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Subscribe to RSSIs the Obama White House willing to follow Senate Democrats off the so-called "fiscal cliff"?
Not exactly.
The White House today weighed in with a slightly different message: Congress should prevent the fiscal cliff -- the prospect of all the Bush-era tax cuts expiring, as well as automatic spending cuts taking effect -- from ever happening.
During a gaggle aboard Air Force One, Deputy White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest was asked if the president supports Democrats who threatening to let all the Bush tax cuts expire -- for both the wealthy and middle class -- if they don't get a "good deal" from Republicans.
“The president believes firmly that there is a way for us to deal with our deficit challenges," Earnest said. He added that this potential way forward could also avoid the $1.2 trillion in automatic budget cuts (including defense spending) that will occur after the end of this year.
Earnest’s comments stopped short of endorsing what Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said Democrats were willing to do if Republicans refused to raise taxes on the wealthy. Speaking at the Brookings Institution on Monday, Murray said, “If we can’t get a good deal, a balanced deal that calls on the wealthy to pay their fair share then I will absolutely continue this debate into 2013,” meaning after the economy would presumably plunge off the cliff.
Earnest also echoed a message that President Obama has touted for the past several days -- that the Congress should extend the Bush-era tax cuts for folks making less than $250,000.
“The president does not believe that it's just middle-class families that should have to sacrifice to deal with our deficit challenges. We're all in this together, and that includes asking those wealthiest 2% of Americans, millionaires and billionaires, essentially, to do their fair share.to do their fair share.”
Republicans have fired back. On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell accused Congressional Democrats of waging an “ideological crusade.”
McConnell said, “Let me boil it down. Faced with the slowest economic recovery in modern times, chronic joblessness, and the lowest percentage of able-bodied Americans actually participating in the workforce in decades, Democrats’ one-point plan to revive the economy is this: you earn, we take. That’s apparently the only thing they’ve got. “
According to a recent poll by the Pew Research Center, 44% of people believe increasing taxes on those making more than $250,000 would help the economy, versus just 22% who believe it will hurt it.
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Sorry to go off topic:
While not all Republicans are racist; many racists seem to be Republican:
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/17/12792807-rutland-county-vt-gop-apologizes-for-facebook-post-that-he-says-was-meant-to-be-satirical-not-racist?lite&__utma=14933801.1757784662.1342448255.1342550509.1342557196.7&__utmb=14933801.1.10.1342557196&__utmc=14933801&__utmx=-&__utmz=14933801.1342448255.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=14933801.|8=Earned%20By=msnbc%7Ccover=1^12=Landing%20Content=Mixed=1^13=Landing%20Hostname=www.nbcnews.com=1^30=Visit%20Type%20to%20Content=Earned%20to%20Mixed=1&__utmk=143749685
I can't wait to see what an actual sattirist will do with THIS material,...right? Get 'em Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert!
PS. (this part time gig isn't half bad, Feisty! lol)
Thought I might post this here also, to Deflect from Claras Racist Post(he-he, snarkmeter Off now Clara).
Governor Steve Beshear on Tuesday issued an executive order establishing the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange, a requirement of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA).
States have two decisions to make after the Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act: how to implement the health benefit exchange, and whether to expand Medicaid eligibility to 133 percent of the federal poverty level.
The question of whether states will expand Medicaid eligibility is completely unrelated to the health benefit exchange implementation. Kentucky is still in the process of gathering information on the possible impacts of Medicaid expansion, and as a result, no decision has been made.
WLEX in Lexington,Ky posted this about 2 hours ago & is Only exerpts from the Whole Story.
You Betcha!
Occupy SoggyBottom!
Happy to call you my partner Clara! ;o)
You wouldn't believe the racist @!$%# that hits my inbox!
"The president does not believe that it's just middle-class families that should have to sacrifice to deal with our deficit challenges.
That argument doesn't work with the Repubes because big money has bought and payed for the GOP. Big money will try to dictate who will sacrifice what, and as far as they are concerned, it won't be them....
Obama/Biden 2012
They the majority of the right wing don't love or even like Willard. They just see him as a possible tool to get rid of that darn black guy that is smarter than them all.
The new Obama bumper sticker. "You make it, we take it"
Bernanke coined the term "fiscal cliff:"
Aside from the automatic cuts to defense spending, is the expiration of the Bush tax cuts, as well as the debt ceiling -- All coming up...
