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
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:33 pm
FACT; if the president was a white democrat the debt celing wouldnt be a problem..
td
January 4th, 2013
1:33 pm
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
1:19 pm
And you are fool if you do not believe that some black people voted for Obama only because he was black too. Race voting happens on both sides my friend. When is the last time you have seen a white person win a Democratic primary when running against a black person and blacks are the majority of the primary voter?
td
January 4th, 2013
1:35 pm
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:33 pm
FACT; if the president was a white democrat the debt celing wouldnt be a problem..
More BS. When the debt of the nation is over 100% of the GDP then debt is a problem no matter who, party or color of the person sitting in the WH.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:36 pm
i love how repubs like to exaggerate the pronounciation of BARACKS’ middle name..guess what fools, the voters already know it and he still whipped the racist teapartybirthers like a drum..
Voter
January 4th, 2013
1:37 pm
@liberallefty – How about barack hussein obama? or obozo bin biden? or President Obama? Stay on subject, does any of this change the fact that OUR Country is headed in the wrong direction?
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:38 pm
td
sorry but youre just another birther…if the prez was white the debt ceiling issue wouldnt be a problem
Voter
January 4th, 2013
1:38 pm
typical liberals – deflect the subject, when confronted with real facts they deflect or then blame others.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:41 pm
@voter
nope we’re headed in the right direction after the inept BUSH administration let OSAMA MURDER 3000 Americans..and crashed the economy…but i bet u think the country was doing ok then..lol
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:42 pm
@voter
u mean like youre on here everyday blaming everything on liberals…?
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:43 pm
the PEE PARTY is just a bunch uber patriot racists nothing more.
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
1:44 pm
The country would be headed in an even better direction if the GOP would get rid of the knuckle draggers who insist on keeping this country stuck in the past.
TD, I’m well aware that there are people who voted for Obama simply because he’s black. Thing is, I can admit this, but a lot of neo-cons can’t admit that their opposition to Obama is racially based.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:45 pm
the only blacks the gop like are ones who make them comfortable with their racism like ALLEN WEST, TIM SCOTT and other tokens who bend over and let racists use them for a few pennies
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
1:47 pm
I’m sure that there are sane black conservatives out there, but sadly, their voices get drowned out by the crazies.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:48 pm
the gop is breaking out a new token to parade in front of the world to prove theyre not racist and his name is TIM SCOTT…
td
January 4th, 2013
1:50 pm
iberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:43 pm
the PEE PARTY is just a bunch uber patriot racists nothing more.
More BS
td
January 4th, 2013
1:54 pm
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
1:44 pm
“TD, I’m well aware that there are people who voted for Obama simply because he’s black. Thing is, I can admit this, but a lot of neo-cons can’t admit that their opposition to Obama is racially based.”
Like I said I am convinced that some people vote on race. As far as Obama and his election cycles. It is very hard for be to believe anyone that is a Conservative would ever consider voting for him due to ideology. It has nothing to do with race at all. Kind of like how many African Americans would cross over and vote for Herman Cain just because he was black?
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:54 pm
@DJ
if theyre out there theyre as silent as a mouse peeing on cotton when it comes to calling out the blatant racism in the gop
td
January 4th, 2013
1:55 pm
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:45 pm
the only blacks the gop like are ones who make them comfortable with their racism like ALLEN WEST, TIM SCOTT and other tokens who bend over and let racists use them for a few pennies
More pure BS.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:58 pm
td
black conservatives said nothing about the racist birther movement…because if they did they’d get thrown out of the gop
td
January 4th, 2013
1:59 pm
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
1:47 pm
I’m sure that there are sane black conservatives out there, but sadly, their voices get drowned out by the crazies.
No there voices are drowned out by the true Racist like liberalefty that will do anything to shut up a black person from saying anything Conservative. Just look at his above post, the black attacks on Herman Cain, Allan West and Clarance Thomas. A great deal of it was pure HATE because they all were Conservatives.
honested
January 4th, 2013
2:00 pm
Allen West, Joe Walsh, Tim Scott, all fading memories of failed former governance never to return……
Unlike the American Hero, Alan Grayson!!
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:01 pm
why should blacks vote for a party that disrespects the president because hes black? why should women vote for a party where the gop wants the governmennt to control their wombs.? why should gays vote for a party that denies them equality and the right to get married?
honested
January 4th, 2013
2:02 pm
Ahhh yes, clarence, ‘who put that pubic hair on my coffee cup’ thomas.
Let’s hope he is first to retire this Presidential term.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
2:02 pm
@liberallefty – “u mean like youre on here everyday blaming everything on liberals…?”
