Republicans 'flabbergasted' by call for more spending as part of fiscal deal
Published December 03, 2012
FoxNews.com
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/03/republicans-outraged-by-call-for-more-spending-as-part-fiscal-deal/#ixzz2E1BvvQtF
Republicans say they are "flabbergasted" by the Obama administration's latest proposal for averting a fiscal meltdown -- a plan that they call a "joke" and which has only further divided the two sides with the clock ticking.
Rather than offering a round of spending cuts to soothe Republican concerns about the debt, the Obama plan calls for a new wave of stimulus spending on top of $1.6 trillion in tax hikes over the next decade.
House Speaker John Boehner told "Fox News Sunday" he was "flabbergasted" when Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner presented the plan in a closed-door meeting last week. The administration doubled down even though Republicans broke with their long-standing no-tax vow and indicated a willingness to close deductions for top earners.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaking on CBS' "Face the Nation," called the plan a "joke" and predicted it would bode poorly for the future of talks.
"I think we're going over the cliff," Graham said. "It's pretty clear to me they've made a political calculation. This offer doesn't remotely deal with entitlement reform in a way to save Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security from imminent bankruptcy."
The unproductive closed-door talks come as both sides now seek support from outside Washington for their positions. Fox News confirms that House Republicans plan to meet with small business owners and governors this coming week. Obama returned to the stump last week to make his case for tax hikes on top earners, and has also turned to his campaign operation to rally the base.
