–Need ‘Balanced and Bipartisan Deal’ On Fiscal Policy
–Democrats ‘Want To Make A Deal’ on Fiscal Policy
–GOP Must Offer Concessions For New Revenues
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Sen. Patty Murray, the fourth ranking Senate
Democrat, Monday said congressional Democrats want to reach a “balanced
and bipartisan” budget agreement that would help the nation avert the
so-called fiscal cliff.
But she added that Democrats should not accept a flawed agreement.
In remarks at the Brookings Institution, Murray said Democrats
would like to reach a budget accord with Republicans, but said they will
not accept an agreement that does not include concessions from
Republicans.
These concessions, Murray said, must include additional revenues.
“We want to make a deal. We are willing to compromise,” Murray
said.
She said Democrats should be willing to let the nation plunge off
the so-called fiscal cliff unless Republicans are willing to agree to
additional revenues as part of a larger deficit reduction plan.
The fiscal cliff refers to the convergence of three fiscal events
later this year or early next year: the expiration of Bush era tax cuts,
across-the-board spending cuts, and increasing the statutory debt
ceiling.
In her remarks, Murray recalled the saga of the so-called Super
Committee which she served on as the co-chair. That group was charged by
the 2011 debt ceiling agreement to find at least $1.2 trillion in budget
savings over a decade.
She said she pushed for a big agreement during those talks, with
both spending cuts and tax increases.
“I wanted to do a big deal, a Grand Bargain,” she said.
She said that Democrats ultimately offered a package with $1.3
trillion in spending cuts and $1.3 trillion in new revenues, but
Republicans rejected that package.
** MNI Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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