STATE & NATION
Northwest Herald / NWHerald.com
Thursday, November 29, 2012 • Page A3
Obama mounts ‘fiscal cliff’ campaign By DAVID ESPO The Associated Press
WASHINGTON – The White House and a key congressional Democrat hinted at fresh concessions on taxes and cuts to Medicare and other government benefit programs Wednesday as bargaining with Republicans lurched ahead to avoid the year-end “fiscal cliff” that threatens to send the economy into a tailspin. Increasing numbers of rank-and-file Republicans also said they were ready to give ground, a boost for House Speaker John Boehner and other party leaders who say they will agree to higher tax revenues as part of a deal if it also curbs benefit programs as a way to rein in federal deficits. “I’ll go anywhere and I’ll do whatever it takes to get this done,” President Barack Obama said as he sought to build pressure on Republicans to accept his terms – a swift renewal of expiring tax
AP photo
President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks Wednesday in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, on the White House campus in Washington, about how middle class Americans would see their taxes go up if Congress fails to act to extend the middle class tax cuts. cuts for all but the highest income earners. “It’s too important for Washington to screw
this up,” he declared. For all of the talk, there was no sign of tangible prog-
ress on an issue that marks a first test for divided government since elections that as-
sured Obama a second term in the White House while renewing Republican control in the House. “It’s time for the president and Democrats to get serious about the spending problem that our country has,” Boehner said at a news conference in the Capitol. He, like Obama, expressed optimism that a deal could be reached. At the same time, he publicly disagreed with one GOP lawmaker, Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who said he was ready to go along with Obama’s plan to renew most but not all of the expiring income tax cuts. “It’ll hurt the economy” to raise rates for anyone, said Boehner. Separately, at a closed-door meeting with the rank and file, the speaker told fellow Republicans they are on solid political ground in refusing to let tax rates rise. He circulated polling data showing the public favors closing loopholes to raise revenue far more than it supports raising rates on incomes over $250,000.
House holds purse in battle over prison funds By JOHN O’CONNOR The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn vowed Wednesday to continue fighting to steer state money from prisons to child protection, after being rebuffed by the Senate on his plan to shutter state facilities. On the second day of the General Assembly’s fall veto session, the Senate voted, 35-16, to override Quinn’s veto of $57
million approved by the Legislature to keep two prisons and two juvenile detention centers open. The governor will take his case to the House, where a second override vote would not force the Democratic governor to keep the prisons open, but would prohibit him from spending the money elsewhere despite the state’s dire financial situation. Quinn aides said his message, as he crosses the Capitol
rotunda in the coming days, is this: It’s a choice between spending on underutilized prisons or better protection against the abuse and neglect of children. “He’s talking to lawmakers and will impress upon them that the money is better spent on kids than on prisons” he considers unnecessary, Quinn budget spokesman Abdon Pallasch said. The House canceled Thursday’s portion of the fall ses-
sion. A spokesman said the legislation’s House sponsor, Speaker Michael Madigan, has not decided whether to seek an override. The session’s final three days begin Tuesday. Beside the override vote, the Senate adopted a plan Wednesday to require some corporations to disclose what they pay in income tax. The chamber also rejected legislation that Quinn rewrote to ban assault weapons and sent the governor
a plan he supports to subsidize state park repairs with a $2 license plate surcharge. The House adopted a resolution that recommends no pay raises this year for unionized state workers; set a special congressional election April 9 for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who resigned; and voted to give the Chicago Public Schools more time to announce what schools it plans to close.
e PrHOLIDAY
8STATE BRIEFS Quinn: ‘Squeezy’ pension video viewed 20K times
CHICAGO – Officials said Gov. Pat Quinn’s online pension reform campaign with its cartoon snake mascot has attracted more than 28,000 unique visitors. He launched the website this month, billing it as a way to rally the public around a pension overhaul since lawmakers haven’t come up with a plan. The site has been criticized for its lighthearted approach, including images of the orange serpent, “Squeezy the Pension Python.” The Democrat’s office said a video with the cartoon has been viewed 20,000 times. The campaign involves Facebook and Twitter pages. On Tuesday, Quinn unveiled a video with educator Salman Khan. He runs a nonprofit academy and has developed thousands of online tutorials.
Ill. license fee for state parks goes to governor
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate has approved a $2 license plate fee to improve crumbling state parks. The plan to cut into a $750 million backlog in park maintenance and repairs now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn. He’s indicated he approves of the proposal. It was the second go for the Senate. The measure failed in June but received a 39-11 vote in favor on Wednesday. The money would be used by the Department of Natural Resources. It was suggested as an alternative to charging an entrance fee. A basic annual license plate costs $99.
– Wire reports
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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (right), accompanied by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference Wednesday on Capitol Hill in Washington to discuss disaster relief funds for superstorm Sandy.
NYC mayor seeks more disaster aid for Sandy victims By ANDREW MIGA The Associated Press
WASHINGTON – New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg appealed to congressional leaders Wednesday for quick action on providing tens of billions of dollars in new federal aid to help his city and state and others recover from superstorm Sandy but was told it might be some time before it’s forthcoming – and it likely won’t be all at once. Bloomberg met with more than a half-dozen lawmakers, including several who chair or sit on committees controlling the government’s purse strings, as well and both parties’ leaders in the House and Senate. “Hurricane recovery is not a partisan issue,” he told reporters at a news conference in between the meetings. “We have to bring together both sides in Washington.” New York state alone is seeking $42 billion in additional federal aid. New Jersey is seeking federal aid to cover most of the nearly $37 billion cost for recovery and rebuilding. So far about $2 billion in federal funds – about half for direct assistance to individuals – have been provided to the two most heavily damaged states and nine others in the storm’s path. There’s about $5 billion left in the Federal Emergency Management
Agency’s disaster relief fund, but last year’s budget agreement permits President Barack Obama to seek another $5.4 billion without hitting a ceiling on spending. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a member of the Appropriations Committee and the top Republican on the Homeland Security Committee that oversees disaster relief, struck a skeptical note after her meeting with the mayor. “It’s going to be a hard sell,” she said, given Congress’s preoccupation with the fiscal cliff crisis and tight budget restraints. Reflecting a line taken in the past by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and other fiscal conservatives, she said at least some of the new spending for Sandy relief and rebuilding should be offset by spending cuts in other government programs. “Otherwise it’s just going to be added to the debt and that makes it even more difficult for us to deal with the fiscal challenges,” she said. Collins said she needs to see more detailed numbers on damages before deciding on how much Sandy aid is needed. But she said New York’s request is “reasonable” if the damages can be documented and added that state and city officials have not tried to exaggerate the damages, as she claims happened with Hurricane Katrina seven years ago.
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