Disturbin’ Durbin
by digby
Oh Jayzuz we are so screwed:
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) diverged from Democratic colleagues Wednesday and applauded the Republican offer to raise $300 billion in new taxes as part of a deficit-reduction deal.
Democratic members of the supercommittee on Tuesday had panned the GOP offer as insufficient.
Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democratic leader, chose to focus on the positive and hailed the latest development as a “breakthrough.” He was worked on a massive deficit-reduction package for more than a year as a member of the Simpson-Bowles commission and the Senate’s Gang of Six.
“The fact that some Republicans have stepped forward to talk about revenue, I think, is an invitation for Democrats to step forward and talk about entitlement reform as well as spending cuts. Therein lies the core of an agreement,” Durbin said.
Since the Democrats have already put Medicare and Medicaid on the table, I’m guessing he’s talking about Social Security.
Durbin,being from Illinois and a very close personally ally oft he president is usually seen as signaling the White House position in such negotiations.
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