Reid: Taxes, spending and immigration reform top Senate agenda

h3wlett · 01-19-2011, 02:51 PM

Reid: Taxes, spending and immigration reform top Senate agenda

By Michael O'Brien - 01/19/11 11:21 AM ET

Quote:

Taxes, spending and immigration reform top Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) goals for this Congress, he said Tuesday night.

Reid, the top Democrat in the Senate, suggested that he could find common ground with Republicans on taxes and spending, and perhaps on immigration reform as well.

Tax reform "certainly needs to be done this Congress," Reid said during an appearance on "Face to Face with Jon Ralston" on Nevada television Tuesday night.

"I really think it's going to happen — we may not go back to Bradley-Gephardt," the majority leader said referring to a tax proposal put forward in 1982 by former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) and former Sen. Bill Bradley (D-N.J.), "but we have to go back to a flatter tax."

Both tax and spending reforms have been discussed as possible areas of agreement between President Obama, the Democratic-held Senate, and the new Republican House. The president's fiscal commission recommended a series of spending cuts and tax reforms last year that could prove the foundation for congressional action over the next two years.

"We have to do that. It's not only domestic, discretionary spending that we have to do something about," Reid said of spending cuts, saying that the defense, Medicare and Medicaid budgets all should be considered fair game. "We cannot sustain the spending of this country; we have to get it under control. We cannot end up like Greece, or like Ireland, and default on our debt."

Reid also signaled his intention to make another try at immigration reform, an effort which stalled last year in the Senate due to Republican opposition. The majority leader had sought to advance the DREAM Act during the lame-duck Congress, but most Republicans and some Democrats voted against ending debate.

Since then, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and some other lawmakers have expressed an interest in comprehensive immigration reform once borders have been secured. But the Republican House could prove a stumbling block for any bill that offers what conservatives consider "amnesty" for illegal immigrants.

"I think the answer is unequivocally yes, I think we can get something done," Reid said of the prospects for immigration reform. "The tide is turning on this. This is not something that is going to be a lost program; we're going to get this done."

Source

chlehqls · 01-19-2011, 03:08 PM

Kudos to Reid.

Let's see something happen this year.

DA User · 01-19-2011, 03:20 PM

I think Reid can pull this off.

static · 01-19-2011, 03:36 PM

"I think we can get something done," Reid said...

^^^ This has been said so many times before. So far nothing substantial has come out of all the past efforts. I really am hoping that we will see movement on the issue of immigration reform. Come on Congress!

swordfish · 01-19-2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chlehqls

Kudos to Reid.

Let's see something happen this year.

The problem now is the lower house.

Republicans 242
Democrats 193

218 is the magic # in the lower house.

Demise · 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swordfish

The problem now is the lower house.

Republicans 242
Democrats 193

218 is the magic # in the lower house.

Bigger problem is the leadership of the house. Without a discharge petition chances are no CIR or DA vote will ever take place.

At very best we can expect another 2006. Senate will pass something, house won't.

Alex QA · 01-19-2011, 03:46 PM

Anyways .. ( putting my headphones back on )

tlr91 · 01-19-2011, 03:53 PM

I think if a new bill is introduced weather the DA or CIR (most likely the DA because CIR seems like a long shot) it will be a bill very water down. The ages will be probably a 25 age cut off and republicans will be able to add amendments (cutting more dreamers) to it so I think if it does get this water down republicans will vote for it in the house... hopefully but you never know what to expect from these republicans these days.

dado123 · 01-19-2011, 03:58 PM

Lets not be pessimest against our own cause, hope something comes around this yr.

jollyjane · 01-19-2011, 04:13 PM

this sounds soo.....repetative *sigh* bring on the false hope, and the pointless dreaming. I've got nothing better to do :P

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Reid: Taxes, spending and immigration reform top Senate agenda