The Plum Line: fiscal cliff


Posted at 01:39 PM ET, 01/15/2013

Debt ceiling endgame comes into view
By Greg Sargent
Senate Dems may be able to force the House to deal with the debt limit.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:39 PM ET, 01/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff

Posted at 05:39 PM ET, 01/14/2013

Maybe the 'blister' of GOP opposition really will get popped
By Jonathan Bernstein
The history of Newt Gingrich's losses against Bill Clinton suggests a decisive Obama victory in the debt fight really could matter over the long term.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  05:39 PM ET, 01/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, Tea Party

Posted at 01:26 PM ET, 01/14/2013

Dems hold a trump card in debt limit showdown
By Greg Sargent
If Dems move to pass a clean debt limit hike, Republicans may be harder pressed to oppose it than you might think.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:26 PM ET, 01/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, Debt limit, fiscal cliff, Republicans

Posted at 04:30 PM ET, 01/09/2013

Did White House really leave "platinum coin" option open? Doubtful.
By Greg Sargent
All Jay Carney did today was refuse to take a position on whether such an option is even legal or viable.

By Greg Sargent  |  04:30 PM ET, 01/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, platinum coin

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 01/09/2013

Business leaders: Failure to raise debt ceiling will drive markets "haywire"
By Greg Sargent
The pressure to raise the debt ceiling is about to get a good deal more intense.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:00 PM ET, 01/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  business community, debt ceiling, fiscal cliff

Posted at 09:15 AM ET, 01/09/2013

The Morning Plum: Clever GOP spin on debt ceiling
By Greg Sargent
Republicans are painstakingly defining the debt ceiling hike as a concession they will be making to Obama, rather than as something that must be done to protect the country from financial disaster. And news orgs are playing along.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:15 AM ET, 01/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, gun control, Morning Plum, platinum coin

Posted at 06:26 PM ET, 01/08/2013

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:26 PM ET, 01/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, gun control, Happy Hour Roundup, platinum coin

Posted at 09:26 AM ET, 01/08/2013

The Morning Plum: Job one for the White House -- isolate the NRA
By Greg Sargent
The White House and Democrats appear to be fully engaged for the fight to come. They will have to be.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:26 AM ET, 01/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, gun control, Morning Plum, nra

Posted at 05:20 PM ET, 01/07/2013

Debt ceiling hostage taking is far more absurd -- and destructive -- than "mint the coin" is
By Greg Sargent
The "mint the coin" campaign is greeted with derision, even as the GOP's threat to blow up the economy is greeted with yawns.

By Greg Sargent  |  05:20 PM ET, 01/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, platinum coin

Posted at 12:10 PM ET, 01/07/2013

Republicans getting weak-kneed about debt ceiling fight
By Greg Sargent
Still more signs emerge that the debt ceiling doesn't give Republicans the leverage they've claimed.

By Greg Sargent  |  12:10 PM ET, 01/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, john boehner, Mitch McConnell

Posted at 09:25 AM ET, 01/07/2013

The Morning Plum: No, we are not 'finished' with the tax debate
By Greg Sargent
Republicans will have to agree to more in revenues, whether they like it or not.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:25 AM ET, 01/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling platinum coin, fiscal cliff, Morning Plum

Posted at 07:00 PM ET, 01/04/2013

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  07:00 PM ET, 01/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff debt ceiling, Happy Hour Roundup

Posted at 05:51 PM ET, 01/04/2013

Ignore bogus polling on debt limit
By Jonathan Bernstein
Despite what internal polls say, the GOP would lose a political battle over the debt ceiling.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  05:51 PM ET, 01/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff

Posted at 04:19 PM ET, 01/04/2013

Washington's 'Blazing Saddles' moment
By Greg Sargent
The debt ceiling mess is deeply unhinged, even by Washington standards.

By Greg Sargent  |  04:19 PM ET, 01/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, Republicans

Posted at 01:56 PM ET, 01/04/2013

A veteran hostage negotiator's advice on handling the GOP
By Greg Sargent
Obama needs to be willing to use a trump card to resolve the situation without the GOP's help -- and make the GOP understand it's not in control of the situation.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:56 PM ET, 01/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, Republicans

Posted at 11:50 AM ET, 01/04/2013

The debt ceiling isn't Obama's problem. It's the GOP's problem.
By Greg Sargent
What if Republicans don't have the leverage in the debt ceiling fight they think they have?

