Senate Republicans say they'll block tax increase on wealthy

[Craig234]

None of that has to do with what I posted. Any failure to extend the tax cuts this year will be entirely on the democrats. They hold the majorities.

Idiotic. If enough Democrats vote to pass tax cut extension for over 90% of Americans, and the Republicans block it with the filibuster, that's the *Republicans' fault*.

 

[First]

So a yuppie couple who got promoted to Sr Manager level making $125k each with $100k in liquid savings and a few bucks in their 401k is in the same category as a CEO making $300k and $10 million in the bank?

He didn't say that kiddie.

And no one is going to cry over a couple pulling in $250K with $100K in liquid assets. Boohoo.

 

[dmcowen674]

What else are you going to do as a republican except look out for #1 right?

Let's see:

1) Me Me Me
2) Money Money Money
3) Religion is good
4) Atheists BAD
5) No taxes 'cuz I deserve it ALL bitches


.
.
.

What DID I MISS about Republicans?

That they hate America

 

[Siddhartha]

I was thinking about starting a thread to discuss what exactly are the GOP's economic, domestic, and foreign policies. Do they have anything to offer besides saying no to Mr Obama and the Democrats?

The GOP fighting for tax cuts for the wealthiest shows that the Republicans is more than just the Anti-Obama Party. This gives the voter an idea of who they should vote for.

 

[lothar]

I want to see Obama get on national TV holding up the bill and say to the American people:

That will never happen because of election year politics.
Both sides will continue to blame each other as usual.

The Democrats have as much interest as the Republicans do in not getting it passed.
Anyone who assumes otherwise is a moron.

 

[lothar]

Idiotic. If enough Democrats vote to pass tax cut extension for over 90% of Americans, and the Republicans block it with the filibuster, that's the *Republicans' fault*.

1.) Democrats have yet to bring a bill to the table showing they don't care about middle class tax cuts .
2.) Even if the bill Democrats brings a bill to the table(which they have yet to do) that gets filibustered by Republicans and fails to pass, it's still the *Democrats* fault.

Your post doesn't make any sense.
If the Democrats really cared about tax cuts for the middle class, they'll pass it through reconciliation similarly to what they did with their health care bill and what Bush did with his wealthy tax cuts.

This notion that Republicans are responsible for letting tax cuts expire is nothing short of idiocy.
If Obama and the democrats really cared about tax cuts for the middle class as much as he preached about health care and as much as Bush preached for his wealthy tax cuts, he will pass a bill through whatever means possible(whether through the regular rules or by reconciliation) and it would become law.

When Bush's wealthy tax cuts was filibustered by Democrats, did he sit around bickering that it's the democrats fault that it wasn't passed?
No. He passed his tax cuts through reconciliation instead.

 

[lothar]

A couple making $125k is "wealthy"? lol fucking idiots.

According to Obama:
A couple making $125k each is wealthy.
A person living single making $199k isn't.

 

[Mursilis]

Frankly, I'd like to see them compromise and raise the threshold for the rollback of tax cuts to at least $500k married filing jointly. This will shield most of the upper middle class, especially in the high cost of living states like NJ-NY-CT metro area and CA, and ensure only the truly wealthy pay more...as opposed to the comfortable but nowhere near wealthy group.

I don't care where you are, $500K married filing jointly is "truly wealthy".

 

[Jhhnn]

Sounds peachy, lothar, except that repubs will need to allow some sort of vote to actually occur in the Senate for that to happen.

Bill exits HOR, moves to the Senate and is modified. If Repubs filibuster at that point, it's dead, and reconciliation is moot.

If Senatorial Repubs accept the fact that they're beat, as was the case with Dems and Reagan tax cuts, they'll pass the modified bill and Dems will get their way in reconciliation.

Dems may not play it that way at all, rather choosing to stuff it in the face of the Repubs who can either back down or be the bad guys. Only the most thoroughly indoctrinated Righties could possibly see it any other way, and they won't be voting for Dems, anyway.

Attributing anti middle class motive to the fact that Dems have yet to put a bill on the table is meaningless drivel. There's plenty of time remaining before the election. Holding off to the end just gives Dems a fresh victory to take to the polls, regardless of the outcome. If Repubs filibuster, they lose. If they don't, Dems win.

Boehner is already squealing, and McConnell won't be far behind. I figure they'll choke it down, whining the whole time.

It's not like they have any actual principles, anyway.

 

[MJinZ]

Kudos to the republicans for standing up to the usual class warfare arguments (even though it's probably for the wrong reasons, political personal gain). "hey, they are rich, they don't deserve to keep the same tax cuts the rest of the population should get! Get your torches and pitchforks!". The republicans need to hold the democrat's feet to the fire: extend the tax cuts for all, or face the wrath of the population for raising everyone's taxes during an economic depression.

