FT.com / US / Politics & Foreign policy - Democrats seen wavering ahead of budget votes

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By James Politi in Washington

Published: March 8 2011 18:35 | Last updated: March 8 2011 18:35

The US Senate was gearing up for two symbolic votes on the budget, amid signs that some moderate Democrats are wavering over their party’s position, which could weaken the White House’s hand in the negotiations.

In a speech on the floor of the upper chamber on Tuesday, Joe Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat running for re-election next year, said both his party’s proposal to cut $10.5bn from current spending levels, and the Republican plan to slash $61bn in government programmes, were “partisan and unrealistic”.
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Of the Democratic plan, Mr Manchin said it “ignores our fiscal reality, our nation is badly in debt and spending is at unsustainable levels”. He also attacked President Barack Obama: “Why are we doing all this when the most powerful person in these negotiations — our president — has failed to lead this debate or offer a serious proposal for spending and cuts that he would be willing to fight for?”

Of the Republican proposal, Mr Manchin said it “blindly hacks the budget with no sense of our priorities or our values as a country”.

Both plans were expected to be rejected in procedural votes in the Senate on Tuesday, but the extent to which there are defections from party lines on both sides could offer a glimpse of who has the upper hand in the budget talks.

The White House and congressional leaders need to find common ground on the nature and level of spending by March 18, or face a partial shutdown of the federal government.


FT.com / US / Politics & Foreign policy - Democrats seen wavering ahead of budget votes