House Democrats: You Know What Seems Like a Good Idea? Extending George Bush’s Tax Cuts


It’s amazing how much the world can change with just one race:

Some Capitol Hill Democrats want President Barack Obama to extend tax cuts for wealthy?Americans now scheduled to expire at the end of 2010, arguing that a tax increase could hinder economic?recovery.

“I think there is a certain logic to leaving well-enough alone for now, given the fragility of the economic recovery,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D., Va.). ” It’s a question of prudent judgment and timing.”

White House officials are preparing to unveil their 10-year budget plan on Feb. 2, which will include a decision on what to do about the pending expiration of tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush.

Asked in recent days about the tax cuts for the wealthy, administration officials have insisted that Obama won’t propose extending the tax cuts for the wealthy.

“That’s not something we have contemplated, and I don’t think that’s a necessary act,” Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said in an interview with CNBC last week…

Rep. Harry Mitchell (D., Ariz.), a second-term congressman who held on to his seat in 2008 with 53% of the vote, wrote Obama last week asking him to extend the lower capital gains and dividend rate, and estate tax rates.

“Given the unique economic difficulties we face as a nation, this is the wrong time to raise these taxes. We need to retain these tax cuts that encourage investment that stimulates growth and job creation,” Mitchell wrote.

You will note that both Mitchell and Connolly qualify for Charlie Cook’s list of races to watch this year. Mitchell is in particular trouble this year, having barely prevailed in the strongest Democrat year in decades. Connolly is seen as more of a favorite, but with Bob McDonnell’s strong showing in his district, and two credible Republican challengers, Connolly has to watch his back, too.

Both are desperately and belatedly trying to change their images as liberal lap dogs. Each has voted the party line on a host of key votes. Both voted for the porkulus and for the health care rationing bill. Both voted in support of taxpayer-funded abortions. Both have voted consistently with their party leadership – Connolly a stunning 98% of the time.

Now that Scott Brown’s win in Massachusetts reveals the handwriting on the wall, both are trying to change their image. Had they actually shown a belief in fiscal restraint earlier in the year, they might have some credibility right now. Furthermore, they might have actually contributed to building an agenda that did not center on higher spending and the job-destroying higher taxes that inevitably accompany it.

This is too little, too late. And what’s more, it seems the White House is set to ignore them. That’s unlikely to impress the voters this Fall.


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What I want to see

patriotparty1 (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 4:36PM EST (link)

is who will now step forward with Obama and show their communist roots. Not the one’s running scared, but the one’s that will say we have to stop doing what we are doing because it is bad for America.

Of course I realize that IF they really cared about America they would have already done that, but I am sure some were scared to buck Pelosi and will now feel free to do so.

I want to know just how many red diaper doper babies are there that we have to get rid of on the left, AND the right.

Note from Texas. Gene Green Houston congressman that followed Pelosi in lockstep voting for health care and cap and tax and required ID’s to go to his town halls on a local radio show this morning stated that this agenda is too far left and needs to be re-thought, and that he could not vote for the senate health care bill. Amazing how his perceptions have changed just overnight!

“Unlike cruel liberty that requires you to stand and take responsibility for your choices, kind tyranny requires only that you kneel and surrender your choices.”

Chet Edwards

edintexas Thursday, January 21st at 10:10AM EST (link)

might also be in trouble (hopefully). He’s to the right of Green, but not far enough to escape at least a good scare. I’m still happy to have Jeb Hensarling as my Representative and argument against term limits.

 
 

I guess getting a 10.0 on the richter scale, politically speaking

zbigreddogz (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 4:43PM EST (link)

makes people nervous.

“At the top there are no easy choices. All are between evils, the consequences of which are hard to judge.” – Dean Acheson

 

It's about time

CarolT (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 5:11PM EST (link)

Did they just realize that the Bush tax cuts did not help only the rich? The next thing they’ll be doing is apologizing to Bush at this point.

I cannot believe how many times I have heard that the Bush tax cuts benefited only the rich, latelly from the camp of Martha (aka Marcia) Coakley.

