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“The head of the IRS said Thursday that a government shutdown during tax season would be a challenge the agency has never confronted before — and one that would become more complicated as the April filing deadline draws closer,” The Hill reports.
“Senate Republicans are growing impatient with the stalemate over 2011 funding levels and want to save their political capital for a debate on the debt limit and entitlement reform,” The Hill reports.
“The Senate set up a vote for Tuesday on a bill that would make the first significant change to President Barack Obama’s signature health care overhaul law,” Roll Call reports. “Under an agreement reached Thursday, the Senate will vote on a House-passed bill that would repeal a tax-reporting requirement included in the health care law.”
“Eric Turner, a Republican state representative in Indiana, is in hot water this week after arguing that women might lie about rape or incest in order to get an abortion,” the New York Daily News reports.
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Yep, all 200 (or less) of them. Bit of a yawner, don't you think?
200? The crowd didn't even look that big. I'm siding with the or less part! Looks like the TP Express has high sided the second turn! What a bunch of wackos!
As has been repeatedly pointed out, taxes are at their lowest in over 50 years and that means we also have a revenue problem. Do we have a spending problem? Yes but it isn't because of SS or Medicare, those are self funding and can be totally fixed and actually expanded by lifting the cap on income that is taxed.
We have a bigger problem with waste and some who think that they should not pay their fair share of taxes. Wasn't it Ivana Trump who said that taxes are for the little people? No one is saying that the rich or corporations should pay more than their fair share but 0% is not a fair share. The sad part is that these Republican/TP Inc. people actually believe that the rich are on their side. They actually believe that the policies the rich want will let them become rich, too. There is nothing further from the truth, the rich want to limit who gets rich and how many get rich, otherwise, what is the point of being rich?
Matt,
SS cannot fix itself, it will run because of the number of people working is getting smaller and the number of retired people increases. In 1940, there were over 150 workers for each retired person in the U.S. Today, we have right at 3 people for every retired person and the number gets lower each year. Those people retiring today, never paid in enough to SS to get what they are taking out. Unless you want to increase the amount that you pay into SS, to allow the government to take care of you, it will go bankrupt.
If the average person get $1000 dollars a month in SS, imagine a worker having to pay $333 a month to support them, plus what they have spend to support themselves and their families.
Our SS system is a ponzi scheme--taking from one to give to another.
SS was designed to be a supplement to one's retirement, not their only retirement. Until the system is reformed or done with, it is a government entity that only gathers votes from fear mongering. No matter what side of the aisle you are on.
BB, That is a load of crap! Social Security would not be out of money if the Federal Government had not placed the money we pay into it in the general fund at the US Treasury. The money should have been put in a trust at the beginning instead we have had every politician that had a wise idea using the SS funds like it was their personal piggy bank. Ponzi Scheme my rear end! Enough with the BS already! Sheez!
Big Bear thats nothing but a big lie. SS is not the problem the greedy political hacks need to keep their paws off it and they need to remove the cap so people earning more then 100k are still paying into it.
Devie/Dean,
So what you are saying is that when we have 2 retired people for each working person that there will be enough money to pay out all those retired people without raising taxes.
The only difference between Madoff's ponzi scheme and the SS system is that the government can raise our taxes to cover the cost of SS.
How much do you really know about SS? It sure isn't just for retired people anymore. And if either of you had read the last sentence you would know that I did say it could be reformed. But you all just keep believing that it will be there for you in the future.
Some of us are realistic enough to know that we have to save on our own to survive and not rely upon government handouts. Maybe some of you liberals need to take a math class instead of just "arts" classes.
Big Bear, Social Security was only partially designed to supplement peoples' retirement savings. Social Security was implemented so that those who never made enough money to be able to afford to save for retirement would not descend into abject poverty when they could no longer work. We didn't want to be a country where when people became too old to work they spent the rest of their lives in poorhouses or homeless and begging on the streets. Do you have any idea how many people there are to whom Social Security is the only thing keeping them alive? It is clear you think everyone should save for retirement, but you should try saving anything in a minimum wage job before you make such a judgement. You could also say that people should educate themselves so they don't have to work for minimum wage, but someone has to do those jobs that you only want to pay minimum wage for. Perhaps if you tried looking at the big picture instead of your small portion of it, you would understand why Social Security is necessary.
Heartlight,
I understand the entire system, not just a portion of it. Make it a retirement program only, not a social welfare program to others. Reform the thing, you get out what you put into it, not twice the amount.
Is it the taxpayers job to support people throughout their life? And besides, those people who do a lot of the minimum labor jobs are usually illegal to begin with. Our country, throughout, allow for people to pursue a free education through high school. When are the values of a good education going to hit people? Check out the Labor department stats--unemployment for those who have a degree is 5% or less, those without a high school diploma sit at about 20%, even those who just have a high school diploma the unemployment rate is close to 15%. There are not thousands of manual labor jobs anymore--especially in manufacturing--they have become automated. It is time to take education seriously. Not teach a "test".
