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Politics & Government

Debt Ceiling, Compromise and Sausage Making

Jim Himes on politics and process

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama signed the last minute deal to lift the $14.3 trillion debt limit, preventing an unprecedented national default. Obama signed the bill into law within two hours of the 74-26 Senate vote. The House also approved the measure the previous evening by 269-161.

It was a curious bipartisan process. Jim Himes CT-4 was one of 95 House Democrats to vote yea along with four other state reps. John Larson, Chris Murphy, and Rosa DeLauro voted nay, while Senators Richard Blumenthal and Joseph Lieberman voted yea.

Yet it was with great frustration that Himes gave his support to a bill that was heavy on the compromise side for Dems.

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“Compromise is never pretty, and this bill is no cause for celebration,” Himes said. “In the coming months, I expect that the President, the Congress, and the committee mandated by this bill will work for a more balanced, equitable, and comprehensive solution.”

The measure will raise the debt limit by $400 billion immediately and by another $500 billion later this fall. It also serves as a first installment on spending cuts amounting to $917 billion over the next 10 years.

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“But we are only half way through this process and we still need to reform the tax code,” Himes added. “I am mindful that we as Democrats have an obligation to do a better job at defending our values.”

What was it like inside the Beltway sausage factory for our Congressman?

“This was a terrifying process because for the first time many on the other side were willing to see the measure fail and were absolutely willing to destroy the economy over it. So we were trying to avert potential catastrophe,” said Himes.

Although they may have prevented a calamity, the S&P 500 and Dow still managed to sink more than four percent by Thursday, and European markets tanked as well in reaction to the world economy.

But Himes sees a silver lining.

“One of the best things that did happen was that the debt limit was successfully taken out of the hands of GOP extremists who were willing to bring the country down over ideology,” he said.

While Democrats were successful in getting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid off the table, they did not succeed in removing tax loopholes and increasing taxes for corporations and the most affluent Americans.

“There were many Democrats who were uncomfortable with a deal that did not call upon the wealthiest in the nation to contribute to reducing the debt,” said Himes. “But Harry Reid couldn’t get enough Democrats to support a tax increase for the rich so he couldn’t even put it in the bill. So compromises had to be made in order to get the bill passed in time for the deadline. While you heard people screaming bloody murder, the truth is that the limit is now higher and we did not touch Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid in order to do it.”

Entitlements were spared the Tea Party chopping block, but Progressives in the Democratic Party felt strongly that POTUS should have pushed harder to procure revenues or invoked the 14th Amendment.

“Joe Biden came into our Caucus and he had a very difficult hour,” recalled Himes. “Many on the Progressive side felt that the President didn’t negotiate enough or go far enough as an advocate and worry that this will happen again. I share a lot of their feelings, but I say that humbly because he was in a very difficult position when you have a party that is happy to see the government fail in their efforts to discredit the President.”

GOP leader Speaker John Boehner heard an earful from his base as well.

“The critical dynamic for Boehner was that he was held back because he had to manage his Tea Party,” explained Himes. “When he tried to bring his bill to the floor--one that was far worse than what was passed--he couldn’t even get enough votes from his own party.”

Since 1962, the debt ceiling has been raised 74 times and partisan deal making was never part of the process. So as a result of compromises that made cuts to programs Progressives hold dear, will Tea Party Conservatives feel emboldened to pull the same sort of stunt in the future?

“We were able to take away the weapon of the debt ceiling from the Tea Party,” said Himes. “The American public is aware that they are uncompromising and extremist. Hopefully Boehner will not allow this to happen in the future.”

But GOP leaders have already taken aim at the Federal Aviation Administration.

“At a time when we are trying to work on jobs, the Republicans have halted thousands of construction jobs at airports around the country,” said Himes. “They are holding up the FAA authorization bill for the purpose of undermining workers’ rights.”

The last stage of the debt ceiling sausage will be made by the bipartisan Super Committee this coming November. Boehner and minority leader Mitch McConnell have vowed not to allow any members onboard from their side who would recommend revenue increases. Will entitlements still be safe from Republicans?

“While we don’t know what the super committee will do and how Republicans will recommend, I’m not sure the GOP will have much of an incentive to make the committee fail because if they can’t reach an agreement and there’s deadlock it will go into a process called sequestration,” said Himes. “Cuts will automatically be made--half in defense and half in domestic spending (but not touch Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid), and the GOP does not want any cuts to defense so it’s in their best interest to reach a bipartisan decision and produce results.”

How will Democrats force the rich to share the burden?

“The President has a huge hammer in 2012 with discretionary spending after the elections,” said Himes.

On a brighter note, members of Congress were treated to the return of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who was shot in the head by a crazed gunman in Tucson last winter.

“I was on the floor when Gabby arrived,” said Himes.  “It was a remarkable moment. It was near the end and we all had our eyes glued to the vote count. We had just lived through the worst of partisan politics and then Gabby walked in and I can say that it moved us all, because we realized that we have so much more in common than what pulls us apart.”

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