 

Still W's fault?

theillinoisguy (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 5:16PM EST (link)

Somehow, this is still George Bush’s fault. Maybe, he didn’t cut taxes enough? Maybe the Dems can get over their arrogance now and realize we elected them to be public servants, not rulers. Poll after poll said we don’t like the health care reform you are proposing. We don’t like cap-and-trade. We think America is an EXCEPTIONAL place – but did you listen? Now “Teddy’s seat” has turned red. Will they get the message now and slow down and redo some of their proposals, or will they get swept out of power in November. Do not underestimate the anger of the American people over this.
http://theillinoisguy.wordpress.com/2010/01/18/obama-the-best-president-ever/

 

Didn't democrats say Bush Tax Cuts were Immoral?

antisocial (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 5:32PM EST (link)

I think that was conventional wisdom amongst lefties and their prominent politicians.

Obama Doctrine – Boot On The Throat
—————————–
What is to be done?
——————————
No. You can’t – Moe Lane
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The Emperor has no clothes!!!

 

Tax Cuts for the Wealthy?

JeffQ Wednesday, January 20th at 5:50PM EST (link)

As a previous poster said, it wasn’t just “wealthy” people that received a reduction in taxes. At the time, I was making about 18k and had my taxes reduced.

Just the same tired ‘ole crap from a party that can’t take a hint…

It helped the middle class

avgamerican (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 9:05PM EST (link)

What you have to realize is that the dems aren’t really interested in building economic stability. They want to create and maintain the dependent class as their power base. By allowing tax cuts they know it boosts the middle class allowing them to do more for themselves. That’s bad for them because it means their voter base shrinks.

 
 

That one fall under the N.S.S theory.

Leopard1996 (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 7:10PM EST (link)

Where the first letter stands for No, The third letter stands for sherlock. You can fill in for the other S. You don’t raise taxes on people during a recession, especially on the ones that have the money to create employment.

“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen

 

If not extended, the Bush tax cuts could

renny (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 8:42PM EST (link)

cost a middle class family of 4 making $60-$75,000 another $2500 a year in 2011, and the Dems. were planning to let this happen just as their wonderfuol penalties, taxes, fees, and surcharges kicked in for Obamanationcare when they were passing Obamanationcare.

The Scott heard round the world has had even more volume than the 11 on the Spinal Tap amp.

 

Lawrence O'Donnell on Olbemann

Conservative_not_Republican (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 9:01PM EST (link)

suggested that the Dems pivot and enact a cut in the payroll tax. There are all kinds of tax cutting ideas coming out today! O’Donnell said the House committee chairs think health care is dead in the House.

It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once.–David Hume

Quoted in The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek

Knowing O'Donnell, I'm sure it's a half-baked plan

The_Rebel (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 10:14PM EST (link)

where they might lower the rate, while at the same time increasing the top FICA threshold amount of $106,800 subject to the tax. That way, they can claim help for the little guy, while also claiming that the rich pay for it, as if $106,800 qualifies someone as rich. They will need any decreases in rates to be paid for, especially since the SS program is headed for bankrupcy down the road.

We need to be on guard and ready to put down any phony schemes designed to co-opt the tax reduction issue.

 

lawrence Odonnel and Olbermann

kyle8 (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 10:25PM EST (link)

like two peas in the pod, Ignorant, arrogant, narcissistic, hateful, radical, and stupid.

“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle

 

Lying

immortal_fish Wednesday, January 20th at 10:41PM EST (link)

O’Donnell also defended his claim during the early days of Bill Maher’s HBO drek show that it is perfectly acceptable to lie. The man actually took time to explain his coda for such things. His brazenness left me slack jawed.

 

Doesn't a cut in the payroll tax mean absolutely zip?

bk (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 11:53PM EST (link)

Payroll tax = withholding table doesn’t it? That would be the one the feds just raised, right?

Unless income taxes are cut, cutting payroll taxes is just part of the game of the government deciding how much of your money they hold up front by default. It doesn’t mean jack to the bottom line of the average person over the course of a year.

More than income

BA Cyclone (Diary) Thursday, January 21st at 1:50PM EST (link)

“Payroll taxes” also include withholdings (some from both employer and employee) for SSA, Medicare, and unemployment. Not just federal income tax.

But you are correct that saying ‘we’ll cut payroll taxes’ is overly simplistic, especially if it doesn’t incude a cut in actual income tax rates.

Regardless, none of it means squat if the government keeps spending as if there is no tomorrow. Dems might try populist moves to nibble with taxes to steal fiscal conservative vibes; the real problem in this equation is SPENDING money nobody has even tried to earn yet.

