TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross
AP: 754f45f5-a510-41aa-ae89-c955ca30ff23
Senate Budget Committee Chair Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., center, flanked by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev.,left, and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., holds up a copy of a "warn notice" that would be sent to workers if furloughed from their jobs under the automatic spending cuts that take effect March 1, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The 11th hour has arrived

BY Dave Ross  on March 1, 2013 @ 5:40 am (Updated: 9:36 am - 3/1/13 )

The 11th hour has arrived - will it move the budget debate?

One more time, the Speaker of the House John Boehner said Republicans have done their job, it's up to Democrats. "The President hasn't offered a plan. Senate Democrats haven't passed a plan. It's time for them to pass a plan."

So I talked to a top Senate Democrat, Patty Murray, who chairs the budget committee, and asked why won't she agree to trim Social Security and Medicare spending as Republicans demand.

"Let me just be very clear," said Murray on Seattle's Morning News. "I made some very serious offers on those kinds of changes to public policies that will bring us savings in the long run. As budget chair today - I'm in deep discussions with my committee about how we can impact the cost of healthcare overall, moving forward. It's one of the biggest drivers in our budget. But, we have to have a partner on the other side."

They're saying they've dug in. I asked, do you think you can really get them to move?

"Without the revenue piece on this, average, middle-class families bear the brunt of the entire deficit because we went to war without paying for it and we passed big tax cuts in the early part of the decade," said Murray.

But she's made the point. We know where each side stands. Republicans are just willing to be a little more ruthless than the Democrats. I asked, at some point, don't you just have to say, 'Alright, we're going to try it your way just to get this thing off the dime'? And if it turns out you're wrong, you will lose at the polls next time around.

"This is going into place because they hold the card of - by doing nothing - they get all their cuts."

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (50)


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  • Cbrew wrote...
    Well, I guess if Al Quaida can't take us down....
    March 1, 2013 8:29 am
    We can do it for them? Lets just allow lawmakers who would rather do NOTHING than compromise in a system that is built for compromise ruin what millions of men and women fought and died for... I can say this, when civility breaks down, the first to find the rope around their necks are the ones that caused the crisis and the ones that stood by and watched it happen... neither party gets a pass..
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  • dexterjibs wrote...
    This is one Obama idea
    March 1, 2013 8:36 am
    I agree with. Let sequestration continue, the world will not come to an end. Plus, is is a true cut, or is it a cut in the rate of growth. Plus, considering the government will spend trillions of dollars this year, 85 billion is a drop in the bucket
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  • TwoTrees wrote...
    Harry, Patty, and Chuck...
    March 1, 2013 9:06 am
    Ugh...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ToldYa wrote...
    WHO
    March 1, 2013 9:09 am
    Keeps voting that stooge patty murray in? WHO? Are you all brain dead as she is?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • monroemad wrote...
    Unions elect all of our officials
    March 1, 2013 9:20 am
    How do you think we get such feckless leadership?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Me!
    March 1, 2013 9:28 am
    It would help if she was brain dead so she could negotiate with the zombie right.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rodneytom wrote...
    gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood
    March 1, 2013 2:23 pm
    Go back where you came from fool. She is Brain dead; I think her last coherent thought was right before she was drug home from the Coug by her ankles.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    I don't know what that means, but I'm pretty sure it was
    March 1, 2013 5:33 pm
    pathetically weak and undeniably stupid. Lame. She's one of the most accomplished women in Washington.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    The funny thing about this is.
    March 1, 2013 9:24 am
    The democrats have the majority in the senate but they can't present a budget because they can't get their own party to agree on one. Then they blame the other party for it when it won't even make it to a vote of the senate. Clearly our education system has failed the party on the left. Education is a good thing if you learn anything. The demos, not so much.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DW10 wrote...
    Dave...This is POTUS Barry's Fault
    March 1, 2013 9:39 am
    Dave, Cmon...we're tired of the slant you give on these articles. 2011 POTUS Barry implemented this sequester plan. Now he wants to distance himself and threaten reporters who point it out. This is a bunch of elitist BS. Barry is so busy campaigning and image crafting he can't work "together" as he preached during..oh yeah, the constant campaigning. Make a Decision and bring a plan. Lead. Call Congress back from yet another 3 day break and insist on finding a solution. I agree with Keitho...this is Barry's problem. Problem is he won't bend until more taxes are raised...again. Consider a few logical ideas.. 1) Cut the free Obama cell phones - the companies are passing costs on to us over 1 Billion $$$ Waste! 2) Repeal Barry's re-instatment of secret service protection for life! Really?? Fat cats can't afford private security out on your compunds? 3) STOP giving $$$ to our enemies! Muslim brotherood. Really? Syrian rebels. Really?? Heck, cut ALL foreign aid for a year! We at home don't matter?? 4) How much did POTUS waste on insisting on Obama care?? 630 BILLION was the downpayment! Hey POYUS. I just solved your budget problem. Too bad your're too arrogant to listen.
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  • Moondoggie wrote...
    "Let me just be very clear," said Murray on Seattle's Morning News. "I made some very serious offers on those kinds of changes to public policies that will bring us savings in the long run.
    March 1, 2013 9:51 am
    The key phrase is "in the long run". Patty wants to raise taxes now in exchange for some promised cuts several years down the road. I think Patty and Lucy Van Pelt are one in the same person.(think Charlie Brown and his eternal attempt to kick the football)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsshirling wrote...
    really?
    March 1, 2013 10:09 am
    Senator Murray has been part of the democrat leadership of the Senate who has not produced a budget in 4 years. They have not produced a budget in part because they are unwilling to address our increasingly bad economic situation and it's easier to kick the can than it is to lead. For her to say she has offered "ideas" is like the kid who didn't take his weekly tests hoping he can wash the teachers car to get a passing grade. We are currently OVER spending $7,400 a year for every working taxpayer in America. That would mean everyone's tax rate would go up roughly 15% to cover this over-spending. If you don't want government to find and cut the waste we all know exists, then raise your hands and say you are happy to pay an extra 15% in taxes. Personally, I'm a middle class person in an expensive town and I'm not ready to have a 40% tax rate when the reason is Patty Murray raised her hand to be our senator but now doesn't have the political courage to do her job. CH... as far as 2014... with 7 democrat senators in red states up for re-election and a House that got control in 2010 primarily on the need to bring fiscal sanity to our budget, you have to be blind to think the GOP gets weaker with the next election.
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  • Hydroman wrote...
    Let the cuts go through
    March 1, 2013 10:13 am
    It sounds like a lot but it is a small part of the overall budget. The military could withdraw from Europe and let them pay their fair share, we could have a treaty to let the US use their bases in the event of some emergency. Do the same for Japan. All the countries we give money to around the would should be reset to zero and let them prove we need to support them. We can't afford to help the world thru our government, let the public sector do that. Help our own people that are unable to help their selfs. Make a national sales tax and dump the IRS with loop holes and all the special interest groups and their will just have to look for new jobs. The list goes on.
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Jedi mind meld
    March 1, 2013 11:04 am
    This crisis happened because President Obama could not perform a Jedi mind meld with the Republicans.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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