Manu Raju reports that Republican lawmakers seem open to compromise on the question of raising revenue as part of a larger budget agreement. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) makes an important if obvious point:
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) suggested Romney’s stance on revenues could shift if he’s elected and deficit talks pick up steam.
“There is such a thing as a negotiating [tactic] — you don’t negotiate against yourself,” said Cornyn, a member of GOP leadership. “And you don’t start with your final offer.”
The Obama years have seen significant movement among Republicans on coverage expansion, taxes, and public sector reform. The groundwork for these shifts had been laid earlier on, yet the scale of the 2008 defeat did contribute to a broader rethinking, of which Rep. Paul Ryan’s efforts have been a significant part. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.