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January 29th, 2008 - By Scrapping Bipartisan Deal, Democrats Put American Taxpayers’ Rebate Checks In Jeopardy
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS SCRAP BIPARTISAN DEAL
THE WASHINGTON POST: “The Chairman Of The Senate Finance Committee Yesterday” Offered A “Direct Challenge To The Bipartisan Deal Reached Last Week By President Bush And House Leaders.” (“Senate to Offer Own Stimulus Package,” The Washington Post, 01/29/08)
WALL STREET JOURNAL: “The Senate’s Top Tax Writer Unveiled” A Plan That “Diverges” From The Deal “Setting Up A Potential Conflict”. “The Senate's top tax writer unveiled an economic-stimulus plan that diverges from a bipartisan deal negotiated last week by the House and the Bush administration, setting up a potential conflict as leaders race to complete action on the legislation by midmonth.” (“Baucus Stimulus Plan May Spur Conflict,” The Wall Street Journal, 01/29/08)
WASHINGTON POST: “Reid has signaled that Senate Democrats would seek to add provisions that have been rejected by Republicans”. (Peter Baker, “Bush Urges Congress To Pass Stimulus Plan Quickly,” The Washington Post, 01/25/08)
ASSOCIATED PRESS: “The action put the Senate on a collision course with President Bush, who has cautioned against adding to a carefully negotiated package that brought together House Democrats and Republicans, both of whom surrendered cherished proposals to reach a deal.” (“House to Vote Today on Rebate Package,” The Associated Press, 01/29/08)
THE NEW YORK TIMES: “Several powerful Senate Democrats have said they want to add components to the plan”. (David Herszenhorm, “Congress Moving For Swift Passage Of Stimulus,” The New York Times, 01/26/08)
DEMOCRATS CONCEDE ADDITIONS WILL “JEOPARDIZE THE ENTIRE” PACKAGE
THE WASHINGTON POST: “But privately, House leaders were fuming.” (“Senate to Offer Own Stimulus Package,” The Washington Post, 01/29/08)
REP. CHARLIE RANGEL (D-NY): “I am concerned that this expansion would jeopardize the entire stimulus package.” (“Senate to Offer Own Stimulus Package,” The Washington Post, 01/29/08)
DEMOCRATIC AIDE: “‘Unless this is handled with a lot of skill and a lot of delicacy, this has the potential to sink the whole economic stimulus package,’ said the Democratic aide familiar with the process.” (Emily Pierce, “Baucus Gets His Shot At Stimulus,” Roll Call, 01/28/08)
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL): “I Don't Buy It”. (“Senate to Offer Own Stimulus Package,” The Washington Post, 01/29/08)
DEMOCRAT EXERCISE THREATENS “DELAY” OF “REBATE CHECKS” OR COULD POTENTIALLY “DISRUPT THE CAREFUL BALANCE THAT GOT THE DEAL”
ASSOCIATED PRESS: Senate Could “Delay Mailing Rebate Checks.” “The worry is that the Senate will load up the bill with costly ideas that could provoke a confrontation with Bush and slow down the bill - and delay mailing the rebate checks. It's particularly risky for Democrats controlling Congress, who might get blamed for any delays.” (Andrew Taylor, “Senators Consider Rebates For Retirees,” The Associated Press, 01/25/08)
WALL STREET JOURNAL: Senate Could “Disrupt The Careful Balance That Got The Deal This Far.” “The House-negotiated plan to jump-start the economy heads this week into the Senate, where lawmakers who want to weigh in with their own ideas could disrupt the careful balance that got the deal this far.” (Sarah Lueck, “Senate Weighs Changes As It Takes Up Stimulus Bill,” The Wall Street Journal, 01/28/08)
WALL STREET JOURNAL: “The political risks to both sides of the effort backfiring are huge, with many people already counting on getting rebate checks this spring.” (“Baucus Stimulus Plan May Spur Conflict,” The Wall Street Journal, 01/29/08)
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