By Greg Sargent  |  11:50 AM ET, 01/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff

Posted at 09:17 AM ET, 01/04/2013

The Morning Plum: What does 'not negotiating' look like?
By Greg Sargent
Obama and Dems vow not to negotiate with the GOP over the debt limit, but it's not clear they have any choice.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:17 AM ET, 01/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, immigration reform, Morning Plum

Posted at 06:49 PM ET, 01/03/2013

Happy Hour Roundup
By Jonathan Bernstein
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  06:49 PM ET, 01/03/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  affordable care act, Debt limit, fiscal cliff, Happy Hour Roundup

Posted at 09:10 AM ET, 01/03/2013

The Morning Plum: Media shouldn't get rolled by GOP debt ceiling spin
By Greg Sargent
News accounts are portraying the looming debt limit standoff as a standard Washington negotiation. It isn't.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:10 AM ET, 01/03/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, filibuster reform, fiscal cliff, Immigration, Morning Plum

Posted at 06:30 PM ET, 01/02/2013

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:30 PM ET, 01/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, gun control, Happy Hour Roundup, john boehner

Posted at 09:11 AM ET, 01/02/2013

The Morning Plum: GOP can't put Tea Party genie back in bottle
By Greg Sargent
Yesterday's events confirm again that House conservatives may no longer be capable of being part of the conversation over how to move the country forward.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:11 AM ET, 01/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, gun control, Morning Plum, Republicans, Tea Party

Posted at 10:38 AM ET, 01/01/2013

Fiscal deal leaves central question of Obama presidency unresolved
By Greg Sargent
The battle over the future of the American welfare state was not settled by today's outcome, and that fight is the crucial one.

By Greg Sargent  |  10:38 AM ET, 01/01/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, fiscal cliff, Medicare, Social Security

Posted at 05:20 PM ET, 12/31/2012

A deal liberals can live with -- pending part two
By Jonathan Bernstein
The truth is it's extremely hard to evaluate these things even when everything is done and public

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  05:20 PM ET, 12/31/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, budget, fiscal cliff, Harry Reid, john boehner, Mitch McConnell, taxes

Posted at 03:04 PM ET, 12/31/2012

A combative Obama calls, again, for a "balanced" deal
By Jamelle Bouie
It's hard to figure out what the president was aiming for in the brief press conference he gave this afternoon.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  03:04 PM ET, 12/31/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, budget, fiscal cliff

Posted at 12:23 PM ET, 12/31/2012

The case for the Dems' negotiating strategy
By Greg Sargent
The White House strategy may be more than just a feckless cave -- there may be a rationale for it, after all.

By Greg Sargent  |  12:23 PM ET, 12/31/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barck obama, Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, Harry Reid

Posted at 10:45 AM ET, 12/31/2012

Have Democrats lost their leverage on the fiscal cliff?
By Jamelle Bouie
Democrats seem to be settling for a smaller deal.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  10:45 AM ET, 12/31/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, Harry Reid, House of Representatives, john boehner, Mitch McConnell, Republicans, Senate

Posted at 03:57 PM ET, 12/30/2012

This isn't a normal negotiation
By Greg Sargent
The GOP insistence on retaining leverage over the debt ceiling means Repubs are willing to threaten to damage the whole country to get their way.

By Greg Sargent  |  03:57 PM ET, 12/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, Mitch McConnell, Social Security

Posted at 06:38 PM ET, 12/28/2012

Obama to GOP: Last chance
By Greg Sargent
The President signals to GOP leaders that if we do go over the cliff, he intends to extract maximum political pain for it.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:38 PM ET, 12/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, john boehner, Mitch McConnell

Posted at 05:10 PM ET, 12/28/2012

No 'cliff' solution today
By Jonathan Bernstein
But there's no reason to panic. There's little damage as long as everything gets wrapped up in January.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  05:10 PM ET, 12/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, Democrats, fiscal cliff, Republicans

