BREAKING GOP Offer- Long Term Debt Ceiling Increase ONLY if Senate Passes Budget

Finally a good strategy.  Instead of demanding dollar for dollar budget cuts/increase in debt ceiling, the GOP is taking a short-term approach with a clear offer that can't be refused without the Democrats looking bad.  They offering to extend the debt ceiling to April 15th (the deadline for houses of congress to pass budge) but they WILL NOT consider a debt ceiling increase until the Senate passes a budget (despite the Law the Senate has passed a budget for four years).

I just received this press release from Paul Ryan's office:

Earlier today, House Republicans announced a path forward on the nation’s near-term budget challenges. The 1974 Congressional Budget Act requires passage of a budget resolution by April 15 each year. Under Senator Harry Reid’s leadership, the Senate has refused to pass a budget for 1,360 days. As the Administration and Congress work through opportunities to cut government spending, there will be no consideration of a long-term debt-ceiling increase unless both the House and the Senate pass a long-term budget plan. The plan also includes a bipartisan proposal to withhold Senators’ salaries if they fail to pass a budget.

In response to the plan outlined by House Republican leaders, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan issued the following statement:

“I stand in strong support of the agreement reached by my colleagues today. Our conference has united around a common-sense proposal. It rests on the recognition that our challenge is twofold: We have to pay our bills today, and we have to make sure we can pay our bills tomorrow. To achieve both ends, we must cut spending and budget responsibly.

“Since taking the majority, House Republicans have done their job. We’ve passed a budget that promotes economic growth and gets spending under control. But for nearly four years, Senate Democrats have refused to pass a budget. Today’s agreement will hold the Senate accountable for this legal and moral failure. Just as April 15 is tax day for American families, it is budget day for Congress. Unless the Senate acts, there will be no consideration of a long-term debt-ceiling increase. I look forward to working with my colleagues—in both houses and in both parties—on this vital issue.”

This move highlights the Democratic Party's dereliction of their fiduciary responsibilities, force Senate Democrats to do what the House GOP has already done and lay their fiscal cards out on the table.

How can they say no?  Of course they Just might.