It’s really, really important that you call Congress Tuesday:
Somehow finding time between their On Air with Ryan Seacrest appearances and Top Chef: Just Desserts guest judging, Federal Deficit Commission Co-Chairs and heartthrobs du jour Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson will take DeficitMania to Washington, D.C. this week. Today they resumed negotiations with the panel’s commissioners.Tomorrow the two will hold a press conference at 3:30 to update reporters on the negotiationsand just how much of your retirement will be spent reheating last night’s Ragu-and-Ramen Surprise. On Wednesday the commission will hold a public meeting as it holds a final vote on the details of its final recommendations.
People who have been briefed on the state of negotiations tell HuffPost Hill that the commissioners are within striking distance of the 14 of 18 votes needed for passage. The Simpson-Bowles plan put out recently is being blended with Jan Schakowsky’s progressive alternative and a third plan from deficit hawks Paul Ryan and Alice Rivlin.
