Senators consider automatic tax hikes if revenue falls short

This is exactly how sequestration happened. Congress couldn't agree on a budget, so they passed a law that created a "special working group" to sort the shit out, and if they couldn't come up with a budget by a designated deadline, then the automatic cuts across the board to all programs, to defense and other, would take place. Both sides said that they would never allow such severe and nonspecific cuts to happen as the effects would really hurt defense and the social programs. But lo and behold, no agreement was reached, as the republicans refused to allow any raises on the rich's taxes, even when the dems offered a greater amount of spending cuts. and the sequestration kicked in and has been in place for years now. It is the complete lack of an ability to govern and compromise that has caused this.

Unfortunately, we are in the same situation today. The republicans, just as they did with healthcare, have made no effort to develop a plan that compromises with the dems so that the bill can get bipartisan support. Instead, they have worked to try and pass something, anything, that will get 50 votes, not even a majority of their own party, and let the VP break the tie. They desparately want tp pass anything at all so they can put a "win" on the board, whether it actually turns out to be a win for the American people or not.

And now, because the republicans, who for years have refused to pass any Obama bill that raised the deficit, are poised to pass a bill that will add over a trillion dollars to it. They all know it will, but it won't before next years election which is all they care about. So they come up with this ridiculous plan to automatically raise taxes when the deficit hits (which they all know it actually will). But they will be able to say that they didnt vote to raise taxes, it was automatic and not their fault. Just like they claim that they never voted to cut defense spending, it was the sequestration's fault.

This is simply sequestration II. And just like healthcare, if this tax cut bill actually reduced taxes for the middle class and was deficit neutral, then everybody would vote for it and it would pass easily. But it doesn't, they know it, and they are groping for any way to squeeze it through.

I say the trigger should be to congressional officials pay. Staffers also should be included. Then start with the budget of the youngest department say cut 30 % right off the bat. Then go for that sex abuse slush fund.

I believe that's called passing a bill into a law... or in this case making a budget, something that hasn't been done in over 9 years now. They got one job to do and they can't even do that. They should pass an amendment that they can't pass any other law or resolution until they have a budget in place each year.