washingtonpost.com
Gang of Eight emerges
As the time table to raise the national debt ceiling approaches, both parties understand the need to do so in order for the economy to continue to recover, but both parties are also looking for a strong measure to cut the deficit and debt levels the country has. Emerging from the ongoing discussions between the leaders of congress is a group so-titled the "Gang of Eight." Not to be confused with the Gang of Eight leaders of congress, this Gang has been highlighted by party leaders as the best chance the country has at reducing the deficit.
The group has four members from the democrats and four members from the the republicans. The Democrats are: Senators Nicole Kershaw (D-CA), Dante Jenkins (D-NJ), Joseph Rathburn (D-CT) and Hayden Straus (D-OH). The Republicans are: Robert Cantina (R-AK), Bill Armstrong Jr. (R-CO), James Lancaster (R-KY), and Caroline Dempsey (R-ME). Today, the group came forward and openly announced it's plans to spend the next few weeks focused on finding a bipartisan compromise to solving the deficit problems.
Both sides have members representing all the different ideological positions of their parties. The democrats have Kershaw and Straus, both big time liberals, along with Jenkins and Rathburn, who have been advocating for a deficit plan since President Bartlet left office. Republicans have the "Mainstreet Republican Coalition" chairman and vice-chairwoman Armstrong and Dempsey, along with staunch conservatives in Cantina and Lancaster. The group said they hope to have a plan ready to present by the end of June and get a plan passed well before the August recess.
Gang of Eight emerges
As the time table to raise the national debt ceiling approaches, both parties understand the need to do so in order for the economy to continue to recover, but both parties are also looking for a strong measure to cut the deficit and debt levels the country has. Emerging from the ongoing discussions between the leaders of congress is a group so-titled the "Gang of Eight." Not to be confused with the Gang of Eight leaders of congress, this Gang has been highlighted by party leaders as the best chance the country has at reducing the deficit.
The group has four members from the democrats and four members from the the republicans. The Democrats are: Senators Nicole Kershaw (D-CA), Dante Jenkins (D-NJ), Joseph Rathburn (D-CT) and Hayden Straus (D-OH). The Republicans are: Robert Cantina (R-AK), Bill Armstrong Jr. (R-CO), James Lancaster (R-KY), and Caroline Dempsey (R-ME). Today, the group came forward and openly announced it's plans to spend the next few weeks focused on finding a bipartisan compromise to solving the deficit problems.
Both sides have members representing all the different ideological positions of their parties. The democrats have Kershaw and Straus, both big time liberals, along with Jenkins and Rathburn, who have been advocating for a deficit plan since President Bartlet left office. Republicans have the "Mainstreet Republican Coalition" chairman and vice-chairwoman Armstrong and Dempsey, along with staunch conservatives in Cantina and Lancaster. The group said they hope to have a plan ready to present by the end of June and get a plan passed well before the August recess.