Partisan Deficit Reduction.  Chris Beam thinks we might be
better off with a partisan effort to reduce the deficit:   Kevin
Drum notes that the filibuster is a pretty big obstacle to this,
which is true, but it's worth noting (again) that the last two
major deficit-reduction packages have been partisan affairs. The
Omnibus Budget Act of 1993 and the Affordable Care Act were
passed over unanimous Republican objection in the House and
Senate. When it comes to deficit reduction, the dynamic isn't
"Democrats and Republicans can't agree," it's that Republicans
have no interest in working to reduce the deficit, even when
they stand to benefit by cooperating.  At some point, Washington
observers will notice the fact that the GOP only cares about the
deficit when they can blame Democrats for it (after devoting
their time in power to ruining the nation's finances). When it
comes to actually reducing the deficit, Republicans are complete
no shows.  -- Jamelle Bouie  You need to be logged in to
comment.