The idea that we’re going to get some sort of ‘grand bargain’ negotiation completed or frankly even started in the next eight weeks sounds basically ridiculous. And as important as ridiculous, simply unnecessary. In the short to medium term, the country’s fiscal gap is shrinking and despite House Republicans adding to the debt load by marginally increasing the costs of borrowing by the Defundo stunt, things are moving in the right direction. But given where we are, both politically and economically, the starting point for any grand bargain discussions needs to be a one for one formula between cuts and new revenue. And that means net new revenue. The earlier discussions were on the basis of zany 10:1 ratios and even then Republican leaders couldn’t actually get their caucuses to agree to any new revenue at all.
A big, sprawling criminal investigation into various aspects of Wisconsin politics yet no one can talk about it. Here’s what’s going on.