Launched as part of the mid-October agreement to reopen the government, the budget conference is attempting to reconcile the House and Senate budgets passed by the respective chambers earlier in the year. The talks have progressed slowly, however, as negotiators have quickly run into the same partisan disagreements that have plagued similar high-stakes budget talks of the past few years. Indeed, in the first meeting, Ryan wasted no time taking tax increases off the table, which led to an immediate clash with Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who is insisting that the closing of egregious tax loopholes be part of the package.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 18:48:40 +0000