Debt deal must have revenue increases

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

July 12 Readers' letters

Debt deal must have revenue increases

Republican House Speaker John Boehner has stalled the deficit talks (Page A6, July 10).

The Democrats' plan was roughly $2 trillion in spending cuts (mandatory and discretionary), $1 trillion in revenues, and $1 trillion in lower interest payments.

Boehner's call for a smaller package 1) repeats their attempt to accept spending cuts and avoid the revenues; and 2) is a setup for a short-term debt ceiling increase to force a repeat negotiation later to get even more spending cuts and no revenues.

Whatever the size of this deal, it must include revenue increases. We Americans cannot tolerate being played this way, with everyone sacrificing except for the wealthiest and Big Oil.

Bruce Preville
RESULTS Volunteer Los Gatos