Let’s just say that Kent Conrad’s mark-up of the Bowles-Simpson plan yesterday in the Senate Budget Committee didn’t go according to the script. The “markup” didn’t include any votes, first of all. This was by design, but it turned the proceedings into something of a farce. Some Republicans argued that Conrad should have allowed votes [...]

The main way that the US can insulate itself from the crisis in Europe is through continuing the fiscal state of emergency in the country, as the only ballast for growth. Unfortunately, we have a dysfunctional Congress, so the only way to realistically do this is to not slip backwards and turn fiscal policy negative [...]

I criticized the American Dream Movement this morning for narrowing the focus of their advertising message to a partisan one, rather than a broader message aligned with what’s best for the country rather than a political party. However, the American Dream Movement has been a rising force in the Invisible Town Hall Revolution that’s been [...]

There were no real surprises among the choices made by John Boehner and Mitch McConnell for the Catfood Commission II. It’s perhaps interesting to note that Paul Ryan didn’t make the cut, but I guess Boehner figured that he’s toxic and therefore not a good face to put on the committee. Instead, Boehner picked two [...]

While some in the GOP ranks are still trying to play both sides of the street on the debt limit, demanding spending cuts as a condition of passage while reassuring Wall Street that default is not an option, there are definitely some in the Republican caucus who really have no problem with default. In fact, [...]

Sarah Babbage wonders if the budget debate in Washington has moved to the left. So far this week, Sens. Pat Toomey and Kent Conrad have both released budgets, although Conrad’s has yet to go public. What they both show is a response to the backlash to Paul Ryan’s budget and the GOP’s current budget strategy. [...]

With just hours to go until a shutdown, it’s worth noting that there is a slight disconnect within the Republican caucus. As the truth leaks out that Planned Parenthood – Planned Parenthood! – is at the heart of the negotiations, some Republicans are experiencing discomfort. Witness Pat Toomey, nobody’s moderate, the former chair of the [...]

You’re starting to see the Very Serious People weigh in on the increase in the debt limit, and the serious position cuts against the position of the tea party conservatives in a way that’s a bit unusual. Here’s Ben Bernanke: The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, warned Congress on Thursday not to use the [...]

At this point, the debt limit vote feels more like the $87 billion dollars in Iraq back in 2004. Presidential candidates on the Democratic side lined up to criticize and vote against that, but ultimately, it passed with substantial Democratic support. Now, with the debt limit, again the potential Republican Presidential candidates have taken the [...]

If the defense authorization bill stalls out today, as expected, the Senate could move directly to taxes. Dick Durbin vowed that the Senate would work on the Obama tax plan in this work period, and he said that Democrats have the upper hand in that debate in his chamber: Speaking on Bloomberg TV, Durbin said [...]

Joe Sestak is in a tough race in Pennsylvania for US Senate, with the Club for Growth’s Pat Toomey, a former derivatives trader, in a small but measurable lead. Lately Sestak has been going after Toomey’s extreme positions, particularly his idea to privatize Social Security. Sestak has held press events and rallies with seniors contrasting [...]