Senate Democrats agreed Sunday on the need to pass a budget, but took a tough talk stance and added the proposal would contain tax hikes difficult for Republicans to digest. But Republicans swatted back the warning with a quip aimed at highlighting the Democrats’ failures to perform.
It’s about time the Democrat-controlled Senate passed a budget, said Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, during an NBC appearance on “Meet the Press.”
“There is no doubt the Senate hasn’t done its job,” he said, in an Associated Press report. “It’s been nearly four years since it’s passed a budget. The Senate should pass a budget.”
The Obama administration has promised a “balanced approach” to fixing the economy, and said the fiscal plan is coming shortly after the inauguration. Also on “Meet the Press” Sunday, Sen. Charles Schumer, New York Democrat, reiterated the budget fix would include higher taxes.
“It’s going to have revenues in it,” Mr. Schumer said. “And our Republican colleagues better get used to that fact.”
The White House maintains tax hikes are a necessity, too.
On an ABC news appearance on Sunday, presidential adviser David Plouffe said Mr. Obama would “only sign a budget deal if it includes new revenues.”
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