joining us now, norman ornstein, resident scholar at the american enterprise institute. we're really getting down to the wire, aren't we. >> you know, with eight days to go, it normal me takes several days to get these kinds of plans into legislative language and have them scored by cdo and then get the votes. so we're all ready with two brand new plans, partisan ones popping up on the table with eight days to go past the point of danger to the point of nail biting. >> susie: let's talk about the two plans. which one of these makes the most economic sense from your point of view. >> well, what i think does not make economic sense is to have a short term extension that would mean we go back to the same kind of elaborate fangango we've been going through with all these craziness. we're at the height of the primary season and all the presidential candidates are being pulled not toward the national interest but a slighter of voters who voted in primary and caucuses. those in congress have their own congressional primaries. that is dangerous in economic terms. neither plan is

then we will end with my colleague norman ornstein, a resident scholar who everyone knows. appropriately, he will tell us after hearing from our other three colleagues, what it all means for politics and policies. that is the game plan. david, kick ass off. >> thank you. thank you brookings for giving d often under lip project. pundits, academics, cartographers, you name it. i am pleased to see some the innards out here in the audience. i definitely am one. redistricting is really one of the only arena is, not the only arena in which it is fair to compare lebron james and dennis kucinich. i do not think he will do any better in terms of winning. i really think examples of how redistricting affects our politics are everywhere around us, even if they're not necessarily part of the news articles that we read on major issues at stake these days. during the medicare fight, i do not think last to anyone could a predicted paul ryan from the state of wisconsin would generate so much attention in coverage this year in terms of the fiscal woes facing the state. i think a lot of the a

here's what norman ornstein, a distinguished scholar at the american enterprise institute said about it, "few ideas are more is he ductive on the -- stkubgtive on the service than a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. nearly all of our states have budget requires. when the economy slows states are forced to slash spending at just the wrong time, providing a fiscal drag when what is needed it countercyclical policy to stimulate the economy. the fiscal drag from the states in 2009 and 2010 was barely countered by the federal stimulus plan. that meant the federal stimulus provided was nowhere near what was needed but far better than doing nothing. now imagine that scenario with a federal drag instead. mr. president, "the washington post" editorialized, worse yet, the latest version of the balanced budget amendment would impose an absolute cap on spending as a share of the economy. it would prevent federal expenditures from exceeding 18% of the gross domestic product in any year. most unfortunately, the amendment lacks a clause letting the government exceed that limit to stren

here's what norman ornstein, a distinguished scholar at the american enterprise institute said about it, "few ideas are more is he ductive on the -- stkubgtive on the service than a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. nearly all of our states have budget requires. when the economy slows states are forced to slash spending at just the wrong time, providing a fiscal drag when what is needed it countercyclical policy to stimulate the economy. the fiscal drag from the states in 2009 and 2010 was barely countered by the federal stimulus plan. that meant the federal stimulus provided was nowhere near what was needed but far better than doing nothing. now imagine that scenario with a federal drag instead. mr. president, "the washington post" editorialized, worse yet, the latest version of the balanced budget amendment would impose an absolute cap on spending as a share of the economy. it would prevent federal expenditures from exceeding 18% of the gross domestic product in any year. most unfortunately, the amendment lacks a clause letting the government exceed that limit to stren

here's what norman ornstein, a distinguished scholar at the american enterprise institute said about it, "few ideas are more is he ductive on the -- stkubgtive on the service than a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. nearly all of our states have budget requires. when the economy slows states are forced to slash spending at just the wrong time, providing a fiscal drag when what is needed it countercyclical policy to stimulate the economy. the fiscal drag from the states in 2009 and 2010 was barely countered by the federal stimulus plan. that meant the federal stimulus provided was nowhere near what was needed but far better than doing nothing. now imagine that scenario with a federal drag instead. mr. president, "the washington post" editorialized, worse yet, the latest version of the balanced budget amendment would impose an absolute cap on spending as a share of the economy. it would prevent federal expenditures from exceeding 18% of the gross domestic product in any year. most unfortunately, the amendment lacks a clause letting the government exceed that limit to stren

here's what norman ornstein, a distinguished scholar at the american enterprise institute said about it, "few ideas are more is he ductive on the -- stkubgtive on the service than a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. nearly all of our states have budget requires. when the economy slows states are forced to slash spending at just the wrong time, providing a fiscal drag when what is needed it countercyclical policy to stimulate the economy. the fiscal drag from the states in 2009 and 2010 was barely countered by the federal stimulus plan. that meant the federal stimulus provided was nowhere near what was needed but far better than doing nothing. now imagine that scenario with a federal drag instead. mr. president, "the washington post" editorialized, worse yet, the latest version of the balanced budget amendment would impose an absolute cap on spending as a share of the economy. it would prevent federal expenditures from exceeding 18% of the gross domestic product in any year. most unfortunately, the amendment lacks a clause letting the government exceed that limit to stren