Dems worry Budget Chair's compromise plan could shift debate to the right

WASHINGTON – A new budget proposal being drafted by the top Democrat on the Senate budget committee has the party concerned that it could weaken their negotiating position and shift the debate to the right.

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), who is retiring next year, announced Tuesday that he's preparing a budget plan that aims to cut $4 trillion from federal spending over ten years, in a way that mirrors the White House fiscal commission. Though short on specifics, it seeks to protect Medicare while achieving $1 trillion in savings through tax reforms, presumably by eliminating loopholes and deductions rather than raising rates.

The blueprint is notably more conservative than the plan President Barack Obama laid out in response to the House GOP proposal. Democrats privately fear that it could become the left foil to the Republican measure, establishing their flank much further to the right than they'd like it to be, and pave the way for a very conservative centrist compromise.

Democratic aides griped to The Huffington Postthat the proposal may get tagged as the party's official position, with no certainty of winning Republican support or even passing out of committee.

"He's going to be a man without a country," one Democratic aide said.

"He's setting this out like it's the official Democratic position," said another.

The North Dakota Democrat revealed his intentions to the media Tuesday, as reports said the secretive "Gang of Six" talks between bipartisan senators seeking to forge a budget deal were collapsing.

The battle comes as the United States fast-approaches its debt ceiling, and amid a backdrop of a massive budget shortfall. The debt limit and budget debates have hardened conventional wisdom in the Beltway that huge spending cuts are the way to reduce the deficit.

The vigorous anti-spending proclivities of the tea party would likely motivate Republicans to push back against Conrad's budget in favor of a more conservative alternative.

Progressives, meanwhile, are aiming to capitalize on the blowback to the House GOP budget that slashes Medicare, and push hard for the best deal they can get. For them, the fear is that Conrad may be outflanking them before the game even begins.