Posted at 10:14 AM ET, 12/27/2012

The irresponsible Republican Party
By Jonathan Bernstein
They claim to support deficit reduction but aren't willing to support deficit-reduction policies.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  10:14 AM ET, 12/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, Republicans

Posted at 02:38 PM ET, 12/26/2012

Coffee-cup politics
By Jonathan Bernstein
Everything that's wrong with the Starbucks "Come Together" campaign

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  02:38 PM ET, 12/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff

Posted at 12:23 PM ET, 12/26/2012

Why kicking the can is still the best option on the 'fiscal cliff'
By Jamelle Bouie
There's no real harm in extending the status quo on the deficit.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  12:23 PM ET, 12/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, Democrats, fiscal cliff, Republicans

Posted at 09:45 AM ET, 12/26/2012

Why Democrats insist on upper-income tax hikes
By Jamelle Bouie
Democrats and liberals, in particular care about economic inequality as much as they do growth.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  09:45 AM ET, 12/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, Democrats, fiscal cliff, Republicans, taxes

Posted at 09:47 AM ET, 12/24/2012

Why hopes for a Senate 'fiscal cliff' deal are misplaced
By Jamelle Bouie
Republicans and Democrats have a fundamentally different view of what ails the economy.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  09:47 AM ET, 12/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  deficit reduction, Democrats, fiscal cliff, Republicans

Posted at 11:27 AM ET, 12/21/2012

John Boehner tries to save face
By Jamelle Bouie
His presser explained what he's now willing to do to reach a fiscal compromise.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  11:27 AM ET, 12/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, Republicans

Posted at 09:13 AM ET, 12/21/2012

The Morning Plum: In Plan B implosion, House conservatives exit the conversation
By Greg Sargent
Last night's outcome confirms that House conservatives may not be capable of playing any role in the conversation over how to move the country forward.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:13 AM ET, 12/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, gun control, john boehner, Morning Plum, Newtown

Posted at 09:17 PM ET, 12/20/2012

Enjoy the Republicans' debacle, but don't read too much into it
By Jonathan Bernstein
Republicans made fools of themselves today, but the underlying situation hasn't changed.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  09:17 PM ET, 12/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, john boehner

Posted at 04:57 PM ET, 12/20/2012

AFL-CIO to White House: Time to rescind your offer to Boehner
By Greg Sargent
Major groups on the left won't tolerate a single additional concession of any significance on Obama's part.

By Greg Sargent  |  04:57 PM ET, 12/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, labor, Medicare, Social Security

Posted at 01:24 PM ET, 12/20/2012

Boehner’s 'plan B’ would redistribute wealth upwards
By Greg Sargent
The plan repackages old conservative ideas that the electorate rejected in the 2012 elections.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:24 PM ET, 12/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, john boehner

Posted at 11:36 AM ET, 12/20/2012

Senate Dems likely won’t hold vote on Boehner’s 'plan B’
By Greg Sargent
Democrats believe they still hold the leverage, and see no percentage in throwing a lifeline to the House Speaker.

By Greg Sargent  |  11:36 AM ET, 12/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, Harry Reid, john boehner

Posted at 09:14 AM ET, 12/20/2012

The Morning Plum: White House should let Boehner keep twisting in the wind
By Greg Sargent
The President has already given enough ground. No more concessions.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:14 AM ET, 12/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, john boehner, Morning Plum

Posted at 06:17 PM ET, 12/19/2012

John Boehner, scourge of the wealthy, ctd.
By Greg Sargent
A new nonpartisan analysis of the Speaker's proposal shows how ludicrous it is for Republicans to expect Obama to support it.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:17 PM ET, 12/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, john boehner

Posted at 03:54 PM ET, 12/19/2012

And over the cliff we go
By Greg Sargent
John Boehner says Obama must accept the GOP plan, or we'll go over the cliff -- and the president will be blamed. He has things backwards.

