Thursday, December 12, 2013

POLITICS - The Bipartisan Budget, Reactions

"Should Congress approve the budget compromise?" PBS Newshour 12/11/2013

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Avoiding provisions that sharply divide the two parties, budget negotiators reached a deal to fund the government for two years.  Kwame Holman reports on reaction to the deal.  Judy Woodruff talks to Steven Rattner of Willett Advisors, Douglas Holtz-Eakin of the American Action Forum and Romina Boccia of the Heritage Foundation.

JUDY WOODRUFF (Newshour):  It may not be the legislative equivalent of peace in our time, but the budget deal announced last night provides, at the very least, a time-out for lawmakers battling over fiscal matters.

NewsHour congressional correspondent Kwame Holman sums up the agreement.

REP. PAUL RYAN, R-Wis.:  By having a budget agreement that doesn't raise taxes, that does reduce the deficit and produces some certainty and prevents government shutdowns, we think is a good agreement.

KWAME HOLMAN:  After weeks of negotiating with Democrats, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan had to sell the agreement to members of his own party this morning.

PAUL RYAN:  We know that this budget agreement doesn't come close to achieving what we want to achieve on our ultimate fiscal goals.  But, again, if we can get a step in the right direction, we're going to take that step.  And that's why we're doing this.

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