House GOP seeing sequester, not debt ceiling, as fight to pick
Republicans appear to be willing to avoid a showdown over the debt limit and instead use the sequester as their main negotiating lever in upcoming fiscal fights with the White House and Senate Democrats.
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said Republicans at a closed-door retreat in Williamsburg were weighing a short-term increase in the country’s borrowing limit, giving all sides time to work on a broader fiscal plan in March that would include substantial spending cuts.
“Sometimes you’ve got to lay down a sacrifice bunt,” said Rep. Dennis Ross of Florida about the debt ceiling increase. He said there was a realization among his House GOP colleagues that they had to be ready to deal when negotiations began.
That strategy would represent an about-face for a Republican conference that has now repeatedly denied Speaker John Boehner the support he needed to strike compromises with Democrats.
Blowback
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Yeah any fight that happens NEXT.MONTH is one the GOP likes to TALK about fighting
HondaV65 on January 18, 2013 at 8:45 AM
Remember a couple of weeks ago when they were saying “Let’s hurry up and lose this fight because the debt ceiling fight is coming up and that’s the fight to pick!”? I believe I said they’d surrender the next fight while promising there is a new better fight to pick somewhere down the road.
Buddahpundit on January 18, 2013 at 8:46 AM
Are we going to go 7 years without passing a budget?
tom daschle concerned on January 18, 2013 at 8:48 AM
Boehner couldn’t pick his nose, let alone a fight, without Dear Leader’s say so.
CurtZHP on January 18, 2013 at 8:48 AM
I don’t think so. If they let it go into effect, Obama will get the military cuts he wants, blame everything on the Republicans and then come in as a hero to save the spending he wants to keep. And the fact that the debt limit extension will be short term means he gets another round of crisis to exploit.
forest on January 18, 2013 at 8:49 AM
Amazing prognosticators we have here on this site. You guys were right. Sadly.
totherightofthem on January 18, 2013 at 8:51 AM
Yeah!! Elect REPUBLICAAAAAAAAAAAAAANS!!!!
/
Genuine on January 18, 2013 at 8:52 AM
Anyone can be a nostra-freakin-damus when it comes to these Republicans once you realize most of them are utter cowards or Democrat agents.
Buddahpundit on January 18, 2013 at 8:57 AM
Cave a rama
cmsinaz on January 18, 2013 at 8:57 AM
The sequester was the Deal for the last debt ceiling raise. The President FAILED to detail how he planned to implement “Smart” cuts in September during the campaign, shrugging it off in a debate with “What me Worry?” and saying layoff notices for defense contractors would be Jumping the Gun, and that nothing was going to happen.
Those cuts need to be implemented, so we can see where we are. You can’t make MORE cuts until the first ones are put in place. Right now President Obama and the democrats have promised to pay Thursday for a Kobe Beef hamburger today.
When those cuts are detailed, “SMART” ones like the democrats talk about when they are campaigning, then the next thing can go on the table.
But right now, it is impossible to look at raising the debt ceiling any more for this reason and secondly, that there is no Budget to fund for 2012-13. No more blank checks, please.
Fleuries on January 18, 2013 at 8:57 AM
This is a very strange tactic. You weaken your hand considerably by doing this.
tommy71 on January 18, 2013 at 8:59 AM
I believe so tom and just wait for the outrage by the dems and the once the gop takes control
Where is the budget? They cried
cmsinaz on January 18, 2013 at 9:03 AM
The only advantage I can see as worthwhile for the GOP to wait and fight Obama on the sequester issue is that once the cuts go into effect, the GOP may be able to live with the defense cuts more than the democrats would be willing to live with the cuts in social services. Who do you suppose would be willing to blink and deal first in that scenario?
KickandSwimMom on January 18, 2013 at 9:04 AM
A “sacrifice bunt” with no men on base and two outs. Brilliant!
cool breeze on January 18, 2013 at 9:11 AM
Speaker John “Wimpy” Bo(eh)ner – “We’ll gladly fight for real spending cuts next Tuesday for acceptance of a full cave today.”
Steve Eggleston on January 18, 2013 at 9:14 AM
Damn straight.
/s/Dingy Harry
Steve Eggleston on January 18, 2013 at 9:15 AM
GOP during Fiscal Cliff showdown in December: “er…We are are gonna start growing a pair at the debt.ceiling debate, then we will really stand up for conservative principles!!’
Debt ceiling debate is here, and the GOP: “er…”
The GOP is utterly pathetic. Time for a 3rd party.
Norwegian on January 18, 2013 at 9:20 AM
You’ll give them a month huh?
Obama will demagogue the sequestration cuts and then the GOP will decide that the continuing resolution is the hill do die on.
Rinse. Repeat.
gwelf on January 18, 2013 at 9:34 AM
Alternate headline: House GOP seeing extinction not fighting debt ceilinng as their future.
Good riddance – take that pawn Ryan with ya.
Panther on January 18, 2013 at 9:37 AM