After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

Calling for a balanced approach, President Barack Obama on Friday reiterated his proposal to reduce spending and raise taxes while increasing the nations debt ceiling. Running up against an Aug. 2 deadline on the debt ceiling, Obama asked Republicans to offer their plan within the next 24-to-36 hours. If we cant do the big deal, lets at least try to get a down payment on deficit reduction and send a signal we are serious, Obama told a press conference at the White House.

President Barack Obama will hold an 11 a.m. news conference at the White House to discuss debt-ceiling and deficit negotiations after meetings with congressional leaders ended Thursday without an agreement. Obama who, as a senator, opposed any increase in the debt limit, wants the ceiling raised, and he has proposed a series of tax increases to attack the deficit.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney signed a letter to President Barack Obama insisting that the federal government continue to keep funding Medicaid, Social Security and military and veterans benefits and salaries even if the debt ceiling is not increased by Aug. 2.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio took aim at fellow Democrat President Barack Obama on Thursday. President Obama has -- against all promises -- just put Social Security cuts on the table, noted Kucinich who ran against Obama for his partys presidential nomination back in 2008. This is not a compromise. It's caving to the corporate special interests who want to keep their handouts while dismantling Social Security. We need to stand up and tell President Obama that Social Security is not a political pawn -- it's a lifeline for millions of seniors.