House Dems United On Deficit Stance, Says Larson

By Andy Wiltrout

Rep. John Larson (D-Conn) criticized Republicans on Tuesday for bailing twice on debt limit negotiations, and said that members of his party are willing to sacrifice to reach an agreement over how best to reduce the deficit.

Larson said that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Assistant House Minority Leader Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), and Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, all share the same message — that nothing is on the table unless everything is on the table.

“Members of our caucus, though they have deep and biding concerns about Social Security and Medicare, respect what the President is doing,” said Larson. “We inherently trust our leadership and the President to do the right thing.”

Though Pelosi earlier this week stated admantly that she would not support a deal that includes changes to Social Security or Medicare, it has been reported that behind closed doors, Democratic negotiators, including President Obama, have expressed willingness to reform entitlements in exchange for the GOP’s support to raise the debt limit.

According to Repubican negotiators, Democratic insistence on new tax revenues has created an impasse between the parties. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have all threatened to oppose authorizing new borrowing as long as taxes remain part of a plan to cut the deficit.

Larson criticized the Republicans over the tax issue.

“This is a moment you can seize upon to bring the country together but instead has turned into a moment where Republicans are playing double dare with the American people.”