“If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions.” — James Madison

“Electing Republicans who don’t have the courage of their convictions may be easier in some circumstances, but it won’t save our country.” — Jim DeMint

BA Cyclone’s blog

BA Cyclone on Twitter

 
 
 

Connelly is way to progressive for this area and will be GONE....

JadedByPolitics (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 9:31PM EST (link)

in November! 98% of the time he voted with Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco well WE don’t do San Fran Values here in the great state of Virginia and he will be SWEPT the same way he was SWEPT in on a tidal wave. Senator Brown (R-MA) is proof of the WAVE that is building!

Small problem with your diatribe

SteveLA (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 9:38PM EST (link)

Before you send Mitch to Madame Guillotine, you might want to consider that Nasty Nancy is a CongressCritter and McConnell is a Senator so they don’t vote on the same version bills for the most part so it’s probably hard to get to a 98 percent of the time voting record.

I’d give you one a half Nurse Ratchets for this one.

______________________________________

Competency over ideological purity and litmus tests

She speaks of Gerry Connolly

Jack_Savage (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 9:45PM EST (link)

Democrat, VA 11.

 

uhhh Steve where do you get Mitch at....IDIOT...

JadedByPolitics (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 9:46PM EST (link)

I said Connelly that is MY Congressman from here in Fairfax, VA! I know you love to sit back with your haughty RINO McCain loving jerk self waiting to pounce on me and attempt to ridicule me BUT you are the A$$ today!

OK then

SteveLA (Diary) Wednesday, January 20th at 9:47PM EST (link)

The full four Nurse Ratchets for your screed then.

I was wrong.

______________________________________

Competency over ideological purity and litmus tests

 
 
 
 

IS the child tax credit one of Bush's tax cuts?

GregInFla (Diary) Thursday, January 21st at 12:31AM EST (link)

The credit phases out after 100K or less in taxable income. SO how is this a tax cut for the rich? This is a tax credit for each dependent under 18 (or 17).


– A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Think about it.
– The sign outside the courthouse said no signs allowed. So I took it down.
– Atlas Shrugged is now on the non-fiction aisle at Amazon.

 

Both of These Folks Are Very Vulnerable

gemimail Thursday, January 21st at 12:35PM EST (link)

Marston Chronicles rates the probability of the Republicans defeating Harry Mitchell at a 62.2% probability and Gerry Connolly at 50.4%. For complete details of why that is so plus a detailed write up on all the vulnerable Democrats in 2010 see: http://www.marstonchronicles.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=296&Itemid=1130. BTW, they rated the chances of Scott Brown winning at a 57.4% to give you a relative reference. See: http://www.marstonchronicles.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=318&Itemid=1156. That rating has been up for a couple of weeks.

 

Why is it...

wardjh Thursday, January 21st at 12:35PM EST (link)

that tax cuts have an expiration date but tax increases do not?

I think it is because DC thinks it is their money, not ours.

Any time they come up with another spending program, tax increases must follow. This is part of their “pay go” idea on the hill. When you or I want to spend money on a project, with a limited budget, we have to forego something else. Not so with congresscritters.

Perhaps if they adopted zero based budgeting, and end dates for all taxes this would help. That is to say, every thing that is budgeted for a fiscal year would have to be vetted each year, and the amount of money allocated would be declared based on the goal of the project. This would give a bottom line to amount of money that needed to be raised so taxes would be geared to this and not on how much the public will stand. If the numbers were too high, cut projects.

Perhaps the best way to reduce spending and taxes would be to discontinue withholding. Make the bill due and payable in full on April 15th. If you have to write a check for the full amount owed once a year, that number will surely drop after one year.

It also wouldn’t hurt to make election day April 16th.

 

they really

olddog Sunday, January 24th at 10:01PM EST (link)

think we are stupid, if they believe we will fall, for the fawning all over the middle class working folks that now , they are trying to destroy. unfortunately many are blinded by the R or D beside the names at election time, so to all of the working people, remember what they are trying to do to all of, us R’s & D’s and Independents alike. If you work for a living, you have a big target on you and yours along with our rights under the Constitution. Those who don’t love Liberty, are welcomed in Cuba and Venezuela. re: Sean Penn!. Stay Mad, Remember in the Spring and do your thing ( VOTE ), Remember in November ( VOTE ). Then in 2012 and 2014 and 2016 etc. then repeat Spring and November again and again Ad infinitum.
Support our Troops! As they support us,, with everything you got.
One Old Dog