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Why Has This Ranking GOP Member Been Left out of ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Negotiations?

Dec. 13, 2012 4:03pm Becket Adams

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R Ala.) Voices Frustrations Over Being Left out of Fiscal Cliff Budget Negotiations | CNN

(Getty Images)

Despite the fact that he’s a ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) claims he has been excluded from the “fiscal cliff” negotiations.

In fact, according to the senator, he knows “almost nothing” about the ongoing talks between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). All he knows is that the “speaker was disappointed and things were not moving forward.”

“The people that are losing in this process — this secret process — are the American people. They will be the ones asked to pay more taxes, they may be the ones asked to tighten their belts, and they need to know what the choices are, and what we are wrestling with,” Sen. Sessions said Wednesday during an interview with CNN’s Ashleigh Banfield.

“I really think the classical understanding of the way Congress should operate is being undermined,” he added. “About the only thing Republicans could have done would be to protest it and fight harder about it. And we have, but I don’t think effectively enough.”

“And we’ve now, at the end, fallen into this trap, I would suggest, of just having secret negotiations. I really wish we could have avoided it, but this was the strategy of the Democratic leadership in the Senate.”

Given the fact that the Alabama senator has long been a staunch opponent of wasteful government spending, and the fact that entitlement reform is one of the two elements involved in the “fiscal cliff,” his frustration with being left out is somewhat understandable.

Just yesterday Sen. Sessions sparred with CNN’s constantly concerned-looking Soledad O’Brien on the need to reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (i.e. food stamps):

“People basically say why are you trying to balance the budget on people who are making under $23,000 a year?” asked the furrow-browed O’Brien.

“I think that range roughly is the national average for what a family of four would get on food stamps. So why not cut something else? There are other things that could be on the table before you pick a program that is feeding the nation’s poor children,” she added.

“No child, no person, who needs food, should be denied that food. Nobody proposes that,” the senator responded. “But we’re talking about an amendment that I offered that would have reduced and closed a loophole of $8 billion, when we would spend $800 billion, was opposed by saying it would help leave people hungry in America.”

“But it would have only eliminated abuses in the program,” he added. “It surely has to have some change.”

And let’s not forget the numerous times the senator’s office has illustrated for us the clear need for spending reform:

In short, leaving Sen. Sessions out of the “fiscal cliff” negotiations is a little like leaving Gen. George S. Patton out of the invasion of Normandy.

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Featured image courtesy Getty Images. This post has been updated.

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Comments (92)

sbenard
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 8:27pm
Another conservative shut out of the GOP.

This is why, when conservative committee chairs were purged last week, I changed my party affiliation online to “UNaffiliated”. Sayonara, GOP.

To quote Amy Holmes last week: “I’m not a Republican. I’m a conservative!” ‘Nuff said!

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- DenverKitty
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 3:29pm
  Republicans, Independents, Tea Party…you must FIGHT Obama!!! He is muddying the waters on every issue!
  
  Report this comment
demorepublicrap
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 7:51pm
Question#1: how long have you been in the senate?
Question#2: do you think every American is stupid?
Question#3: do you think American soldiers are dying for you ? impotent corrupted politician?
Question4: when are you gonna grow a a spine?
Shame, Shame, shamex16000000000000………you must hate your children and grandchildren. You will be part of the history as a looser!

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- SendTheMeteors
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 8:33pm
  He’s excluded because we adults need in the room. His reelection, which is based not on his constituents, but by his rich political donors, is in doubt.
  
  His statement that, “No child, no person, who needs food, should be denied that food. Nobody proposes that…” That’s exactly what he’s proposing. That’s exactly what Ryan proposed, something the electorate rejected.
  
  He says, ““The people that are losing in this process — this secret process — are the American people. They will be the ones asked to pay more taxes, they may be the ones asked to tighten their belts, and they need to know what the choices are, and what we are wrestling with…”
  
  Actually Democrats have introduced legislation to not raise taxes on 98% of Americans – to let Bush’s temporary tax cut on the richest only. When he says “the American people” he’s not talking about most Americans, which is what President Obama has proposed, he’s talking about the top 2% of Americans.
  
  Report this comment
- Zipit
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:03am
  Honestly Meteors! Are you really that stupid? It seems that all you are capable of doing, is regurgitating the same old class warfare crap that flows out of Obama’s trap on a daily basis! Nothing but hate for a group of Americans, you call the 2% who need to pay “their fair share”! Maybe someday you will grow up,become an adult, and realize that nothing in your life is going to get any better by hating these people as much as you do!
  
  Report this comment
TRILO
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 7:20pm
He can not even defend cutting a measly “loophole”. His performance and answer is just one problem with the republicans. The program should be done away with all together. Let the states, cities, counties churches and charities handle their poor. The federal government has no business in the poverty business, especially since DC is the largest contributor to the increase in poverty.

Mr Sessions is nothing but an establishment republican. He gripes on wasteful spending but does not demand the entire elimination of departments. Until I hear a republican calling for the entire elimination of departments like the dept of education, dept of energy, etc, and a call for a complete overhaul of welfare, social security and medicaid they are doing nothing but blowing smoke in our face on the spending issue.

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- Obama Been Lauding
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 5:15am
  Trilo,
  The problem is not that they do not “want” to scale back, or eliminate, some or all of these programs, it is that you have another party, that will go to their 47%+, and they will vote for the “free stuff”, and thus the problem with America.
  There needs to be term limits in Congress, but there again you take the chance of more spending, if the Democrats get in, because they will vote for more spending in the areas you talked about. Throwing good money after bad!!!!
  
  Report this comment
Sickandtiredofextremists
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 7:16pm
R.I.P. America! It’s sad. Never thought I’d live long enough to see it and now it’s coming at us at warp speed. Almost too fast to completely absorb. Damned Liberals/Communists/Marxists! May they rot in Hell!

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- revelation2012
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 8:19pm
  their ‘worm’ will never die in the ‘lake of fire’
  
  Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 7:02pm
All this debt and a new crisis popping up everyday since the maggot munching Marxist mulatto POS was inflicted on Amerika. Eviscerating medicare to prop up medicaid,for you simpletons who voted for the disaster in chief that’s wealth redistribution.Islamisizing our military and killing our coal industry,sounds like a plan to destroy Amerika huh? REVENGE,his anti-colonialism compels him to it.

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wordsofwisdom
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 6:15pm
I can’t understand why all you 51%ters don’t just move to another socialist country it would bo so much easier for you and you could avoid the coming fight over our freedom that you have chosen to throw away in favor of serfdom. Shows how stupid you really are. “The End Times” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10381143
This is your reward, enjoy

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- 1TrueOne55
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 6:39pm
  Immigration Laws in Canada and Mexico are not favorable to moving into those closest Countries. And because in Mexico unless you were born there you can not legally own land there but you can pay taxes like everybody else and they don’t have EIC or other credits for low income families. Socialist countries tax all people equally so moving there would be a worst tax burden than staying in the US.
  
  Report this comment
- macpappy
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 6:54pm
  I just as soon fight, as move.
  
  Report this comment
- lovenfl3
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 7:09pm
  Imagine that! More secret meetings? That’s simply impossible because we have the most transparent President in the history of this great nation. I know because the media keeps telling me it’s so.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92rcPxgopFE
  
  Report this comment
- drs1969
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 11:18pm
  Re: macpappy
  You’re going to get your chance. Maybe you’ll get one or two whiteys. Don’t count on it, if come my way. The odds are stacked in YT’s favor. The sooner we get started, the better.
  
  Report this comment
nothinghere
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:57pm
thats the way o’bama wants it,he has no economic knowledge what so ever,he just wants his agenda to procede.
hopefully theres a tax increase in the negociations,so the house can vote it down,and start over,with the debt ceiling involved also, out in the open,with real numbers,and some realality to the debate.

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- muffythetuffy
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 6:16pm
  ONE MORE REASON TO LEGITIMATELY CONSIDER SECESSION AS AN ONLY LAST OPTION
  
  How can half of the nation continue with this soft tyranny on a daily basis. No divided nation can exist like this and without the Rule of Law all of our lives are in danger. Texas is our only hope now
  
  Report this comment
- macpappy
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 6:57pm
  I think you are putting a lot of faith in the actions of the Republican party. They show no evidence of doing the peoples will. All TEA party members as well as Sessions have been neutered, by “all” the leadership….Ryan too.
  
  Report this comment
foxrocks
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:41pm
That’s because John Bohner, the gutless wonder, is going to surrender to his buddy Barack. All ***** cares about is his speaker job, he is just putting up a front like he cares……Obozo will not negotiate, period, he will send it over the cliff, blame republicans, even though dirty harry and the senate haven’t got a budget together, by the way which is the senates responsiblity in 4 years. They have no intention too.. Spend spend spend, tax tax tax, the democratic way…***** needs to go, we need someone with some kahunas as Speaker, not Mr. I love Barack in there….

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ssbstspd
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:36pm
Its so obvious. When will be stand up.

I do think that its possible to get 15 million patriots to protest on Washington DC. That will be the only way to start. We must show are strength. I wish i had the network to start this but i dont. I would deff love to get involved in a big way though. Blaze lets make history

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- ssbstspd
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:38pm
  ** Its so obvious when will we stand up
  
  Report this comment
- Shasta
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:53pm
  I see this all the time, but didn’t know it was because of the blaze’s pc police. I believe you. Heck, not even the liberal progressive trolls could be that stupid.
  
