In his questions session with Democrats this week, Barack Obama chastised Republicans for not backing the Conrad-Gregg deficit commission, which failed to meet the 60-vote threshold to end debate last week.
Last week, for example, you put up for a vote a bill I supported — Conrad-Gregg fiscal commission. We were sure this was going to be bipartisan, only to see seven Republicans who co-sponsored the idea in the first place suddenly decide to vote against it.
Here’s the roll call for the Conrad-Gregg commission vote, with 22 Democrats and 24 Republican opposed. It seems it is necessary once again to remind Obama that Senate Democrats, to whom he was speaking, had a 60-vote supermajority at the time of the vote and thus could have passed it all on their own (perhaps with the help of some presidential leadership?).
After the commission vote failed, Obama changed tacks, to a commission established by executive order. Rep. John Boehner is wondering where that extended hand is in forming that commission. Boehner sent this letter to Secretary Geithner today:
“Washington Democrats’ definition of ‘bipartisanship’ continues to be writing proposals of their own behind closed doors, then unveiling them and demanding Republican support. Bipartisan ends require bipartisan means, and the proposed fiscal commission fails to meet this common-sense standard.”
Given that the president is so keen on working with Republicans “when he can,” and that it was a bipartisan group that killed the commission in the Senate, a good-faith do-over should include Republicans. More, from John Boehner on Republicans’ specific concerns, at the link:
