Let’s see. Republicans are trying to save us all from the phony deficit "crisis". So, they announce this:

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, drove the point home as soon as the Senate convened by announcing that he would support a proposed ban on Congressional earmarks, reversing his longtime practice of avidly pursuing money for his state.

“Old habits aren’t easy to break, but sometimes they must be,” said Mr. McConnell, who in the past had boasted about the tens of millions of dollars he steered home.

   The cost of earmarks is tiny compared to this:

Obama supports extending the tax cuts for the middle class, but raises a deficit objection for Americans who make more than $200,000 a year, and couples who make more than $250,000.

"I believe it is a mistake for us to borrow $700 billion to make tax cuts permanent for millionaires and billionaires," Obama said. "It won’t significantly boost the economy, and it’s hugely expensive. So we can’t afford it."

   McConnell is right: old habits aren’t easy to break…like robbing the American people to pay off the richest one percent. It’s a habit Republicans can’t break.