For the record, I don't make anywhere near $250k, so raising taxes on that group does not impact me. That doesn't make it right, so I'm 100% against it.

LOL. Don't make me fucking laugh.

They are rich, and that's EXACTLY why they DON'T "deserve" some of the same shit, like tax breaks, food stamps, and welfare.

As a liberal, I can just see you Republicans are not only HOLY FUCKING SELF-INTERESTED D-BAGS, but also RETARDED as FUCK.

Watch as your mansions and cars and your wife get raped when the 90% of the population decides to declare war on your shit. History repeats itself, again and again.

Why the fuck do you think Democrats support Welfare and shit? Oh 'cuz of the goodness in their hearts? For many, it's 'cuz they got a fucking High School Education and would rather give Welfare to the Blacks and Ghettos rather than have to face carjackings.

FUCK the absolutely retardation of Republicans really is on a retarded level.

 

[MJinZ]

I'm preparing for Mexico. Where 10% lives well and 90% in misery and destitution. I already live in a "gated" compound. I already know day and night captain of local PD personally as in hunt fish and play golf w/ them. All that's left is bullet proofing cars when rabble gets exited. No big deal I'm handy. Americans are too stupid for anything else.

EXACTAFUCKINGLUTELY!!!

Fucking stupid Republicans should just go join a cult and become Zombies.

/Watching Resident Evil again. 😵 😀

 

[MJinZ]

According to Obama:
A couple making $125k each is wealthy.
A person living single making $199k isn't.

Look, Obama is a fucking idiot in many cases. Fuck Obama's shit.

 

[MJinZ]

That they hate America

Good one. Except I honestly don't think that's completely true. They have America to thanks 100% for getting to where they are, yet they don't appreciate any of it. Instead, they'd ship the Tech Support off to India.

 

[alphatarget1]

Payroll. But this assumes you know what the fuck you're talking about and, well, you seem to be a little slow on this one.

WTF are you talking about? They get a refund at the end of the year. If you are poor and have a couple of children, you can probably claim EIC, which means that you will have no tax liability if their children's exemptions are claimed.

Hell, let the tax cuts expire and get rid of EIC. Poor people need to pay their share. Since poor people cannot manage their finances, it's better to have the government manage it for them.

 

[MJinZ]

WTF are you talking about? They get a refund at the end of the year. If you are poor and have a couple of children, you can probably claim EIC, which means that you will have no tax liability if their children's exemptions are claimed.

Hell, let the tax cuts expire and get rid of EIC. Poor people need to pay their share. Since poor people cannot manage their finances, it's better to have the government manage it for them.

Hmmm I would like my $20,000+ Tax Refund please.

I am happy if I don't have to pay more.

 

[lothar]

Sounds peachy, lothar, except that repubs will need to allow some sort of vote to actually occur in the Senate for that to happen.

Bill exits HOR, moves to the Senate and is modified. If Repubs filibuster at that point, it's dead, and reconciliation is moot.

If Senatorial Repubs accept the fact that they're beat, as was the case with Dems and Reagan tax cuts, they'll pass the modified bill and Dems will get their way in reconciliation.

Dems may not play it that way at all, rather choosing to stuff it in the face of the Repubs who can either back down or be the bad guys. Only the most thoroughly indoctrinated Righties could possibly see it any other way, and they won't be voting for Dems, anyway.

Attributing anti middle class motive to the fact that Dems have yet to put a bill on the table is meaningless drivel. There's plenty of time remaining before the election. Holding off to the end just gives Dems a fresh victory to take to the polls, regardless of the outcome. If Repubs filibuster, they lose. If they don't, Dems win.

Boehner is already squealing, and McConnell won't be far behind. I figure they'll choke it down, whining the whole time.

It's not like they have any actual principles, anyway.

They can write and pass a bill for what the Republicans want(tax cuts for everybody), and go through reconciliation to remove it.

How do you think the Louisiana purchase and Corn husker kickback were removed from the health care bill?
Once Mary Landrieu and Ben Nelson voted for the original Senate health care bill, Obama and the remaining Democrats didn't need their vote any longer on health care and removed it through reconciliation.

If Obama and Democrats pass the bill that Republicans want, Democrats will still get their way in the reconciliation process and can remove the wealthy tax cuts that Republicans added to the bill with a simple majority vote.
There's nothing "peachy" about that.

 

[Craig234]

1.) Democrats have yet to bring a bill to the table showing they don't care about middle class tax cuts .
2.) Even if the bill Democrats brings a bill to the table(which they have yet to do) that gets filibustered by Republicans and fails to pass, it's still the *Democrats* fault.

Your post doesn't make any sense.