The proposal made by the president to extend the Bush tax cuts for the middle class (for one year), also gives breaks to the richest 2%. Couples with incomes of $250,000 or more would only have to pay the higher tax rate on earnings above and beyond the first $250,000. That's way better than just letting all the Bush tax cuts expire.
It's mind-bending. Why aren't rightwingers asking the GOP/TP where the jobs are, but also why do they keep throwing the middle class under the buss to protect the rich? Aside from blocking the Jobs Act, the Teapublicans just blocked tax cuts for small businesses. And yesterday they filibustered a bill to make campaign donations transparent -- for everyone in both Parties from everywhere including unions.
Why aren't rightwingers outraged? Oh, let me guess, FAUX Noise and Rush Limbaugh aren't coming clean with them on all this...
TruePatriot You obviously don't understant the tax code. When these idiots say they pay 2 times what Mitt pays, they are using the marginal tax rate not knowing they pay the highest rate only on the income above the next lowest income bracket. That is why, if you increase the top rate to 39.6%, you pay that amount on only the income over the next lower bracket!!!!
Let me get this straight. You decrease taxes on nearly everyone (the bottom rate decreases from 15% to 10%, a decrease of 33%, the # paying no federal income taxes increases from 25% to 47%, even those who pay no federal income taxes get refundable tax credits) and then increase taxes only on the ones who pay a majority of the federal income taxes! What a great deal for the takers and what a raw deal for the givers!!
I say let ALL of the Bush tax cuts expire! The Dems/left don't want this to happen for 2 reasons. 1) they know that the Bush tax cuts (you know those "tax breaks for the wealthy" weren't just for the wealthy 2) it sounds good to the other 98% (think buys votes)
Jay before you again accuse me of not reading or getting my facts right, I will remind others that your "facts" change depending on what point you are trying to make! Earth to Jay, facts do not change just because you want them to!!!!
Job 1.
I always think you can't get any dumber and then you do.
Why can't these right wing idiots read polling numbers?
Maybe someone should transcribe them into braille for these deaf, dumb & blind bastards!
Why can't these right wing idiots read polling numbers?
Because its Obama's plan.
If it were a GOP plan, the RWNJ's would be all over it like Vag-Bob at a women's clinic...
What everyone keeps leaving out of the discussion is that it would only be an increase on taxable income ABOVE $200K/$250K. The tax on the first $200K/$250K remains at the current rate. (single/joint)
Hey Dumfux, how would it help the economy?
In an interview with Obama about 4 years ago, Charlie Gibson pointed out that history has proven in many/most cases that raising capital-gains taxes led to less revenue being collected (rich simply moved their money to shelters) – and conversely, lowering rates had increased revenue collected by the government (rich invested ,made money and paid taxes) .
Obama admitted it. But as Obama told Gibson - it was really a matter of “fairness.”
Obama actually uses the words tax and penalty synonymously. When Obama says he wants to tax tax the job creators/rich (over $200k a year) he is saying in effect he wants to penalize the job creators .... all for revenue Obama admits isn't generated.
And this is fairness - penalizing the job creators for the middle class for nonexistent revenue?
How does that help?
America needs a president with more than a community organizers understanding of the economy.
history has proven in many/most cases that raising capital-gains taxes led to less
Bob - Income tax and Capital gains are two different animals....
And this is fairness - penalizing the job creators for the middle class for nonexistent revenue?
Bob - What jobs are these so called creators, creating? Except maybe in India...
GT -
True, but how do the real rich make their money?
Think they are on the hourly pay roll?
And the same thing applies, you don't know any anybody who has a 55 foot Sea Ray, has two docks, hires a band, flies in lobster, rents a margarita machine .... all for a 4th of July party and writes off the whole thing as a business entertainment expense?
The rich don't pay ... not even big libs like Obama, Buffett, Gates, Kerry, Pelosi, Reid .... they just use the tax code that the libs want and refuse to reform.
It is all just a game played way above your head.
When are you going to grow up and quit being their tool?
Right after you vote for Obama Bob.
Where are the jobs GT?
China India ... duh a bunch yea. Why would business pay the highest taxes in the world, be constantly threatened with new taxes and costs ... Obamacare, over regulation, energy costs that are going to explode ....
