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
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
287 comments Add your comment
Voter
January 4th, 2013
2:47 pm
@liberallefty – They ask for your Birth certificate when you get a U.S. Passport don’t they? In some states, to get a Driver’s License, you need your Birth Certificate. Some jobs, especially with security clearances. Why not when you run for President?
Retired Soldier
January 4th, 2013
2:50 pm
LL-
So if say they disagreed with Bush’s tax policy or military policy that would be racist?
mike
January 4th, 2013
2:54 pm
I am glad to see the conservatives here are still holding on to all the ignorance which caused them to lose the last election. Just go forward with that same thinking. I guess they think the results will be different the next time. Aren’t you people tired of the same old stuff after all these years.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:56 pm
the black conservatives are just tokens who get patted on the head by their racist masters to beat up on blacks..
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
2:57 pm
voter
nice try by but any reasonable person knows the birther movement was about race..only a racist would say it wasnt
Retired Soldier
January 4th, 2013
2:59 pm
LL-
Guess you don’t want to answer the question, because to do so honestly would expose you for lightly using the race card left and right. Disagree by making a better informed point, not with race.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
3:00 pm
how many republican women voted for OBAMA because they didnt want to give up their reproductive rights to the government…then they put their ROMNEY pin on in public…lol
Retired Soldier
January 4th, 2013
3:03 pm
Mike-
Please inform me, what ignorance do I have?
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
3:03 pm
retired soldier
to say the hatred for OBAMA isnt about race is a lie.
Retired Soldier
January 4th, 2013
3:04 pm
LL-
Thank you for not answering my question. You must be an elected offical.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
3:07 pm
didnt know that i had to answer your question…didnt get the memo
Voter
January 4th, 2013
3:12 pm
@mike – “Aren’t you people tired of the same old stuff after all these years.”
Doesn’t mean we’re wrong. If you think this administration and Congress is doing so well, then I hope you are working and will see a difference in your paycheck.
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
3:15 pm
Voter, it’s becoming increasingly clear where you head is at. The issue about Obama’s birth certificate was nothing but a racial thing. There’s plenty of proof that Obama is a US citizen, but that didn’t stop the birther idiots from dragging this thing out over the past 4 years. Even if Obama was born overseas, he would still be a citizen because his mother was a citizen. I guess the birthers ignored that little piece of the constitution. And TD’s claim about Obama being the one dragging this issue out is more right wing comedy.
Regarding abortion: You may not approve of it, but it is a legal procedure. If you don’t approve of it, then don’t have one, and don’t recommend any of your loved ones have one, but stop trying to force your choices onto other people who may feel different.
yuzeyurbrane
January 4th, 2013
3:15 pm
Newt is right this time.
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
3:16 pm
voter
anybody who blames the government because theyre not working arent going to work anyway
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
3:16 pm
voter
anybody who blames the government because theyre not working arent going to work anyway
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
3:17 pm
anybody who says the birther movement wasnt about race is lying
liberalefty
January 4th, 2013
3:21 pm
now the gop threatens to shut the government down over the debt ceiling…would they do this if OBAMA was white? of course not
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 4th, 2013
3:24 pm
I’m kinda new to this blog and was in need of an answer to a question to some of the regulars here – has this troll “liberalefty” ever said anything useful or even factual?
I’ll hang up and listen for my answer.
Retired Soldier
January 4th, 2013
3:25 pm
LL-
Enough, know history if you want to argue politics. Clinton, he was closed under him, was he black?
Out of here.
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
3:38 pm
The GOP continues to be stuck in a time warp. A legislator in Virginia has introduced a fresh set of anti abortion legislation, and an Indiana state senator has introduced legislation that would require the lord’s prayer to be recited in Indiana schools.
Will somebody tell these fools that we are now in the 21st century?
Voter
January 4th, 2013
3:39 pm
@liberallefty – Time for your meds.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
3:39 pm
@DJ Sniper – Time for your meds.
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
3:49 pm
You first Voter. Some of what you’ve said makes it clear that you need them.
MANGLER
January 4th, 2013
3:52 pm
“Spend money only on what we tell you to, or we’ll default on money we’ve already spent!”
Voter
January 4th, 2013
3:52 pm
@DJ Sniper – So you think 16+ trillion in debt and increased spending is good for America?
td
January 4th, 2013
3:54 pm
Aesop’s Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 4th, 2013
3:24 pm
I’m kinda new to this blog and was in need of an answer to a question to some of the regulars here – has this troll “liberalefty” ever said anything useful or even factual?
I’ll hang up and listen for my answer.
No the blogger has not. All he/she does is see everything in color and wants to blame whitey for all of Obama’s faults.
Kris
January 4th, 2013
3:56 pm
Yet another 2 years America sits on hold by the GOP slime “bonehead, sax johnny (potty) and the fat jawed GOP carrier slime bags….
We need to Recall all of these goofballs… Yes shady your in the bag too.
