Obama urges action on debt ceiling
by MATTHEW DALY, Associated Press
Jan 05, 2013 | 2195 views | 8 8 comments | 5 5 recommendations | email to a friend | print
In this Dec. 5, 2012, photo, President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks about the "fiscal cliff" at the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers, in Washington. The political fight that took the nation to the verge of defaulting on its debts last year is back, overshadowed by "fiscal cliff" disputes but with consequences far graver than looming tax hikes and steep spending cuts. The government is on track to hit its $16.4 trillion borrowing limit later this month. And while the Treasury can keep the government functioning through early next year, Obama is bluntly insisting that any deal on the "fiscal cliff" must include an end to brinkmanship on the debt ceiling. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
In this Dec. 5, 2012, photo, President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks about the "fiscal cliff" at the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers, in Washington. The political fight that took the nation to the verge of defaulting on its debts last year is back, overshadowed by "fiscal cliff" disputes but with consequences far graver than looming tax hikes and steep spending cuts. The government is on track to hit its $16.4 trillion borrowing limit later this month. And while the Treasury can keep the government functioning through early next year, Obama is bluntly insisting that any deal on the "fiscal cliff" must include an end to brinkmanship on the debt ceiling. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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HONOLULU (AP) — President Barack Obama is hailing a last-minute deal that avoids the so-called fiscal cliff but says it's just one step in a broader effort to boost the economy and shrink federal deficits.

Obama said in his radio and Internet address Saturday that the new law — approved by Congress on New Year's Day and signed Thursday — raises taxes on the wealthiest Americans while preventing a middle-class tax hike that could have thrown the economy back into recession.

With the "fiscal cliff" crisis barely over, Obama faces new battles in Congress over raising the country's $16.4 trillion borrowing limit, as well as more than $100 billion in automatic spending cuts for the military and domestic programs which were delayed by two months under the compromise.

Lawmakers promise to replace those across-the-board cuts with more targeted steps that could take longer to implement.

Obama — speaking from Hawaii, where he is on vacation with his family — said he is willing to consider more spending cuts and tax increases to reduce the deficit.

But he said he "will not compromise" over his insistence that Congress lift the federal debt ceiling. The nation's credit rating was downgraded the last time lawmakers threatened inaction on the debt ceiling, in 2011.

"Our families and our businesses cannot afford that dangerous game again," Obama said.

If elected officials from both parties "focus on the interests of our country above the interests of party, I'm convinced we can cut spending and raise revenue in a manner that reduces our deficit and protects the middle class," Obama said.

In the Republican address, Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan said that as attention again turns to the debt limit, "we must identify responsible ways to tackle Washington's wasteful spending."

Americans know that "when you have no more money in your account and your credit cards are maxed out, then the spending must stop," Camp said.
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Idunno
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January 09, 2013
And the clown posse, aka American voter, has no clue that wealth still is not taxed... ie. capitol gains, tax free muni's, etc... only those that "labor" for a wage are paying... the rest ain't, and neither are the other 47% that never have paid taxes either.
FormerRomanJr.
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January 09, 2013
Obviously iduuno, you don't have any Capital gains..I worked for my money and it was taxed before I received my check..Now my money is taxed at 15% and going up..Those municipal bonds you speak-That's folks supporting infrastructure in cities and towns all across America.

Obama wants to tax it just like income to support his base of workless base.
Idunno
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January 10, 2013
LOL, FormerRomanJr, do you understand how the oracle from Omaha Buffet or Moron Moore pay taxes or the rest of the gilded class??? You think Obama or TurboTax Timmy are paying their "fair share"?

Obumbles is crippling the bourgeoisie; he's doing a bang up job of it with the enablers in congress. Its all about the "change". And the middle class is left with nothing but change, literally.

When ALL pay taxes and none are exempt, those demanding my money to give to leeches and despots will have a leg to stand on, until then, they can go suck an egg.
Trelicious
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January 05, 2013
Your take home check will now be smaller, starting with your first one in 2013. WHAT? You're not a millionaire? Still, smaller check, less take-home pay thanks to Obama and his "deal". This is regardless of how much you make. The only way you keep the same amount of money this year as last, is if your money comes from a government check. In summary, if you are an Obama supporter, your check that you didn't earn stays the same. If you work for a living, you will have less money this year.

People are really stupid.
mirage83
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January 05, 2013
The Bush-era tax cuts were never intended to be permanent, neither was the payroll-tax holiday. Both were temporary measures.

Speaking of the Bush tax cuts, they should have been eliminated years ago. It was fiscally irresponsible for them to continue while the country was having to pay for the costs associated with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
JoMadden
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January 05, 2013
Yes Trelicious. You should be happy they let you keep so much of their money for so long.
SillyRoman
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January 09, 2013
Their money? The only reason they get any of our money is because Americans vote for politicians who agree to tax us... The reason your paycheck went up is because Social Security tax went back up. They cut it by 2% in 2011, and now it's going back up.
SillyRoman
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January 09, 2013
the reason your paycheck went down*

sorry for the correction
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