By Greg Sargent  |  03:54 PM ET, 12/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, john boehner

Posted at 11:03 AM ET, 12/19/2012

Why the next four years might be more of the same
By Jamelle Bouie
Republicans have no incentive to cooperate with the president during his second term, either.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  11:03 AM ET, 12/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, Republicans

Posted at 09:17 AM ET, 12/19/2012

The Morning Plum: Gun 'rights' on the defensive
By Greg Sargent
It now seems certain that we will find out whether meaningful gun law reform is possible if it is actually attempted.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:17 AM ET, 12/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, gun control, Morning Plum, Newtown

Posted at 07:04 PM ET, 12/18/2012

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  07:04 PM ET, 12/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, gun control, Happy Hour Roundup, Newtown

Posted at 04:44 PM ET, 12/18/2012

John Boehner, scourge of the wealthy
By Greg Sargent
Obama's latest offer actually makes bigger concessions to the wealthy and to Republicans than it first appears.

By Greg Sargent  |  04:44 PM ET, 12/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, john boehner

Posted at 12:08 PM ET, 12/18/2012

Dick Durbin: No cut in Social Security benefits
By Greg Sargent
A top ally of the White House says "Chained CPI" on Social Security will be very hard for many Senate Dems to support.

By Greg Sargent  |  12:08 PM ET, 12/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Dick Durbin, fiscal cliff, Social Security

Posted at 09:14 AM ET, 12/18/2012

The Morning Plum: Should progressives accept emerging fiscal cliff deal?
By Greg Sargent
The devil will be in the details of the proposal to cut Social Security.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:14 AM ET, 12/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, Morning Plum, Newtown, Social Security

Posted at 06:24 PM ET, 12/17/2012

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:24 PM ET, 12/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, gun control, Happy Hour Roundup, Newtown

Posted at 03:44 PM ET, 12/17/2012

Still a bad deal
By Greg Sargent
The current offer from John Boehner still asks Dems to make most of the concessions.

By Greg Sargent  |  03:44 PM ET, 12/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, john boehner

Posted at 09:13 AM ET, 12/17/2012

The Morning Plum: Is 'God, guns, and gays' losing its peril for Democrats?
By Greg Sargent
Demographic shifts mean that Dems no longer need rural white conservatives -- and no longer need to fear the cultural issues they care so much about.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:13 AM ET, 12/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, gun control, john boehner, Morning Plum, Newton

Posted at 09:12 AM ET, 12/14/2012

The Morning Plum: Destructive anti-tax fanaticism
By Greg Sargent
The GOP cannot evolve if it refuses to recognize the reality of broader public opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:12 AM ET, 12/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, Medicare, Morning Plum

Posted at 06:44 PM ET, 12/13/2012

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:44 PM ET, 12/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, Happy Hour Roundup, john boehner, labor, State Department

Posted at 03:54 PM ET, 12/13/2012

Reasons for optimism about the Medicare age?
By Greg Sargent
It has been made clear to the White House that a great many Congressional Dems believe raising the eligibility age is morally unconscionable and a nonstarter.

By Greg Sargent  |  03:54 PM ET, 12/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Dick Durbin, fiscal cliff, Medicare, Medicare eligibility age

Posted at 09:07 AM ET, 12/13/2012

The Morning Plum: Dems hold the middle ground. GOP is on fringe.
By Greg Sargent
There is no longer any doubt: The main obstacle to any compromise is the GOP's insistence on clinging to a fringe position on taxes, one far outside the American mainstream.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:07 AM ET, 12/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, labor, Morning Plum, right to work

Posted at 01:22 PM ET, 12/12/2012

Liberals warn Obama: We will fight any hike in Medicare age
By Greg Sargent
Senator Jeff Merkley warns that any age hike will be a nonstarter for liberals, who will fight it to the end.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:22 PM ET, 12/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, Medicare, Senate

Posted at 12:24 PM ET, 12/12/2012

Did Boehner ask for permanent tax cuts for rich?
By Greg Sargent
Judging by what was said in the private discussion between Obama and Boehner, we may be going over the cliff.

By Greg Sargent  |  12:24 PM ET, 12/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, john boehner

Posted at 11:26 AM ET, 12/12/2012

Looks like we're stuck with GOP game playing on debt limit
By Jamelle Bouie
Republicans are unlikely to relinquish whatever leverage the threat of default gives them, so it looks like we're headed for another showdown.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  11:26 AM ET, 12/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, Republicans, Senate

Posted at 09:12 AM ET, 12/12/2012

The Morning Plum: Don't raise the Medicare eligibility age, Mr. President
By Greg Sargent
In an interview with ABC News, Obama declines to rule it out. But he was not elected to give away people's Medicare.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:12 AM ET, 12/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, Medicare, Morning Plum

Posted at 06:32 PM ET, 12/11/2012

Happy Hour Roundup
By Jonathan Bernstein
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  06:32 PM ET, 12/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, Happy Hour Roundup, labor, right to work

Posted at 04:57 PM ET, 12/11/2012

On debt ceiling, GOP is defining extortion down
By Greg Sargent
Republicans plan to wage another debt limit battle -- confirming again that they believe it's legitimate to threaten damage to the U.S. economy to get what they want.

