Unfortunately, earlier today Jake Tapper asked that same Sherrod Brown if Democrats would agree to "entitlement" cuts:
House Republicans are reportedly trying to start a bigger budget deal that includes cuts to entitlement programs and tax reform, while also removing smaller sequester spending restraints and increasing spending. The latter would please Democrats who want higher spending levels, but would require some hard cuts down the road.
"It's something we should consider. We should consider everything now," said Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, of Ohio.
Here's some hopeful news, however:
Broad deficit reduction could strain R coalition more than #Obamacare: nearly 4/5 of whites >50 oppose any medicare cuts in new #UTCNJCCPoll
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) October 11, 2013
Maybe the Tea Partiers will save us one more time ...