The big portion of SS is that everyone and their brother are on it or expect to be on it. You all can stay in your rose colored world, but reality is the money will run out, 10 years, 20 years, or even 100 years--this program will either have everyone taxed to death or will be broke, because some people believe that they are entitled to government money. But again, only the strong survive!!!
I have an idea -- our illustrious politicians should be denied all pay and benefits and perks until they resolve their differences. Of course, we all know the that GOP and Tea Party do have one goal in common -- destroy the Democratic Party at all costs, no matter what it costs the American people.
sigh.
God help this country because our politicians sure aren't.
No that won't work, but before getting raises or salaries, the people should have vote on it, not just the representatives that have been sent, who don't do their jobs.
The LAST thing the Tea Party wants to do is cut off their nose despite their face; but why bother telling them something in their ignorant, factless based fear induced paranoia.
You have to wonder how many of the are on the system of ANY type, be it Medicare/Medicaid, receiving Social Security, unemployment, foodstamps, WIC, or ANY OTHER ENTITLEMENT they have paid into through their taxes.
Heaven help them if they haven't filed OR received their tax returns between now and the looming Government shutdown. It would ABSOLUTELY SUCK TO BE THEM!!!!!!
Here's how simple my mind is:
At least for now, until the economic crisis is over and the deficit goes away, why not do BOTH? Make a one-for-one deal: If 200 billion comes off the spending side, 200 billion comes in on the tax side. Net plus- 400 billion. both sides have to take a hit instead of pointing at the OTHER guy.
Like I said- I'm pretty simple and slow, and certainly not an economist. I'm sure there must be some very obvious reasons this wouldn't work. Who all can point them out to me?
And remember- I said 'for now'....
Its funny how Bachmann kinda ruined their full steam ahead ...the min she opened her trap ...they realized "big mistake" they have already fired the weeper of the house saying he will be replaced in 2012 ..with someone they run against him ...in 2 meetings so far this week ..she was the recall topic ...and several asked "who made her the head of the tea party"? Being a loud mouthed lier does not a leader make !...It will be interesting theater to watch as they replace her ...
How to grow jobs, the economy, remain competitive, and eliminate the deficit:
1. Legislatively remove the anti-trust exemption for insurance, The McCarran-Ferguson Act.
2.. Legislatively restrict the wetlands definition of "navigable waters of the United States" in the Clean Water Act.
3. Fund and begin construction of power generation and water supply projects necessary to meet future population and industrial demands.
4. Remove all geographic restrictions on oil and natural gas drilling, and use the power of federal money transfers to the States to prevent States and local governments from interfering with drilling.
5.. Remove environmental restrictions and environmental and social impact requirements for all infrastructure and utility construction for the next 10 years.
6.Cut Federal budget by 10% excluding defense, starting with those duplicative items identified in the 3/1/11 GAO report and Presidents Debt Commission, however, maintain current spending for infrastructure construction, repair and upgrade for the next 5 years. Repeal the Davis-Bacon Act.
7. Reduce corporate tax rates by 50%. Reduce Corporate tax rates by 70% on private utilities and transport companies.
8. Reinstitute significant tax and assistance payments for residential and commercial alternative energy instillations, particularly focusing on residential solar. Use Commerce Clause to force all electrical utilities to be reverse metering.
9. Subsidies the further development of electric and hybrid electric cars. Provide significant tax breaks and incentives for the purchase of same, particularly when combined with the purchase of a residential solar instillation within two years of one another. This is no longer a simple market issue, but one of national security as the time to substitution is longer than the economy can withstand when confronted with a supply side shock
The "Bonehead Boehner Bunch," and "Crazy Cantor's Cronies" in the House of Representatives are going for poltical blood. Their "Tea Begger" relatives, due to genetic interbreeding, are marching outside to remind everyone that no new ideas, no new policy, and the same old lack of logical thinking is a good thing. The "Gross Odd People" (GOP), and the "Really Not Competent" (RNC) have to be watching out for the rascist rantings of "Lunatic Limbaugh." The "Moron with a Mic!" He is sure set on wanting our President to fail, and the "Nazi News Network". AKA. Fox News. Is always quick to "spew" it's own version of "Crazy Conservative Crap" (CCC) for their "zombie" like audience. "Progress Power" had better start charging up for 2012 quickly. In Wisconsin, the "Super Spewers" of the GOP?RNC lead by "Whacky Walke.r" Are out to destroy unions, public education, Civil Rights Laws, the diabled, the elderly, and the hard working Middle Class. Wake-up Progressives! This time for political action is now!!