Republicans want Obama to propose both the tax increase and the entitlement cuts. That doesn't make sense. Republicans should come to the table with the entitlement and other spending cuts they want, and Obama should propose the tax increases he wants.
I think the idea is to have both parties take ownership of entitlement cuts. Everyone knows they are necessary. That is why the negotiations are behind closed doors - the real ones, not the media soundbite negotiations which is just posturing.
So why aren't the Republicans proposing tax hikes? In the end both parties will have to take ownership of both the tax hikes and the entitlement cuts. I don't think Republicans actually want to lay down on paper what they mean by entitlement cuts....because it sounds a lot like welfare cuts to certain people. And the Republicans would prefer if those people would continue to believe that.
The Democrats should put down what they want as tax hikes, which they have and they are not going to get it imo, and the Republicans should lay down their position on entitlement cuts (aka medicare and social security cuts). Neither party will get what they want of course, but the Republicans should at least be on the record stating what they want. They shouldn't get to run on opposing tax hikes AND medicare/social security cuts (while still running on opposing entitlements because as you know, welfare is like half the budget or whatever
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I have to say that a few Republicans have come out with their own plans, like Senator Bob Corker and I appreciate that. I don't know how much savings will come from that, but it's better than nothing. Both parties should come out with what they want and then negotiations can proceed from there.
