Your daily jolt: Isakson, Chambliss say White House will have to bargain over debt ceiling
President Barack Obama may not want to negotiate over another increase in the federal debt ceiling, but Republicans nonetheless intend to bring him to the table, Johnny Isakson said this morning, in one of his first interviews as a member of the Senate Finance Committee.
Isakson was on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” and first was asked to explain his vote in favor of a fiscal cliff agreement that set tax rates – but failed to address spending. Said the Georgia senator:
”It gave certainty to American business, small business, and families on what taxes would be. It made them permanent for everybody except those at $400,000 – and $450,000 for a couple. It’s good policy to make your tax policy permanent, so there’s not uncertainty every year….
“That was the good part. The bad part is that it was done behind closed doors, between just a very few people, when the issue should have been debated before the American people. That I’m sure will happen on the debt ceiling.
“….You have three cliffs coming in the month of March. You have the sequester, you have the debt ceiling, and you have the continuing resolution…..The president can fold his arms all he wants to and say he’s not going to negotiate, but in fact it’s time we made permanent decisions on policy, to begin to amortize and reduce our debt over time, make our spending done on a cost-benefit analysis, and stop issuing continuing resolutions.”
***
In a morning telephone chat with a gaggle of reporters, including my AJC colleague Daniel Malloy, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss had much the same message:
“Here’s my position: Mr. President, you have said you’re not going to engage in a protracted debate over raising the debt ceiling. My message to the president is you better strap on your chin strap very tight because this junkyard dog is going to address entitlement reform in the debt ceiling debate. … It’s time to get our arms around the debt and the time to do that is during the debt ceiling debate.”
***
And yet, over on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” former House speaker Newt Gingrich disagreed, and theorized that it would be better for Republicans to think long-term. The former Georgia congressman predicted that a fight over the federal government’s credit limit would be another GOP debacle.
Said Gingrich:
“They’ve got to find, in the House, a totally new strategy. Everybody’s now talking about, ‘Okay, now comes the debt ceiling.’ I think that’s, frankly, a dead loser. Because in the end you know it’s going happen. The whole national financial system is going to come in to Washington, buy television and say, ‘Oh my God, this will be a gigantic heart attack, the entire economy of the world will collapse. You guys can’t be responsible.’ And they’ll cave.”
***
Politico.com this morning focuses on U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston’s new role as chairman of a House Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over President Barack Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act.
The Savannah Republican – who, like the vast majority of his GOP colleagues, has sworn to repeal the legislation — acknowledged that he won’t be making a lot of decisions by himself:
“You just have to be aware that on our side, people can’t stand it, and they have not grown used to it and they do not like it any more than they did when it was passed,” he said. “Therefore, whenever you’re touching it, Obamacare is as sensitive as gun control or abortion. It’s just one of those very difficult, political things where you’re all for it or all against it.”
Kingston emphasized that much of his role in guiding the financing for HHS and Obamacare will be defined by party leaders. “If I have a role of being a quarterback, then I’m not going to be the one calling all the plays,” he said. “I think a lot of what we do on the Affordable Care Act is going to be in coordination with the front office of Appropriations and presumably with leadership and with authorizing committees.”
***
Apparently, that ambassadorship to the Seychelles islands didn’t come through. My AJC colleague Aaron Gould Sheinin reports this:
Tharon Johnson, who led President Barack Obama’s re-election effort across the South and in the key battleground state of Florida, has joined McKenna Long & Aldridge as a managing director in its national governmental affairs unit.
Johnson, 34, an Atlanta native, was Obama’s 2012 national southern regional director and led the president’s campaign to a narrow win in Florida and a close loss in the other battleground state of North Carolina. Both states were decided by fewer than a million votes.
***
While he declared Thursday that state law won’t let him pursue the suspension of Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill, Gov. Nathan Deal has left himself a loophole. The governor declared that, because Hill was indicted for public malfeasance after he was out of office, the state law setting out the rules for ousting elected officials doesn’t apply.
A judge has thrown several counts against Hill out. If the special prosecutor pursues the matter, and obtains new indictments, then we have a new ball game.
***
Over at 11Alive, Jenna Herb reports that Kennesaw State University’s request to launch a football program will hit the Board of Regents next Tuesday, Jan. 8. There’s some indication that the decision isn’t in doubt:
President [Dan] Papp and KSU’s Director of Athletics Vaughn Williams will conduct a briefing on the Regents’ decision on Wednesday, Jan. 9. The event will be held at noon, in the Convocation Center on the Kennesaw State University campus.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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287 comments Add your comment
Shine
January 4th, 2013
12:28 pm
Numbers for kooks……
Electoral vote 332 206
Popular vote 65,899,660 60,932,152
Percentage 51.0% 47.2%
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
12:28 pm
My phone is paid for out of my own pocket. The fact that you believe such nonsense says quite a bit. I’m sure you’re one of those people who bought into that nonsense from Romney that Obama won because of all the “free stuff” he promised people.
td
January 4th, 2013
12:28 pm
Shine
January 4th, 2013
12:27 pm
I see when facts are presented then you resort to name calling. Very typical and very sad.
Retired Soldier
January 4th, 2013
12:29 pm
Shine-
I feel sorry for you. I hope you get better.
Shine
January 4th, 2013
12:31 pm
Dont feel sorry for me. Open thine eyes hypocrite.
honested
January 4th, 2013
12:32 pm
td,
The need for social programs has increased since 2007 due to the damage wrought by the entire economic policy of the shrub administration (hence, the increase in social welfare spending).
The external ‘threat’ has diminished over the same time, obviating the need for drastic reduction in wasteful military expenditure (unless we are going to permanently assume the role of invading countries at will and providing ‘free’ security to the petroleum extraction industry and to religiously enacted countries that can’t get along with their neighbors). If so, a national referendum to provide people with cost estimates and allow them to decide if they really want to be tied to such expenses is in order.
td
January 4th, 2013
12:33 pm
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
12:28 pm
My phone is paid for out of my own pocket. The fact that you believe such nonsense says quite a bit. I’m sure you’re one of those people who bought into that nonsense from Romney that Obama won because of all the “free stuff” he promised people.
People vote for candidates for different reasons. So for you to say that many did not vote for Obama because of “free stuff” is not a accurate statement when there is video evidence of people admitting to voting for Obama because he is “going to pay for there car or house or give them some Obama money”.
Shine
January 4th, 2013
12:34 pm
Facts for TD,
Electoral vote 332 206
Popular vote 65,899,660 60,932,152
Percentage 51.0% 47.2%
Sad you cant accept it.
Retired Soldier
January 4th, 2013
12:35 pm
Shine-
Thank you for making my point.
honested
January 4th, 2013
12:36 pm
td,
Back to the subject of the article, how do you feel about your ‘hero’s suggestion that failure to negotiate appropriately and in good faith will fall in the laps of the temporary House majority?
td
January 4th, 2013
12:38 pm
honested
January 4th, 2013
12:32 pm
td,
The need for social programs has increased since 2007 due to the damage wrought by the entire economic policy of the shrub administration (hence, the increase in social welfare spending).
Unemployment increased from 5% to 10% and now is back down to 7.8%. Are you trying to tell us that the “need” to almost triple our social welfare programs to provide a safety net for 5% of the population? If that is the case and since we have dropped more then 2% should we not be able to cut welfare spending by at least a couple hundred billion per year?
Shine
January 4th, 2013
12:38 pm
The veteran/soldier welfare mentality has run amuck. There is no draft so if soldiers dont make enough then the republicans can give them a sufficient pay raise any time so they can pay the same property taxes the rest of have to. The rest of us have to make up the shortfall by these “deadbeats” and our schools and city and local governments get the shaft.
Shine
January 4th, 2013
12:39 pm
Retired soldier, thank you for making mine. Its easy to suggest cuts as long as they dont get you right?
Retired Soldier
January 4th, 2013
12:42 pm
Shine-
Review my comments and please tell me where I said I should be exempt?
A better question is do you think we have a debt and deficit problem and if so how would you solve it?
td
January 4th, 2013
12:43 pm
Shine
January 4th, 2013
12:34 pm
Facts for TD,
Electoral vote 332 206
Popular vote 65,899,660 60,932,152
Percentage 51.0% 47.2%
Sad you cant accept it.
