U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner
- Timothy Geithner has served as secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury since 2009. He has also served as the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York before he took on his current cabinet position. Geithner first joined the Department of Treasury in 1988 and in the department has served under three administrations in various roles.
- Geithner, who plans to step down in President Obama’s second term, is leading the fiscal cliff negotiations with Congress on behalf of the White House, which he has said “is a solvable problem.” Geithner has also said of the White House’s proposal, "I think when people look at this and look at it carefully, they'll come to the judgment we reached," which includes a mix of rates and deductions.
- Secretary Geithner met with Congressional Republicans this week to discuss the president’s proposal, including $1.6 trillion in new revenue from letting the Bush tax cuts expire for the wealthiest earners, raising rates on dividends and capital gains, and overhauling the tax code and $25 billion more in stimulus spending. Geithner also proposed Congress give the president more authority over raising the debt ceiling.
- Watch Geithner’s most recent appearance on Meet the Press.
Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN)
- Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) was re-elected to a second term in the U.S. Senate this month. He is a member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, and is the ranking member of the Special Committee on Aging. Corker previously served as the mayor of Chattanooga and as Tennessee’s commissioner of finance and administration.
- Sen. Corker recently wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Post about his own plan to avoid the fiscal cliff which includes capping federal deductions at $50,000 and comprehensive Medicare reform. He wrote, “Kicking the can down the road — setting up a process for token deficit reduction today with the promise of more reforms later — is misguided and irresponsible and shows a total lack of courage. […] Instead of debating a process to employ during future negotiations, let’s choose from the options before us, which are more plentiful and less draconian than they will be down the road.”
- On Libya and the controversy surrounding UN Ambassador Susan Rice, Corker said, “I’m really disgusted with everything from the intelligence to the security to the FBI […] this whole thing really should not be where it is today.” He also said, there were legitimate concerns over Rice’s comments and she sometimes appears to be “more of a political operative than somebody who is the secretary of state, we hold to a very different standard.” However, “I’m not disqualifying her […] if she is nominated, I am going to give her a full hearing.”
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
- Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), who became the first woman to be elected a senator from Missouri in 2006, also won re-election this month. McCaskill sits on the Armed Services Committee, Commerce Committee, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Aging Committee. She has previously served as state auditor, Jackson County prosecutor, and in the state legislature.
- Sen. McCaskill held a news conference this week asserting any deficit deal needs to include spending cuts, tax increases and entitlement reform, and everything else, except increasing the retirement age for Social Security, is negotiable. She said, “I want to remain open so we can find this compromise." But on the issue of the Bush tax cuts, she said, “Republicans need to understand that these tax cuts are going to go away at the end of the year if they don`t get reasonable.”
- McCaskill’s run for re-election was a widely publicized one after her opponent, Republican Rep. Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” comment. McCaskill has said this is indicative of wider issue: “I think the Republican Party has a real problem with women [...] it`s the same problem they had, frankly, with a very extreme position that Congressman Akin expressed.”
- Here is her latest appearance on the show.
Roundtable: Norquist, Van Hollen, Cramer, Bartiromo
- Grover Norquist is the president of Americans for Tax Reform, a group that opposes higher taxes at all levels of government. The ATR asks all candidates running for office to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to oppose all tax increases. The tax pledge has been in the news recently because a number of signatories have backed away from the pledge with the possibility of deficit deal, which the White House insists includes higher taxes. Norquist said, “We have a spending problem, not a failure to raise taxes problem.” Here is his most recent Meet the Press appearance.
- Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) was re-elected to his sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Van Hollen is the ranking member on the House Budget Committee, a position he will retain in the next Congress. He said Republicans are wrong that Democrats are not proposing enough spending cuts to match their revenue concessions. “If you look at the president’s budget it takes exactly that balanced approach that people are calling for,” he said. Watch Rep. Van Hollen’s latest appearance on the show.
