Tammy on the Super Committee's Failure

Once again in Washington, practical solutions have taken a back seat to an extreme Republican agenda.

The Super Committee could not reach a desperately needed compromise primarily because Republicans gave in to Tea Party leaders like Joe Walsh who have drowned out reasonable voices calling for action.

I am disappointed because the Super Committee's failure means that preserving the Bush tax cuts for super-wealthy Americans were considered more important--and reasonable Pentagon spending reductions a greater threat--than the now-automatic cuts that will hurt everyday Americans.

Greg Sargent may have summed it up best in the Washington Post:

"Democrats wanted the rich to pay more in taxes toward deficit reduction, and Republicans wanted the rich to pay less in taxes toward deficit reduction."

Critical programs that millions of Americans and their families rely on like Supplemental Nutrition for Woman, Infants and Children (WIC), job training and assistance for homeless Veterans will face cut backs in order to maintain the Bush tax breaks for the wealthiest.

Something has to give in Washington, and I intend lead a chorus for common sense to move our country forward in the next Congress.