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Geithner’s visit to his office left McConnell discouraged about reaching a “balanced” deal on tax hikes and spending reductions designed to prevent a shock to the economy in January. “Nothing good is happening” in the negotiations, McConnell says, because of Obama’s insistence on tax rate hikes for the wealthy but unwillingness to embrace serious spending cuts.

Geithner suggested $1.6 trillion in tax increases, McConnell says, but showed “minimal or no interest” in spending cuts. When congressional leaders went to the White House three days after the election, Obama talked of possible curbs on the explosive growth of food stamps and Social Security disability payments. But since Geithner didn’t mention them, those reductions appear to be off the table now, McConnell says.

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Nothing spurs growth like 1.6 trillion in new taxes

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So you want growth, less taxes, and deficit reduction all at once? Seems illogical.

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Oh yeah and I read somewhere else, but I cant find it now , that an insider was claiming that one of the plans floating around actually has spending increases in it

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I realize you need to stay in character but bottom line is we don't pay down our debt during growth periods, otherwise Keynesian economics would be taken as gospel.

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