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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Is a 'Great Debate' Finally Beginning?

    Last week, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan said the Republicans' plan to reduce the deficit would restructure entitlement programs and cut taxes. Yesterday, President Obama said he'd reduce the deficit by increasing taxes on the richest Americans and keeping entitlement programs as they are.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Last week, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan said the Republicans' plan to reduce the deficit would restructure entitlement programs and cut taxes. Yesterday, President Obama said he'd reduce the deficit by increasing taxes on the richest Americans and keeping entitlement programs as they are. But each plan carries risks for the author as well as the opposition, and both parties are struggling to maintain a united front. In the last two days before a two-week recess, is Congress setting the stage for compromise or a bloody political battle leading to next year's elections?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    President Obama Addresses Entitlements
    1. 0:00Presidential Campaigns Get Going
    2. 7:32Is a 'Great Debate' Finally Beginning?You’re reading this
    3. 43:35States Seek to Ban Undercover Videos of Farm Abuse
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      James Oliphant

      Chicago Tribune

    • KCRW placeholder

      Avik Roy

      Bipartisan Policy Center / Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity

    • KCRW placeholder

      Ezra Klein

      Vox

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    President Obama Addresses Entitlements
    1. 0:00Presidential Campaigns Get Going
    2. 7:32Is a 'Great Debate' Finally Beginning?You’re reading this
    3. 43:35States Seek to Ban Undercover Videos of Farm Abuse
    Back to To the Point