You can tell in the halls of the U.S. Capitol that the clock is ticking on the budget work of the deficit “Super Committee” in the Congress, as both sides furiously maneuvered on Tuesday to show that the blame for any gridlock should be placed on the other party.
“We’re still waiting for what the Democrats might be able to do,” said Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, who said that Republicans had put a plan on the table last week, but hadn’t heard back from Democrats as yet.
At the exact same spot in the hallway off the Senate floor a few minutes earlier, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that was nonsense.
“There’s nothing to look at, at least as far as I know,” said Reid about any GOP deficit plan.
Republicans were saying that they had offered to limit deductions on top income earners an idea that President Obama has tried before as well, but has received no traction in the Congress, no matter which party was in charge.
“That was a big deal, a big change in political dynamic,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who argues that it’s time for both parties to give in order to cut a deficit deal.
The talk in the hallways was that would bring in $250 billion in new revenue – new taxes which most Republicans have said they would oppose – but, it would be in exchange for reform of the tax code.
But as of now, there’s no deal, and both parties know what the likely schedule is over the next week.
“Congress, and government generally don’t do things until the last minute,” said Sen. Reid, an observation that made reporters chuckle, knowing full well that lawmakers will probably be burning the midnight oil next week.
Let’s see where we are one week from today. Somehow it won't surprise me or my colleagues if the Congress seems to be on the edge of failure, or on the verge of striking an eleventh hour deal.