Oh I accept that fact will you accept these facts?
The same people that put Obama in office also decided to keep Republicans in control of the HOR’s
The same people that put Obama in office decided that the Republicans should have total control of 24 states (Governor and both chambers of legislature) while they decided to only give Democrats total control over 13 states.
Republicans are governors of 30 states.
Retired Soldier
January 4th, 2013
12:46 pm
Good point TD
td
January 4th, 2013
12:47 pm
Shine
January 4th, 2013
12:38 pm
The veteran/soldier welfare mentality has run amuck.
Not true. The veteran/soldier, police officer and fire fighter and truly disabled are the only one we should be willing assist and take care of because the first three actually protect the rest of us from harm and the last one is not really capable of taking care of themselves. The rest of the people on welfare should be kicked off immediately.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
12:48 pm
@Shine – where is this hatred of the military coming from? Where your relatives abused by the military? Relatives descendants of King George? Part of the French from WWII that told Hitler, “come on over” Hey I got a good French Soldier Rifle for you, from WWI and WWII, mint condition, dropped twice, never fired.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
12:49 pm
@td – well said and amen!
Shine
January 4th, 2013
12:52 pm
TD, more math
re-Gerrymander districts by the votes and the dems would have the House as well as the senate and executive office
all republicans aint kooks………….take Christie for example.
Ga republicans on the other hand are mostly one signature from a judge away from a white suit and a rubber room.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
12:52 pm
@Shine – As I said, go visit a VA Hospital. I challenge you. Then come back and talk about the men & women who served.
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
12:52 pm
TD, it’s already been well documented that gerrymandering is the main reason why the GOP was able to hold on to the House. Democratic House candidates earned 49.15 percent of the popular vote, while Republicans earned only 48.03 percent.
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
12:54 pm
Also, there are plenty of people who voted for Obama that didn’t have a damn thing to do with “free stuff.” That’s nothing but sour grapes from the GOP who failed to comprehend why they lost.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
12:54 pm
@Shine – quick, before hussein obama takes away the weapons.
For Sale:
Good French Soldier Rifle, from WWI and WWII, mint condition, dropped twice, never fired.
td
January 4th, 2013
12:56 pm
honested
January 4th, 2013
12:36 pm
td,
Back to the subject of the article, how do you feel about your ‘hero’s suggestion that failure to negotiate appropriately and in good faith will fall in the laps of the temporary House majority?
First, you need to go read Nate Silver about the Republicans maintaining control of the House for at least the next 10 years. I think I heard this morning where it was said that for the Dems to take back control of the House then it would take at least a 7% more Dem vote then Republican vote.
2nd: The House of reps need to grow a pair and go back to regular order and pass bills that actually cuts the budget. I would recommend to them to use the Mack/Penny plan and freeze spending limits and actually cut 1% from each department per year until the budget is balanced. Let the President decide where the 1% is going to come from in the Executive branch and let him justify the cuts to the American people.
Shine
January 4th, 2013
12:57 pm
RT, you never suggested cuts for yourself either. Duty, honor, country, should demand you approach all VFWs and American Legion posts and demand to have your benefits legislated away at the federal and state level to keep granny from being threw out a nursing home and retarded children having to eat dirt.
Man up “jarhead”!!
Voter
January 4th, 2013
12:57 pm
@DJ Sniper – Get over it. Are you saying that numbers are wrong? Welfare is fast approaching $1 trillion dollars? Welfare has more than tripled since hussein obama took over office.
Shine
January 4th, 2013
1:00 pm
Voter, I have a mint copy of the Norquist no tax increase pledge. I got it out a republican’s trash can. Its still in the frame. Will trade for French rifle.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:00 pm
theres one reason and one reason only why the repubs dont want to raise the debt ceiling; ITS BECAUSE A BLACK FAMILY IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE RACISTS CANT STAND IT…
td
January 4th, 2013
1:01 pm
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
12:52 pm
TD, it’s already been well documented that gerrymandering is the main reason why the GOP was able to hold on to the House. Democratic House candidates earned 49.15 percent of the popular vote, while Republicans earned only 48.03 percent.