Can america survive anopthet 200 or 300 votes on repealing the Affordable health care Act…or 200 or 499 voted on useless (GOP ) legislation..5000 votes on Women’s health…… ..SAD Very Sad
Voter
January 4th, 2013
3:56 pm
@DJ Sniper & @liberallefty – Still waiting for your idea. What do you suggest? More taxes? More Spending? Or business as usual?
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
3:58 pm
Our debt and spending are an issue, but let’s not act like the GOP is working in the interest of fairness here. Ever since these Tea Party came around, the right has adopted a “my way or the highway” mentality. Somebody needs to tell these fools that acting like spoiled children is not the way to govern.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
3:59 pm
@Kris – more name calling. Who was in the White House these past 4 years? Democrats passed ObamaCare, why didn’t they take care of all the other issues? Why continue to blame the GOP for what the Democrats have done? Business as usual. We’ll be at $20 trillion in debt by end of obama’s term. Whose fault will that be? Reagan’s?
Voter
January 4th, 2013
4:00 pm
@DJ Sniper – still waiting for your suggestion on debt and spending.
Kris
January 4th, 2013
4:03 pm
Voter….I call it the truth…Legitimate Rape, Gods will if a pregnancy happen during a violent crime and the list goes on….The GOP is a bunch of perverted #holes and scat bags…
Voter
January 4th, 2013
4:05 pm
@Kris – Different issues. We were talking originally about fiscal responsibility and debt and deficits.
What’s your suggestion for the debt and spending?
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
4:08 pm
Voter, I’m no economist, and I suck royally at math, so it would take me a bit longer than most to really sit down and come up with a solution. Increased revenue and decreased spending is a basic start.
td
January 4th, 2013
4:09 pm
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2013
3:58 pm
Our debt and spending are an issue, but let’s not act like the GOP is working in the interest of fairness here. Ever since these Tea Party came around, the right has adopted a “my way or the highway” mentality. Somebody needs to tell these fools that acting like spoiled children is not the way to govern.
You have not been involved in politics to long have you my friend? Ask Reagan or Clinton what happens when you are President and the other party is in control. The house normally gets 75% of what they want and the President gets 25%
Voter
January 4th, 2013
4:11 pm
@DJ Sniper – Ok, what would you do if your employer cut your paycheck and now each month you will be short on your bills by $500? You can’t find another job, it will conflict with your current. Spend more on the lottery in hopes of winning? Or do you cut your bills down?
Don Abernethy
January 4th, 2013
4:13 pm
Our two senators are in Obama’s pocket.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
4:16 pm
@Don Abernathy – “Our two senators are in Obama’s pocket.”
Why do you think that?
td
January 4th, 2013
4:34 pm
ANN COULTER: Why, as that man just said, why aren’t we getting names of recently paroled criminals? People with gun permits, by definition, do not criminal records. Why can’t we get the criminal records? No, you can’t get that. Why can’t we get a record of women who have had abortions? They get money from Planned Parenthood, they get money from Medicare, from Medicaid. They’re tax subsidies. I think, you know, mothers might want to know what other women on their street might be willing to murder a child.
Just have to love it when the hypocrisy of the left is brought into full view.
Kris
January 4th, 2013
5:26 pm
Don Abernethy “”Our two senators are in Obama’s pocket.”
Hope your right and in the long run more gop join President Obama !
However I would caution President Obama, treat them like a snake in the grass (when you see it you know where it is).
Voter
January 4th, 2013
5:43 pm
@td – “Just have to love it when the hypocrisy of the left is brought into full view.”
Well said.
Monorail cat
January 4th, 2013
5:52 pm
Step by step republican plan to troll america.
1. In the house of representatives, which you control, authorise a budget spending more than you will take in
2. When you run out of money and need to borrow in order to pay the bills you already racked up, tell obama this is his fault
3. Finally, and this is key! Refuse any amount of cuts obama offers no matter what! This the issue never goes away andgullible conseratives will continue to derp it up in the comments sections
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 4th, 2013
5:58 pm
obozo offered cuts? When did this happen? Geez you step out for more than a few minutes and the whole world is turned up on it’s ear.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 4th, 2013
5:58 pm
Oh, you’re talking about national security cuts, never mind.
Monorail cat
January 4th, 2013
6:02 pm
@ Aesop’s Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
Derpderpderpderpderp
Voter
January 4th, 2013
6:11 pm
@Aesop – Correct he was talking about the cuts to the State Department for security for Embassy’s overseas.
Voter
January 4th, 2013
6:12 pm
@Monorail cut – 1st off, what budget? No budget has been done in almost 5 years!
monorail cat
January 4th, 2013
6:44 pm
Voting for a Continuing Resolution of the previous budget is voting for a budget.
herp-a-derp
Hiram
January 4th, 2013
6:47 pm
Voter
January 4th, 2013
5:43 pm
@td – “Just have to love it when the hypocrisy of the left is brought into full view.”
Well said.
@ td/cc/Voter
What is your objective – to sway others to your point of view, or just talk to hear your head roar? I think the latter.