Conrad-Gregg

Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) yesterday delivered this speech on the Senate floor against the budget commission proposed by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Budget Committee Ranking Republican Judd Gregg (R-NH).  Although it was couched in the polite language typically used on the Senate floor, this absolutely was the Washington equivalent of "Yo mama."

Here's the money quote:

If the Chairman and Ranking Republican Member of the Budget Committee are in such broad agreement on their goals, why don’t they just skip the commission and go straight to their recommendation? That is exactly why Congress created the budget resolution and the reconciliation bill.

In other words, Baucus was saying to his colleagues that, as the senior members of the budget committee, they already have the power to propose changes that will reduce the deficit.  Therefore, if you feel so strongly about this, never mind a commission, just go ahead and do it.  It's your job.