  Report this comment
- johnpaulkuchtajr
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 6:47pm
  I agree with the 15 million solution.
  
  I reckon that if the Egyptians can do it, why ca’t we?
  
  I’ve noticed that Beck has been very silent about another big confab in DC. I guess that he’s too busy hawking his latest book?
  
  I went to both gatherings in DC and it made me feel good; but, the 51% still re-elected Obama!
  
  “Remember Benghazi and ALL the Traitors!”
  
  Report this comment
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:30pm
Quit re-signing up with a different username and just GO AWAY!! Go bug HuffingPuffing Post, Media Lies Matter, or some other site you annoying leech.

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- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:36pm
  Now, they remove the spammer and I look silly replying to nobody.
  
  Report this comment
- OhioRifleman
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:54pm
  We understand the appearance of schitzophrenia, when it most certainly is not. You are not talking to the walls, and we know it.
  
  I have a habit of leaving humorous replies to his/her messages. Why bother with chewing them out when you can make a running joke out of their posts?
  
  Report this comment
ricklap
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:26pm
My bet is he’s NOT in it because he wants spending cuts.

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JRook
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:21pm
Time for everyone in Washington and most here to grow up and face the reality. The US since the 1980′s has run up $15+ trillion in debt, $10 trillion during Reagan, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. All of that debt resulted from politicians not having the courage to pay as they go. That is either raise revenue or cut spending in the years these deficits occurred. And despite the nonsense you hear, most of the real federal spending goes to military contractors, hospitals, physicians, big pharma, infrastructure contractors and IT companies. Bottom line is it is past spending and revenue shortfalls that are the responsibility of the people who began working after 1980. Not our children and grandchildren through cuts in education and infrastructure and higher taxes and/or fees. It is time to raise revenue and cut taxes to balance the current budget and then impose a 2% VAT tax that is earmarked to paying down the historical debt. The fact that the federal government raided the SS and Medicare trust funds to pay for such political weakness in the past is no reason to demonize those programs. If, like many state and company pension funds, SS and Medicare have been underfunded then that should be fixed. To argue against the necessary revenue or spending cuts to really address the deficit is to identify yourself as either a child or just another political coward.

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- drs1969
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 11:27pm
  There already is a VAT tax, it’s called inflation. Move to Europe, if you want a VAT tax, in addition. They have big juicy ones there.
  
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Small World
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:13pm
Can we all just push Washington over the cliff ???

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- thegreatcarnac
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:18pm
  A really high cliff so none of those traitors can survive the fall.
  
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KidCharlemagne
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:52pm
Jeff Sessions has historically favored throwing away the taxpayer’s money on the federal war on drugs:

FOX News (May 13, 2010): “After 40 years, $1 trillion, US War on Drugs has failed to meet any of its goals”

That’s $1 TRILLION (roughly 1/16th of the entire national debt at present) that Senator Sessions has helped flush down the toilet over the years…..

So why would you allow a historically big spender (such as Senator Sessions) to participate in fiscal cliff negotiations?

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- barber2
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 7:11pm
  Conservatives : Unite or die. KID is just one of the many Dividers whom Obama and the Chicago radical Far Left all love .
  
  Report this comment
- KidCharlemagne
  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 12:24am
  barber2
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 7:11pm
  
  Conservatives : Unite or die. KID is just one of the many Dividers whom Obama and the Chicago radical Far Left all love .
  ============================
  
  $1 Trillion wasted dollars is nothing to sneeze at….
  
  When the dollar collapses, then I’ll be ready……will you?…
  
  Report this comment
neverending
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:31pm
Doesn’t surprise me one bit. One of the very few decent Senators that we have. I fear many more will soon follow Senator DeMints action.

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blankster
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:27pm
In fact, if I remember right General Patton was NOT involved in the actual invasion of Normandy, but rather was held in reserve in England…but your point is a good one nonetheless.

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- ghemminger
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:51pm
  Patton was used as a decoy to convince the Germans we were going to land at Pas de Calais. We wasn’t the main effort commander for Normandy – but was most certainly kept in the loop – but for a beach assault, you don’t need a maneuver commander – you just need Divine Providence, bravery, and a little luck….
  
  Report this comment
icebergslim27
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:26pm
Come on Blaze!!! I like the article, but if you’re going to try an analogy regarding history please do a little fact checking before you write what you thought would be a whitty “zinger”. Gen Patton WAS left out of the Normandy invasion. He was sitting on his rump in England with a fake army.