By Greg Sargent  |  04:57 PM ET, 12/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff

Posted at 01:54 PM ET, 12/11/2012

John Boehner slow-walks the country towards the fiscal cliff
By Greg Sargent
The House Speaker doesn't have any plays left, so he's just letting the clock run.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:54 PM ET, 12/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, john boehner

Posted at 11:56 AM ET, 12/11/2012

Raising Medicare age could leave hundreds of thousands uninsured
By Greg Sargent
A new report finds that far more seniors could be left uninsured than previously thought.

By Greg Sargent  |  11:56 AM ET, 12/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, fiscal cliff, Medicare

Posted at 09:15 AM ET, 12/11/2012

The Morning Plum: A way out for labor in Michigan?
By Greg Sargent
There may be a way to force a popular vote on the "right to work" law.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:15 AM ET, 12/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Collective bargaining, fiscal cliff, labor, Morning Plum, right to work

Posted at 06:34 PM ET, 12/10/2012

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:34 PM ET, 12/10/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Collective bargaining, fiscal cliff, Happy Hour Roundup, right to work

Posted at 09:09 AM ET, 12/10/2012

The Morning Plum: National Dems not giving up on Michigan "right to work" fight
By Greg Sargent
Top Michigan Democrats are meeting with Governor Rick Snyder to urge him to find a way out of the impasse, rather than further divide the state.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:09 AM ET, 12/10/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, Gay marriage, john boehner, labor, Morning Plum

Posted at 12:01 PM ET, 12/07/2012

John Boehner nervously eyes the clock
By Greg Sargent
The Speaker holds a press conference that only underscores his own weak hand.

By Greg Sargent  |  12:01 PM ET, 12/07/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, john boehner

Posted at 09:10 AM ET, 12/07/2012

The Morning Plum: Time for fiscal cliff talks to focus on jobs
By Greg Sargent
The current crisis isn't just about taxes and entitlements. It's also about jobs. Time to focus on unemployment.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:10 AM ET, 12/07/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, Morning Plum, Stimulus, unemployment

Posted at 04:55 PM ET, 12/06/2012

Dem unity forces McConnell to filibuster his own proposal
By Greg Sargent
Dems pass the first test of whether they can remain united on the debt ceiling

By Greg Sargent  |  04:55 PM ET, 12/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Debt celing, fiscal cliff, Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, Senate

Posted at 11:22 AM ET, 12/06/2012

Reminder: Obama has already agreed to big spending cuts
By Jamelle Bouie
Republicans don't really want "balance" from the White House. They want Obama to give them pretty much everything they want.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  11:22 AM ET, 12/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, john boehner, Medicare

Posted at 08:56 AM ET, 12/06/2012

The Morning Plum: A way out of the impasse?
By Greg Sargent
There is a way out of the fiscal cliff predicament for Republicans. The question is whether conservatives will allow them to take it.

By Greg Sargent  |  08:56 AM ET, 12/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, john boehner, Morning Plum

Posted at 06:46 PM ET, 12/05/2012

Happy Hour Roundup
By Jonathan Bernstein
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  06:46 PM ET, 12/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  budget, fiscal cliff, Happy Hour Roundup, Marco Rubio, taxes

Posted at 03:34 PM ET, 12/05/2012

Pelosi: Dems must say No to raising Medicare eligibility age
By Greg Sargent
Liberals fear the White House and Dems will agree to raise the Medicare eligibility age. But Nancy Pelosi says No.