- Jim Cramer is the host of CNBC’s Mad Money. On his last Meet the Press appearance, “CEOs have, in many ways, more to lose than everybody,” which is why he foresees them allying with the White House. “The CEOs need [President Obama] because their businesses are going to go down, their stocks are going to go down.”
- Maria Bartiromo is the host of CNBC’s Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo and the managing editor of The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo. In her “Maria’s Observation” this week, looking at how America is viewed in the rest of the world, she said, “Our politicians have made it so a socialist government in France is looking to mimic us and a communist government in China is essentially mocking us. If this isn’t a wakeup call, I don’t know what is.” She is also the author of “The 10 Laws of Enduring Success.” Watch her most recent appearance.
Follow these guests on Twitter:
- Timothy Geithner: @USTreasury
- Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN): @SenBobCorker
- Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO): @clairecmc
- Grover Norquist: @GroverNorquist
- Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD): @ChrisVanHollen
- Jim Cramer: @jimcramer
- Maria Bartiromo: @MariaBartiromo
Also follow @meetthepress for live updates throughout Sunday’s show.
Leave a Comment:
Something completely different one can’t hear on Sunday News shows
“In politics, what begins in FEAR usually ends in folly” Coleridge
I understand what is right and what is wrong, what is good or evil, I understand VIRTUE and I wrote the post on “critical thinking” (see: post 8-12-12 spoact.blogspot.com) so you American people mofo’s better LISTEN to me: “Ike was right” WE THE PEOPLE need to reign in the Military Industrial Complex. The targeted corporate money has turned our Pentagon and CIA into spoiled, entitled flunkies for the war profiteers.
Now that the world knows how our out-of-control military machine tortured Army pfc Bradley Manning for the better part of TWO YEARS, no one will ever trust the USA ever again when it talks about FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, EQUAL RIGHTS and JUSTICE! This is an OUTRAGE at the highest level and needs to be treated as such.
The crazy part of this disturbing story is that Manning was arrested and tortured for exposing/whistle blowing the extreme FUBAR in IRAQ. The “Blackwater” type private security companies, the signature drone killings, the formula used for targeting locals. The SURGE which was nothing more than truck loads full of dollars we just gave away to Iraqi locals not to kill Americans. (they got that strategy from Barbara Bush who had to pay off George W’s school class mates not to beat him up, lol)
The WAR in Iraq was f***ed before it even began. The Bush/Cheney Administration went out of its way to LIE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE to get us in this WAR in the first place… and these CONTROL by AUTHORITY stiffs detain and abuse this HERO who had the guts to stand up to FIX the warped system.
Results are all that matter, the war in Iraq killed and maimed 10’s of 1000’s, almost bankrupted our national economy and those that profited from it are working for foreign Corporations now. The best example of course is Eric Prince “of darkness” of Blackwater fame. After moving to United Arab Emirates to escape prosecution for crimes in Iraq, the Bush crony walked off with BILLIONS of dollars. Prince is now working with the Communist Chinese to starve/kill off most of the good natives peoples in Sub Saharan Africa so they can exploit their natural resources… See article in CSM (you do know people are suffering in Africa, right?)
Nice job Republican voters… The WAR policies during Bush/Cheney are such a miserable mind-numbing FAILURE it will take generations of in-depth study to figure the true cost human suffering and financial devastation. GOP will be remember as the Greedy Oil Pimps for turning our military into the FREE strong-arm hit men for Big Oil interests. The smart people understand the main job of the Pentaon/CIA for the last 40 years was to maximize war profiteer balance sheets. No more…
Our Generals have been too busy carrying on deviant sexual affairs with the “Housewives of Tampa” to notice they’ve become Satan’s handmaiden. I thinks it’s way past time to finish the exorcism of the Pentagon Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin started in the 60’s (read “Soon to be a major motion picture” by Abbie Hoffman or “Armies of the Night” by Norman Mailer)
IT’S ACCOUNTABILITY TIME! We’re just waiting for LAW ENFORCEMENT & the JUSTICE DEPARTMENT to START DOING IT’S JOB. The PEOPLE need to PUSH THE ISSUE and make DEMANDS! Obama/Biden have no reason/excuse to avoid this issue any longer…
I suggest we start our investigations and house cleaning by reading the documents that Bradley Manning forwarded to Wiki-Leaks…
NEXT: “Why are coal burning energy plants going bankrupt?”