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barber2
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:23pm
It is sad to see America being destroyed and some Trolls enjoying the destruction .

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- antrancher
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:42pm
  Take some solace in the fact that these people of the entitlement /victim mentality will go down faster than the ones who work and prepare. Sad state of affairs. they are nothing but pawns and are dispensable.
  
  Report this comment
- drs1969
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 11:32pm
  This troll has been looking forward to DC’s demise since 1987 when he learned it was pure evil.
  
  Report this comment
MTSchmidt
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:23pm
our society is falling apart at every seam

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- neverending
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:26pm
  Collapsing from all ends and all around us.
  
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:19pm
Obama will never negotiate, if he is denied what he wants, he will use executive order to seize it once and for all.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:30pm
  I hope so. Get this dumb pretense out of the way that we are actually free in this collective lie.
  
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Cavallo
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:15pm
They’re not even going to give us any lube this time. Bend over, grit your teeth and accept it. This is the new America.

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MDECKER
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:15pm
Ms. O’brien is kinda cute but, dah-umb!

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Canada_Goose
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:13pm
Question to Mr. Adams:
Taxes are going up on everyone if there is no deal reached. So how would including Mr. Sessions, a hardline ideologue, help facilitate a deal?

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- HumbleMan
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:28pm
  Jeff sessions is not an ideologue. If you look up the meaning of that word it means “theorist”. Obama is an ideologue. He acts on theory not on facts.
  
  Senator Sessions is guided by fact and observation, unlike about every member of the Democrat party.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:52pm
  Goosy
  Your pic fits
  
  Report this comment
- Canada_Goose
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 10:39pm
  An ideologue is simply a person who zealously advocates an ideology.
  
  Mr. Sessions never cosponsored a bill with a Democrat. He went against his own President and Mr. Boehner (Minority Leader at the time) on TARP. So he was prepared to let the country fall into depression after the financial crisis rather than go along with his own party on financial policy.
  
  Why would this guy be interested in negotiating with a Democratic president? He probably can’t stand being in the same room with Mr. Obama.
  
  Report this comment
- drs1969
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 11:38pm
  Depression was baked in the cake when the credit bubble collapsed. All they are doing now (until they stop spending more than they take in and Bernanke quits counterfeiting) is stealing from the future to prop things up now. You ain’t fooling me.
  
  Report this comment
soybomb315_II
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:12pm
the GOP is doing the fiscal cliff deal like they did the RNC convention.

In the end, we will be worse off than before and things will be done that are virtually irreversible….

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- Fubared
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:17pm
  At this point, screw em, lets get it over with.
  
  Report this comment
- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:18pm
  Yes, Boehner is certainly pulling some bhoners, that we can agree on. As far as the RNC Convention goes? I stand behind the “Paul / delegate / supporter” biatch slap…
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:19pm
  Bickering with fellow conservatives ! The Chicago radicals love to see that !
  
  Report this comment
- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:21pm
  BARBER2. SOY is NO Conservative…
  
  Report this comment
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:24pm
  barber this is not some left wing conspiracy. The GOP was taken over long ago by progressives. Either clean the system or start a new one…..
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:37pm
  A deal will be reached.. it will suck for everyone not on the special favors list of the administration. Maybe we’ll see a bunch more waivers! They’ll likely try and ease us into the collapse rather than just send us over suddenly. The GOP will fold, not completely, but those parts they don’t fold on will just be delayed and kicked down the road.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 7:07pm
  TIME: you are correct. The ” General-Be-tray-us ” wing of the Far Left has a number of Trolls here. They love to punk conservatives with their so-called ” libertarianism.” They are Left of the Far Left ! Thanks for reminding me. ( There seem to be more of them than ever : guess they have permanent “positions” on the Chicago radical’s Media Write-In Committee !
  
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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 13, 2012 at 7:50pm
  BARBER2. These radicals supposedly hate the left more than they do the right, but they sure do know how to meet them in the circle-jerk more often then not. They sit high atop a self-important and self-aggrandizing hill chastizing both parties but could never make a go of it with there own Party.
  
  They infiltrated the GOP for they saw it as the easier path to insurgent success. But the stench of their diseased racist and anti-Semitic Liberal-tarian isolationist ideology follows them around like limburger cheese in a backpack…
  
  Report this comment
barber2
Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:11pm
The Chicago radicals have no intention of “negotiating ” with the Republicans. The Chicago radicals are just doing their version of the MIC check : bully, obstruct, and blame the other guy. Why should they care about improving our economy ? The Chicago radicals want an angry, impoverished base looking for a scapegoat. Marxists always target the ” rich” to get their proletariat masses up in arms . History is just repeating itself. Unfortunately, many of our young haven’t been taught that history. Poor little tools.

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