It's the time of year again for budgets, as President Obama and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), chairman of the House Budget Committee, prepare to release dueling budget proposals that will frame the election year political battlefield, The Hill reports.
"One year later, Ryan is showing he can adjust after taking a punch, which would be a good thing, as the president is going to present his fiscal 2013 budget next Monday... The Wisconsin Republican has partnered with Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) on a new proposal that could inoculate Republicans from last year's political hits. The Ryan-Wyden approach on Medicare closely resembles GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney's proposal. Including it in the House budget would align congressional Republicans with their likely standard-bearer in 2012."
"The move would also give politically vulnerable GOP members more cover going into the elections. House Democrats, aware of the change in the political dynamic, have privately grumbled over Wyden's decision to partner with Ryan... Passing the non-binding budget measure is a must for House Republicans, who have ripped Senate Democrats for not passing a budget resolution in more than 1,000 days."