AND Congress will probably screw up “Clean Water Act” this week when it looks at permit requirements for water run offs for local government and logging road discharges companies (listen to 12-1-12 “Ring of Fire Radio” with Bobby Kennedy Jr., Mike Papantonio and Sam Seder)
©2012 by SPQR
Maybe Mr. Norquist should try living with the TAXES the SHRINKING MIDDLE CLASS has had to endure. Try putting YOUR children through college when your employer is demanding pay cuts and taxes higher than your billion dollar buddy s.
Meet the Press really provided a socially responsible program this morning. Grover has never had to provide any explanation of his ill-begotten promises and it was refreshing to see him taken to task to provide some background of his intentions. Cramer, right on!! But I think we need even more discussion with THIS panel to cover ALL of the contentious positions so the public can begin to understand the deep divisions and why they exist.
Maria was wrong, however, when she claims everyone UNDERSTANDS that our greatest government outlays are social security, medicare and medicaid--only her audience (CNBC) of less than 300K understands that.
The entitled do not see themselves when they look into the economic mirror, they think the military and the wealthy (who really pay minimal taxes with all of the available write-offs) are the problem. How do you really make the social program recipients (where the masses exist) understand the dilemma? We are at a crux of our social fiber right now, are we capitalistic or socialistic - neither is clear nor is either working.
And, is this bizarre individual known as Grover, responsible or irresponsible with his "no new taxes" campaign by undermining potentially really good Republican candidates who do not agree with his 1980s ideas? My vote is to get rid of this fool and his pledge and get to the hard decisions to make this place a better world for our children.
Maybe Mr. Norquist should try living as one of the SHRINKING MIDDLE CLASS struggling to put food on the table, help put children through college and pay MORE TAXES than his BILLION dollar buddies!!!!!!!!
What is the deal with Medicare and paying in 100k, but paying out 300k? Isn't that how insurance works? We don't pay insurance premiums, what we get out of it. I assume insurance companies are investing those premiums. There in lies the problem, Congress spends it.
Wouldn't they indict an insurance company for that practice? Not having the fiscal responsibilty to invest premiums to cover their insured.
What if everyone paid the same tax rate, no exemptions, no deductions, no loophole? Wait, that wouldn't work, it'd be fair. Nevermind.
For discussion say there is a 25% flat tax:
Earning $250,000 per year . . .
$250,000 * 0.25 flat tax = $62,500
$250,000 - $62,500 = $187,500
$187,500 = plenty to live
Working at $10.00 per hour = $20,800
$20,800 * 0.25 = $5,200
$20,800 - $5,200 = $15,600
$11,170 = poverty level for one person
Doesn't quite seem fair to me.
For discussion, say there is a 25% flat tax:
Earning $250,000 per year . . .
$250,000 * 0.25 flat tax = $62,500
$250,000 - $62,500 = $187,500
$187,500 = plenty of money to live.
Working at $10.00 per hour = $20,800 per year @ 40 hours week.
$20,800 * 0.25 = $5,200
$20,800 - $5,200 = $15,600
$11,170 = poverty level for one person.
That is a mighty thin line from poverty. A flat rate for all doesn't seem fair to me.
Who pays Grover and why don't you ask him where his funding comes from? If he is supported by the largest business concerns, and I suspect that is where almost all his financial support comes from, he should be stating that. His sentence should begin, my client, xyz say....."blah, blah, blah,".
