment benefits for jobless Americans and tax cuts for the middle class, They won't mainly because they do not give a shit about the unemployed or middle class.

If you stay and fight through the holidays and end op giving the GOP the same deal how dumb will the Dems look?

The deal is the ONLY WAY to get both unemployment benefits for jobless Americans and tax cuts for the middle class passed in the lame duck session

[treestar]

24. So what will he do to force Republicans to agree

to middle class tax cuts only?

[Jakes Progress]

26. Wow. A Democrat with a spine. Didn't think I see one ever again.

[polichick]

27. I tried to call his offices today to thank him and couldn't get through...

...he must be getting loads of calls - YAY Senator Brown!

[ncteechur]

28. Senator Brown, when can we do better? WE DON'T HAVE THE VOTES.

[whosinpower]

32. Whine, sniffle, dribble, limp noodle talk

The nation is in a situation that calls for leadership, vision, committment.

Backroom deals that sells out Social Security, and borrows money to give to millionaires is hardly visionary, forward thinking or progressive. It is an affront to democracy. It is a sellout.

Force the republicans to realize - THEY DON'T HAVE THE VOTES EITHER. And next year - THEY STILL WON'T HAVE THE VOTES. They don't have the magic 60. They are supposed to be the party of fiscal responsibility - force them to live up to it, instead of foisting this aberration onto democrats. Force them to feel the wrath of the unemployed. Blame them - publically, loudly, constantly, clearly. In other wards - fight back. Fight back against tax cuts to the wealthy.

FORCE THEM TO BE HOSTAGE TO THEIR OWN IDEALS.

[frazzled]

29. Since when do progressives talk more about deficits and ...

bringing the budget into balance -- during a recession -- than about measures like extended unemployment insurance for the truly economically desperate, extension of the earned-income credit for the poor (which the Republicans HATE, by the way), and stimulus to the economy?

Someone send Sherrod a memo on that. Deficit spending is not what we should be worrying about now, other issues aside.

[CakeGrrl]

30. Lofty words...wonder how he would actually ACCOMPLISH that

since test votes on UI benefits and Middle-class only tax cuts both FAILED?

Maybe Senator Brown should've gotten his colleagues working on this before the clock ran out.

Ironic how this letter of pretty rhetoric is being applauded by people who accuse the President of being "pretty speeches and not much else".

And what does Senator Brown think the unemployed who are depending on those checks will be doing while he stays in session "as long as it takes"?

Pretty words, way late in the game.

[Enthusiast]

31. I'm proud that Sherrod Brown

is my U.S. Senator.

[democracy1st]

33. +1

[Jeffersons Ghost]

34. K&R