In closed door negotiations between Republicans and the White House, details are being hammered out on the compromise everyone knew would be coming. But what a compromise! And to some, more indications of a disturbing trend in government.
In exchange for extended unemployment benefits (more deficit), with the added cost of a new Democrat handout of a $400 tax rebate for single workers and $800 for couples, (more deficit) the Republicans will get their extension on lower taxes (more deficit). As always, even those who pay nothing to the IRS will get the handout of US taxpayer dollars.
Also, in order to garner Republican support for ratification, Obama has thrown his arms reduction treaty into the mix (lowered national security).
Immediately following Obama's talks with Congressional Republicans, Democrats insisted on voting on a legislation that would prevent taxes from being raised on lower and middle class people. They knew it was a waste of time, that it had no chance of passing the Senate, but did so anyway in order to register their displeasure with Obama.
Obama has long said that the tax cuts to the wealthy are detrimental to our fiscal health, and unwarranted, but has recently indicated that he will surrender his position, and no longer fight those tax cuts in exchange for other items that are higher in his agenda.
Even thought the Democrats still have majorities in both the House and Senate, it is unlikely that they will be able to pass any meaningful legislation concerning unemployment without the aid of their Republican counterparts.