Why do you have some like Grover and not a serious Republican who can have a reasonable right position. It appears like Meet the Press is trying to create unreasonable discussion to increase rating, but in my opinion this type of discussion turns off viewers to Meet the Press.
If, before his first election, Bob Corker had been properly investigated he would never been elected and not on any committee! Lots of Dirt.
If, before his first election, Bob Corker had been properly investigated he would never been elected and not on any committee! Lots of Dirt.
Next time you see Grover, ask who pays him?
Ask Corker about the Harold Ford Jr. Ad by the RNC that took Corker from 20% to 80% favor over the last two weeks before the first election that placed him into office. The people supporting Ford should have done a through background check on this clown.
Death Race 2000 or 2012? Grover Norguist must have been council on Death Race 2000. And the Republicans signing this Pact of Treason, lead by Boehner, must have been driving the cars that run down the elderly for Prize Points / Money.
1. These Extremist continue to call Social Security and other services that are PAID into through payroll deductions, Entitlements. WRONG.
2. These Extremist want to keep their millions, more then likely stolen, and take away paid into Social Security and Medicare / Medicaid for the Elderly, Poor, and Disadvantaged. DEATH by ATTRITION. Republican Response - Problem Solved and we in the 1% get money owed to others through their paid in payroll deductions.
3. They including Alexander and Corker intentionally blocked jobs to make the sitting President look bad. Pass Forward. @rathbonr
The Truth about Who has really blocked jobs and destroyed our economy over the last four years Nationwide. 2200 Jobs BLOCKED! This is a real time fight by a real person who has lost his life savings trying to bring 2200 Jobs to Tennessee. Not 5th person hear say. I am independent voting Democrat. Anyone who wants to argue against my real time experience with these partisan politicians has the same mindset that argues a ton of iron weighs more than a ton of feathers. Not enough character spaces for detail.
Tennessee Republican Politicians Intentionally Blocked 2200 + Jobs Through the Obama Reinvestment Act by Refusing to Go as My Advocate before the Committee In DC and Petition for those Jobs! This is well documented and their covert actions to block Elected President Obama Job efforts in every Republican held state; financial treason, terrorism, and an active conspiracy.
March 19, 2009. I was picked by a cartel of auto manufacturers for these two grants totaling one billion dollars!
Help assist the Nation in this 2012 State and Presidential election with my real time information in 5 PDF files I would like you to see. If I had room to post here You would understand the importance to Citizen USA and the middle class in the 2012 Election.
Summary of Republicans Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, Phil Rowe, and Steve Southerland: They effectively blocked greater than 2200 initial jobs to East Tennessee and the region. I do not have the character spaces to print here the individual actions of the following politicians. A Summarized Semi-Quote Paraphrased derived from comments out of the four offices or individuals: We are a Republican State. We will always be a Republican state. We intend to vote him out of office in the 2012 election and we are not about to allow that Black Muslim Democrat to receive credit for 2200 jobs in Tennessee. Make a difference, Pass forward. @rathbonr
When the Corker office was recently asked about this and the 2200 jobs by an under cover investigative reporter the comment was that the grant Funds delivered to me did not fit their idea of what the 2010 Federal budget should be. This started on March 19, 2009. In 2010 I met with a Bob Corker Representative for almost 4 hours. I pointed out that they were in talks over the 2010 budget and to ask Elected President Obama to Resubmit the Reinvestment Act and make sure I was at the top of the line for those grants. Two weeks later I saw him and other TN Republicans along with many other Republicans saying to President Obama, Where are those jobs you promised? Latter I learned of the Republican Pact to make every effort to block jobs and economic growth under President Obama so their partisan party might gain stronger control of the nation. So, Tennessean, take that and think about the job you do not have. Take that and consider what one billion dollars of infusion into the region would have done for the regional economy. Make a difference, Pass forward. @rathbonr
Pledge signers should be charged with a violation of the Code of Ethics for Government service, which states “Make no private promises of any kind binding upon the duties of office …” House Concurrent Resolution No. 175, July 11, 1958, 72 Stat. B12, provided for a Code of Ethics for all Government employees, including officeholders.