By Greg Sargent  |  03:34 PM ET, 12/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, House of Representatives, Medicare, Nancy Pelosi

Posted at 09:09 AM ET, 12/05/2012

The Morning Plum: Why Obama won't negotiate with GOP over debt ceiling
By Greg Sargent
Republicans are planning to use the debt limit crisis to extort deep entitlements cuts. Here's why Obama won't play along.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:09 AM ET, 12/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, fiscal cliff, Mitch McConnell, Morning Plum

Posted at 02:45 PM ET, 12/04/2012

GOP needs to choose between business community and Tea Party
By Jonathan Bernstein
The GOP will alienate business groups if it remains in thrall to Tea Party fundamentalism.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  02:45 PM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, john boehner, Tea Party

Posted at 11:42 AM ET, 12/04/2012

Magical thinking in new GOP fiscal cliff plan
By Greg Sargent
A nonpartisan tax expert says the new GOP plan may not even be feasible.

By Greg Sargent  |  11:42 AM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, House of Representatives, john boehner

Posted at 09:10 AM ET, 12/04/2012

The Morning Plum: GOPers expect to cave on tax rates for rich
By Greg Sargent
A well-connected conservative reporter says it's only a matter of time until Republicans cave on higher tax rates on the rich.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:10 AM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, john boehner, Mitch McConnell, Morning Plum

Posted at 06:34 PM ET, 12/03/2012

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:34 PM ET, 12/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  climate change, fiscal cliff, Happy Hour Roundup, john boehner, Republicans

Posted at 04:49 PM ET, 12/03/2012

Boehner's offer: A start, but it's still unclear whether it's real
By Jonathan Bernstein
Boehner's offer still doesn't specify where new revenues would come from.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  04:49 PM ET, 12/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, john boehner, Republicans

Posted at 03:03 PM ET, 12/03/2012

John Boehner's exit strategy
By Greg Sargent
Boehner has an endgame at the ready -- he can just wait until he has no choice but to extend the middle class tax cuts.

By Greg Sargent  |  03:03 PM ET, 12/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, fiscal cliff, House of Representatives, john boehner

Posted at 12:23 PM ET, 12/03/2012

Why Washington should kick the can down the road
By Jamelle Bouie
Lawmakers should not allow more austerity amid such a weak recovery.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  12:23 PM ET, 12/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, congress, deficit reduction, Election 2012, fiscal cliff, john boehner

Posted at 11:04 AM ET, 12/03/2012

White House willing to go over fiscal cliff if absolutely necessary
By Greg Sargent
Senior administration officials say Obama is willing to go over the fiscal cliff if absolutely necessary -- enhancing his leverage.

By Greg Sargent  |  11:04 AM ET, 12/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, fiscal cliff, john boehner, Republicans

Posted at 08:59 AM ET, 12/03/2012

The Morning Plum: No more false equivalence. Both sides are not equally to blame.
By Greg Sargent
Our daily roundup of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  08:59 AM ET, 12/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, fiscal cliff, john boehner, Morning Plum

Posted at 06:39 PM ET, 11/30/2012

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:39 PM ET, 11/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  congress, fiscal cliff, Happy Hour Roundup, House of Representatives

Posted at 04:06 PM ET, 11/30/2012

Mitch McConnell makes an offer
By Greg Sargent
The GOP leader still won't give ground on tax rates.

By Greg Sargent  |  04:06 PM ET, 11/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  congress, fiscal cliff, Senate

Posted at 01:47 PM ET, 11/30/2012

No, Dems don't need to compromise up front
By Greg Sargent
Dems benefit from a fundamentally unbalanced situation

By Greg Sargent  |  01:47 PM ET, 11/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, fiscal cliff, Senate

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 11/30/2012

The Morning Plum: Skittish Democrats putting filibuster reform in peril
By Greg Sargent
Our daily roundup of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:05 AM ET, 11/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, congress, fiscal cliff, Morning Plum, Senate

Posted at 06:27 PM ET, 11/29/2012

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:27 PM ET, 11/29/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, congress, fiscal cliff, Happy Hour Roundup, john boehner

Posted at 03:51 PM ET, 11/29/2012

Does Nancy Pelosi have any leverage in fiscal cliff talks?
By Sargent and Greg Sargent
The Democratic leader may subtly influence the process

By Sargent and Greg Sargent  |  03:51 PM ET, 11/29/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  congress, fiscal cliff, john boehner