I’m not blaming liberals for everything. I blame Congress and the White House for this fiscal mess they are not dealing with. I blame liberals for voting obama into office. And I certainly don’t keep blaming Bush for problems, especially 9/11. That is insane.
td
January 4th, 2013
2:02 pm
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
1:58 pm
td
black conservatives said nothing about the racist birther movement…because if they did they’d get thrown out of the gop
You are such a freaking fool. The movement to see Obama’s BC was very small and grew because Obama wanted it to so that fools like you would unite behind him. He finally showed his BC when some real elected officials threatened to take him off the ballot if he did not.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
2:05 pm
The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny, and it is useless for the innocent to try by reasoning to get justice, when the oppressor intends to be unjust.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:05 pm
td
nope its not hate its the fact hat they say nothing about the racism by the gop..and if THURGOOD MARSHALL wasnt black CLARENCE wouldnt have been nominated…hes an affirmative action justice…lol
td
January 4th, 2013
2:06 pm
honested
January 4th, 2013
2:02 pm
Ahhh yes, clarence, ‘who put that pubic hair on my coffee cup’ thomas.
Yes, a “high tech lynching” of a black conservative and what did the black community do? Sit on the side lines and kept their mouth shut when if that would have happened to a black progressive then they would have been marching in the streets calling all of the Republican Senators Racist. Thank you for making my point.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:10 pm
td
see to a black person just the fact that this wasnt asked of white presidents means thats its all because of his color..but as a birther u fail to see that
Voter
January 4th, 2013
2:12 pm
@liberallefty – “why should blacks vote for a party that disrespects the president because hes black? why should women vote for a party where the gop wants the governmennt to control their wombs.? why should gays vote for a party that denies them equality and the right to get married?”
Who said all Republicans disrespect the President because he’s black? Some may but most dislike him because he’s not qualified nor a good leader.
Who said the Government wants to control a woman’s womb? Killing a baby is wrong.
And the gays should not be allowed to marry. no one said they didn’t have equality. When 2 gay men or 2 gay women can produce a baby, then we can discuss marriage.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:12 pm
td
i thought black conservatives didnt use the race card…clarence did…lol
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:14 pm
voter
some men/woman couples cant make a baby …does that mean they shouldnt be married? what has making a baby have to do with marriage? and if gays arent allowed to marry like heterosexuals then THEYRE NOT EQUAL…smh
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:16 pm
black conservatives said nothing about the racist birther movement…i wonder why..
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:18 pm
voter
if a woman cant have control of her reproductive rights then the government owns her rights…like in saudi arabia,iran, etc..
Voter
January 4th, 2013
2:20 pm
@liberallefty – Just because some men & women don’t make a baby, doesn’t mean they can’t. 2 gay men or 2 gay women will NEVER produce a baby. Which means, follow me here, which means, if we put all the gay men on 1 island in the Atlantic and all the gay women on 1 island in the Pacific, civilization would die off, no procreation means no babies.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
2:21 pm
@liberallefty – Just because she has a womb, does not give her the right to murder.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:22 pm
voter
who cares about islands? gays live in the real world and they have a right to get married..and why do u care what they do anyway, dont you have a life?
Voter
January 4th, 2013
2:22 pm
And if women want reproductive rights of their wombs, don’t get pregnant in the first place. You can’t have it both ways.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
2:23 pm
@liberallefty – I knew you couldn’t follow it.
Retired Soldier
January 4th, 2013
2:26 pm
Shine-
Not a jarhead. BTW I did suggest my benefits could be cut, means testing SS and Medicare, though I am to young for either.
Marlboro Man
January 4th, 2013
2:32 pm
Not the presidents problem unless congress fails again. Didn’t have this problem before 2008.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
2:32 pm
@Retired Soldier – I tried to explain to Shine the difference but since no one in his family has ever served, it was difficult. He probably thinks Navy carriers are manned by soldiers too.
td
January 4th, 2013
2:32 pm
Voter
January 4th, 2013
2:21 pm
@liberallefty – Just because she has a womb, does not give her the right to murder.
Amen
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:35 pm
voter
yep its hard to follow your bigotry…
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:36 pm
voter
to the gop less government doesnt apply to a womans womb…
Retired Soldier
January 4th, 2013
2:36 pm
LL-
I have a question for you: If an African-American disagreed with George Bush, is that racist?
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:37 pm
i love the 2 losing platforms of the gop…gay rights and abortion..next ya’ll will be fighting for poll taxes
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:38 pm
retired soldier
if they demanded his birth certificate it would be..
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:41 pm
why would the gop expect gays to vote for them when the gop is bigoted toward gays?
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:42 pm
WHY DIDNT THE BLACK CONSERVATIVES SPeak up about the racist birther movement?