And if you would actually read Nate Silver’s article on the subject you would find out that:
1: Both parties Gerrymander.
2: It is easier for the Republicans to Gerrymander Democratic districts because they normally live in high density urban areas and their districts can be packed with 80% to 90% democratic voters.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
1:02 pm
@Shine – He said Retired Soldier. Marines are jarheads. Man! Shine has to be by ex-wife. No one else could be that hard-headed!
Voter
January 4th, 2013
1:04 pm
@Shine – Voter, I have a mint copy of the Norquist no tax increase pledge. I got it out a republican’s trash can. Its still in the frame. Will trade for French rifle.
lol, now that’s funny.
Shine
January 4th, 2013
1:06 pm
Are Marines not soldiers? You must be my ex….dumb as a board/
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:10 pm
DJ SNIPER
the racist gop lost because they have no policies other than controlling a womans womb and making it harder for minorities to vote..
td
January 4th, 2013
1:12 pm
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:00 pm
theres one reason and one reason only why the repubs dont want to raise the debt ceiling; ITS BECAUSE A BLACK FAMILY IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE RACISTS CANT STAND IT…
From Sen. Obama’s Floor Speech, March 20, 2006:
“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. … Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that “the buck stops here.” Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.”
Now do not let the FACTS get in the way of your uninformed RACIST rant.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:13 pm
i guess the inept GOP love getting b1@tch slapped by BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA again..lol
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
1:13 pm
Voter, show me proof that welfare itself is approaching $1 trillion. Now you’re sounding like Newt Gingrich when he pretty much blamed Obama for the rise of people on food stamps.
TD, the fact remains that the people didn’t overwhelmingly put the GOP back in charge of the House like you claim. What I’m waiting to see is whether the people have enough sense to vote certain governors out of office. Rick Scott, John Kasich, and Rick Snyder are 3 that come to mind. I won’t even put Nathan Deal or Rick Perry in that group, because people in Georgia and Texas will vote GOP regardless of how screwed up the candidate is.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:17 pm
td
the fact is that no other president had any problems raising the debt limit, why is this one different? its because thge racist gop cant stand the fact that their president is black, plain n simple…
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:19 pm
td
every other president had no problem raising the debt limit but they were white. Now all of a sudden when a black president is in the white house theres a problem…gee i wonder why.
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
1:19 pm
TD, as much as you refuse to admit it, a good deal of criticism of Obama does have to do with race. Race is still a huge issue in this country, and yes, there are still white people out here who oppose Obama simply because he’s black. It has nothing to do with his polices, his platform, or anything political. Does this apply to everybody who opposes Obama? Of course not, but you’re a fool if you think that race doesn’t play any role at all. Case in point: The birthers.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:20 pm
the repubs hate for the black president trumps their love of country…
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:21 pm
the gop encouraged the racist birthers yet they say its not about color…its all about color
td
January 4th, 2013
1:25 pm
iberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:17 pm
td
the fact is that no other president had any problems raising the debt limit, why is this one different? its because thge racist gop cant stand the fact that their president is black, plain n simple…
Plain pure BS.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:25 pm
the gop is determined to show that black boy in their whitehouse whose boss…
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:26 pm
td
i see u cant stand facts can you…but you are a birther..
Voter
January 4th, 2013
1:27 pm
@DJ Sniper – Case in point. Many who voted for obama, voted for him simply because he was black. Although, he is actually half white also.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
1:28 pm
@liberallefty – your opinion. Not facts.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:28 pm
in the gop’s FAUX NEWS world, when you call out their racism they call you a racist…
Voter
January 4th, 2013
1:29 pm
@DJ Sniper – Check your latest Budget.gov websites, check the White House own assessments. Congress put out some numbers also. We’re at $800 billion and rising fast. End of 2013, we’ll be $900 billion. Guess what comes next?
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:31 pm
voter
why dont you put some more “husseins” into your text to make sure everybody knows his middle name. i’m sure after 6 years nobody knows what BARACKS’ middle name is…you remind me of DUMB MET fans that think theyre ragging on CHIPPER by calling him by his god given name of LARRY