GOP aide mocks Democrats' super proposal
Document says 'Only a Democrat would think you can pick up $350 billion from miscellany.'
A day after super-committee Democrats floated a plan to cut $2.3 trillion over 10 years from the deficit, as posted by National Journal, Republicans on Thursday circulated a cheeky, annotated version drafted by a GOP aide.
Noting the Democratic plan includes $650 billion worth of tax increases, the GOP version asks: "A $650 billion tax hanging over the economy like the Sword of Damocles will promote hiring and economic growth how?" Observing that the plan finds $350 billion in miscellaneous savings, the GOP mockup reads: "Only a Democrat would think you can pick up $350 billion from miscellany."
Joking aside, the document illustrates how Republicans view the proposal and highlights the chasm between the 12-member panel's six Democrats and six Republicans as their Nov. 23 deadline for recommending at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reducion over a decade looms.
Committee members were continuing talks on Thursday.