The House Ethics Manual at Page 20 (w.ethics.house.gov) states in part “The Code of Ethics for Government Service was adopted as a concurrent resolution expressing the “sense of Congress,” rather than as a statute. This Committee has concluded, however, that the ethical precepts set forth in this code “represent continuing traditional standards of ethical conduct to be observed by Members of the House at all times…Formal charges may be brought against Members of the House for violating this Code."
The Senate Ethics Manual at Page 436 (w.ethics.senate.gov) states in part “The Code of Ethics for Government Service, passed by Concurrent Resolution on July 11, 1958, is also specifically listed in the Committee’s Rules as a source of jurisdiction for the Committee under S. Res. 338. It sets out ten broadly worded standards that should be adhered to by all government employees, including officeholders…A violation of this code has not, to date, been used as a basis for Senate disciplinary action, although the House has disciplined its Members for violations of the code on several occasions."
"Formal charges may be brought against Members of the House for violating this Code."
Sure, and they are going to vote themselves a pay cut, also. I understand they are also changing their retirement health coverage to Medicare. If you believe that, you might think a ton of iron weighs more than a ton of feathers.
Keep up the fight, though.
Cramer right on! Maria, no credibility, total waste of air time. We as Americans in the end will solve this.
Mr. President Barack Obama I strongly request that you bring the Republicans in the House and Senate to the public and make them discuss detail specifics in layman’s terms of what they offer to the citizens of the United States. I strongly request that you do the following and I think that the major majority of the United States of America would agree. Please,
Because STARTING march 09, 2009 forward, Tennessee Republicans blocked and are blocking 2200 jobs in East Tennessee that were brought to the state by me via a cartel of auto manufacturers through the Obama Reinvestment Act for an EV battery cell manufacturing facility and a rare earth materials refining facility these Republicans bankrupted me and I now seek work. Pass Forward. @rathbonr
I'd like someone on the show to just mention why these tax cuts are expiring in the fist place. Bush could not get his tax cuts through permanently because he could not pay for them with cuts. That's why they has to be adopted as temporary. Bush pushed the cuts through because he knew that short term stimulus works. You have to prime the well if you want the water to flow.
Why was Rep. Chris Van Hollen wearing an earpiece druing this mornings Meet The Press discussion? The camera actually caught him pushing it in and when he turned his head, you could see the wire along his neck? Cant he stand on his two feet without being told what to say?
I believe Mr. Geithner would better serve his office and the country if he were to make his case to a joint session of congress - and not on TV with David Gregory. Talk about theater!! Meaningful compromise from all sides should be demanded in the proper venue.
And can Senators McCaskill and Corker and Representative VanHollen please just get back to the office to focus on their jobs rather than wasting time responding to an irrelevant character like Grover Norquist?
David, can you at least ACT like an informed journalist and correct a guest on your show that clearly mis-states the facts? I was floored that on your show on 12/2, NO ONE corrected your guest, Maria from CNBC when she stated that everyone should care about the tax rates on dividend income because it affects pension plans and 401(k)s - the two of which are specifically EXEMPTED from current taxation. This type of misinformation should not be allowed to go unchallenged on the longest running news show in the world. Tim Russert must be rolling in his grave (rest his soul).
Maria said
"And dividend taxes are not a rich tax, nor are capital gains. You’re talking about pension funds, 401(k) plans, investments in companies that pay dividends. If you’re expecting a dividend tax to go from 15 percent to 44 percent, that completely removes the opportunity or the incentive to buy dividend-paying companies."
In fact, 401(k) plans and pension funds do not pay taxes. The income from dividends is eventually taxed at the beneficiary's marginal tax rate when he/she receives a pension payment or 401(k) withdrawal. She lost a lot of credibility with me on this. She is just another right-wing talking head disguised as a journalist.