I was about to jump on you for the above, which is just ridiculous, and is still wrong (if a burglar breaks in your house, it's your fault for not having better locks), but:

If the Democrats really cared about tax cuts for the middle class, they'll pass it through reconciliation similarly to what they did with their health care bill and what Bush did with his wealthy tax cuts.

You went on to raise a very good question why Democrats don't use reconciliation to pass their policy (which Republicans are opposing which is *their* fault).

So, I have a question into Senator Boxer's office asking for an answer. It mentions that reconciliation is how the Republicans got THEIR cuts passed in the first place.

 

[woolfe9999]

Craig, let us know if you manage to get a reply. I too would like to know why this hasn't been pursued by way of budget reconciliation thus far.

- wolf

 

[Craig234]

Craig, let us know if you manage to get a reply. I too would like to know why this hasn't been pursued by way of budget reconciliation thus far.

- wolf

I'll be happy to; but it seems that Senators' offices don't answer questions over the phone generally (the House seems better about this), and so it's a written turnaround time.

 

[lothar]

I was about to jump on you for the above, which is just ridiculous, and is still wrong (a burglar breaks in your house, it's your fault for not having better locks), but:
if


You went on to raise a very good question why Democrats don't use reconciliation to pass their policy (which Republicans are opposing which is *their* fault).

So, I have a question into Senator Boxer's office asking for an answer. It mentions that reconciliation is how the Republicans got THEIR cuts passed in the first place.

Your analogy is false for that scenario.

Be sure to also email the DNC as well. Post their responses here(or just PM them to me).
What they probably don't want to tell you is this:
"We plan to not bring anything to the table(and/or pass them through reconciliation) before the election so that we can blame Republicans for preventing middle class tax cuts to win mid-term elections(or reduce our possible losses)"

Similarly, the Republicans want them to expire under the Democrats/Obama's watch and will preach "See, Obama and his Democrats increased your taxes, elect us and you will receive a tax cut".

Which message will voters believe in November?
I have no idea, but I hope you don't end up accusing me of having "centrist" bias since I'm clearly able to see things from both angles, unlike some of the other posts here from the left and right.

 

[Thump553]

It is truly a masterful piece of PR spin for the GOP to be able to sell a 3% marginal tax increase on annual ordinary income over $250,000 as a horrific tax increase that will crush small business and the economy. I know lots of small business people (myself included) and this doesn't even appear on our radar screens as an issue.

And all this bleating about high taxes-the top bracket was 94% when I was a kid, under that socialist Eisenhower. The top bracket rate is now slightly over a third of that rate.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

"We plan to not bring anything to the table(and/or pass them through reconciliation) before the election so that we can blame Republicans for preventing middle class tax cuts to win mid-term elections(or reduce our possible losses)"

That's likely exactly it. I think Boehner had the smart play here, and if the rest of the R's had followed his lead it would have completely undermined the contention. But the party of no had to stay true to form and further solidify perceptions of obstructionism, classism, and holding tax cuts hostage.

 

[alphatarget1]

It is truly a masterful piece of PR spin for the GOP to be able to sell a 3% marginal tax increase on annual ordinary income over $250,000 as a horrific tax increase that will crush small business and the economy. I know lots of small business people (myself included) and this doesn't even appear on our radar screens as an issue.

What about dividend and capital gain tax increases?

 

[Patranus]

But of course!!!

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Senat...tml?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

What else are you going to do as a republican except look out for #1 right?

Let's see:

1) Me Me Me
2) Money Money Money
3) Religion is good
4) Atheists BAD
5) No taxes 'cuz I deserve it ALL bitches


.
.
.

What DID I MISS about Republicans?

LOL - Um....Its THEIR money to being with. Talk about ME ME ME. "progressives" are all about ME.

Now, riddle me this, how does letting someone keep THEIR money prevent you from succeeding?

(Hint: It doesn't)

 

[Double Trouble]

Once again, as in previous threads, it's quite apparent that a lot of you make the same mistake that computer geeks make when evaluating software/devices etc. They assume that the average consumer thinks like them and evaluates like them.

The average voter does not give a crap about the inner workings of congress, about what was set to expire, why and when, and other such technicalities. Do you think the average joe cares about 41 senators, filibusters, reconciliation and all that jazz?

That's all interesting stuff for us to discuss, but the bottom line is that when the average voter gets kicked in the nuts (ie, the wallet) and their taxes go up, they are going to blame whoever they think is "in charge", and that generally starts with the party in the white house, whether or not it's warranted. Just like the president gets blamed for "the economy" when he generally has fairly little actual control over it.

The repubs realize this, and they know that if everyone's taxes go up, they're going to very easily use the spin machine to blame "the usual tax and spend liberals, starting with Obama". As we're already seeing now, when the economy sucks, that is a VERY effective tactic.