Распад на прошлой неделе «бригады шести», которая работала над заключением сделки по бюджету с начала года, был воспринят рынком как мрачный предвестник. Шансов на заключение сделки остается все меньше.
И вот на этой неделе к решению этой проблемы подключился вице-президент Байден, на которого возлагаются особые надежды, поскольку у него сформировались отношения со многими влиятельными парламентариями за 36 лет его работы в качестве сенатора.
Могут ли участники переговоров по бюджету США найти общий язык?
Фактическая сторона переговоров
AREAS OF AGREEMENT
These steps were proposed in both Obama's budget and the House Republican budget, which was drafted by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan.
* CAP ANNUAL SPENDING. Limit the growth of discretionary programs, such as law enforcement, space exploration and the military, that Congress approves each year.
Savings: $580 billion to $1.589 trillion.
* REVISE PENSION INSURANCE. Allow the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to set higher pension-insurance premiums for companies that are less financially sound.
Savings $5 billion to $10 billion.
* REDUCE FARM SUBSIDIES.
Savings: between $5 billion and $30 billion
* TORT REFORM to limit the amount of money that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
Savings: up to $60 billion.
* SCALE BACK STUDENT-LOAN SUBSIDES, which would require graduate students to pay interest on their loans.
Savings: $20 billion to $65 billion.
* AUCTION ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM LICENSES, freeing up underused frequencies for mobile broadband Internet.
Savings: $25 billion.
* SELL EXCESS FEDERAL PROPERTY no longer needed by the government. Savings: $10 billion to $15 billion.
* REDUCE MEDICAL FRAUD AND OVERPAYMENTS. Savings: $10 billion to $50 billion.
Total savings: $655 billion to $1.84 trillion.
OTHER POSSIBLE SAVINGS:
REPEAL TAX BREAKS FOR BIG OIL COMPANIES. Republicans defeated this proposal in the Senate, but Democrats say they will push to include it in the deficit-reduction plan.
Savings: $32 billion.
SCALE BACK RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR FEDERAL WORKERS. This measure was not included in Obama's budget proposal, but it's reportedly on the table in the Biden group's discussions. It could be a tough sell for many Democrats.
Savings: $65 billion to $120 billion.
CHANGE THE WAY INFLATION IS MEASURED. Doing so would have the effect of slowing the growth of benefit payments in Social Security and other benefit programs, but it would stir fierce opposition from powerful interest groups.
Savings: $255 billion.
Total savings: $352 billion to $407 billion.
STUMBLING BLOCKS
HEALTHCARE. The Ryan plan would partially privatize the Medicare health program for retirees and scale back the Medicaid health plan for the poor by giving states more control over how it was administered. It also would repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act, Obama's signature health reform law.
Those moves would save $2.2 trillion, but Democrats are already campaigning against them as the 2012 election season gets underway.
Obama has proposed accelerating Medicare cost savings in the Affordable Care Act and would save Medicaid money by streamlining the formula for giving federal funds to states. He would also allow the government to use its purchasing power to negotiate lower costs on prescription drugs.
That measure would save $480 billion, though Republicans aren't likely to offer support because it would require keeping the divisive Affordable Care Act in place.
TAXES. The two parties differ sharply here as the Ryan plan would raise $1.8 trillion less in revenue than Obama's February budget.
The Ryan plan would lower the top individual tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent, while Obama would boost it to 39.6 percent. The Affordable Care Act also raises taxes on dividends and capital gains for the wealthiest by 3.8 percent.
Lawmakers in both parties support reducing exemptions and loopholes, but Democrats say it should lead to an overall increase in revenue, while Republicans say the total tax burden should not rise.
Kyl said low-income Americans, who currently do not pay federal income taxes, should have to pay at least a nominal amount. Democrats are not likely to back that idea.
