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A CBS news poll conducted over the weekend found that Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of the way Congress is handling debt ceiling negotiations. Republicans earned a 71% disapproval rating, and Democrats fared only slightly better, with 58% of respondents laying blame on that party. Opinion on the President was nearly split, with 43% approving of his role in the talks, and 48% disapproving. According to the poll 66% of Americans are confident an agreement on the debt ceiling will be reached by the August 2nd deadline. No agreement has been reached between House Republicans and the Obama administration despite daily meetings over the past week. Today, the negotiations are expected to be put on pause, and the House and Senate will introduce competing plans in their respective chambers. House Republicans are expected to bring their so-called “cut, cap and balance” plan to committee. It would raise the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion, while requiring that future spending be capped at a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product. It also includes the creation of a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. Senate Democrats and Republicans have reportedly come together to propose an alternative plan that would allow a moderate increase in the debt ceiling, accompanied by some spending cuts.

GUEST: Jane Hamsher, is the founder of firedoglake.com. Her work has also appeared on The Daily Beat, Common Dreams, AlterNet, The Nation and The American Prospect.

FireDogLake.com is encouraging people to visit their members of Congress to oppose cutting the social safety net on Tuesday July 19th, 2011. RSVP for July 19th at http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/
safetynet-meetings?source=web&subsource=JHpost.

Read Jane Hamsher’s latest article: https://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/08-3

Read Hamsher’s earlier article about Obama’s agenda on benefits cuts here: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/05/10/
obama-packs-debt-committee-with-supportes-of-social-security-benefit-cuts-and-privatization/