Shame when even a communist country is more friendly to American business than Obama, huh?
Yeh, all those jobs the Teapublicans promised before the 2010 mid-term election, where are those bob?
Their chance of factories and fixed assets being nationalized is zero, Bob. That is why they do business in the US. It is attractive to do business in China? Yeah if you don't mind taking on Beijing as a 50 50 partners, no problem, China is really attractive to American businesses.
Trickle down has failed because of people like Romney and it is not all his fault. If trickle down worked, people like Romney would find investing in America so attractive that there would be no reason to hide money offshore. Because it is less attractive to invest and pay taxes in America than other countries, ultra wealthy have been taking their bush tax cut money and shipping it offshore, Romney included. Are you telling me that once Romney gets elected, he will use his experience in tax avoidance to close loopholes on his fellow rich and himself and that that increased tax revenue would make up for continuing tax breaks for 250K and up that he desires?
If that was the case then we would have repealed the PPACA, already left Afghanistan and have no need for elections in November.
Or in other words, if I'm re-elected I'm not stupid enough to raise taxes on everybody and allow the economy to fall off the cliff. Instead I'll just fold and blame the Republicans again.
If the Republicans intent wasn't to hold the middle-class tax cuts hostage, why not just pass those and then debate the cuts for the 250+ and/or the million+?
good point, RTFS
McConnell is a little confused if he thinks Democrats are the ones waging an "ideological crusade" by insisting the tax cuts expire for the wealthiest.
The Simpson-Bowles committee said we have to raise revenue, as well as cutting spending, so Democrats are right to take this step.
It is the Republican Party which is holding to it's irrational view that raising taxes on the richest hurts the economy. Irrational, considering a decade of tax cuts under Bush failed to create jobs.
Amy, wouldn't it be nice if just once the same news outlets that give that jacka$$ as platform would call him out on this stuff? I'm so sick of these guys getting a free pass.
Another nice straw man from admiral Ackbar... i mean Mitch McConnel...
Lets review the 2000s.
lowest tax rates in recent history -> record job losses and outsourcing of manufacturing sector -> corporate profits at all time highs -> high unemployment and growing percentage of working poor.
now they say we need lower taxes to create jobs. That just doesn't make sense. Trickle down had its chance, and the theory was proven to be voodoo economics. In order to have a strong economy, you have to have CONSUMERS. the whole 'job creator' canard is played out and false. without the lower and middle classes consuming goods and services the ecconomy tanks because the 1% can never create demand like a vibrant middle class can.
i'm all for letting the bush tax cuts expire on everyone. They were a mistake then, and are a mistake now. It is time americans quit putting the costs off on someone else and everyone saddled up and paid their fair share. increasing revenues while cutting further expendatures is all it takes to get our budget under control, and once we get the budget under control we can start addressing the debt. Cutting programs is not the way out of this, increasing revenue is.
You owe me a monitor! lmao!
.Obama the promise BREAKER!! Equals a LIAR!!! BIG EMBARRASSMENT to the USA!!!
Obama’s promise that his healthcare proposals would “never be purchased with [a] tax increase on middle-class families.” The SUPREME COURT & JUSTICE DEPT say it is a TAX!!! .Attack on the middle Class!
…….…NOW Obama wants to invade Syria and Iran!!!
Remember these?
THE OBAMA CHRONICLES:
“I promise 100% transparency in my administration.”.
“I promise NO NEW TAXES on a family making less than $250K a year.”.
“I will allow 5 days of public comment before I sign any bills.”.
“I will remove earmarks from PORK projects before I sign any bill.”.
“I will end Income Tax for seniors making less than $50K a year.”.
"I will bring ALL of our troops home within ONE year."
“I’ll put the Health Care negotiations on CSPAN so everyone can see who is at the table!”.
“I’ll have no lobbyists in my administration."
"I'll close Guantanamo."
"I'll resign if I don't cut the deficit in half by the end of four years."
"I'll unite the people of this great country."
“The TROOPS will be home for CHRISTMAS.” WHY ARE MORE LEAVING EVERYDAY???? AND DYING every day…
NOW Obama invokes Executive Privilege( as a Sen. called it’s use a RUSE!) for Holder on GUN SMUGGLING and killing US Agent Brain Terry!!! That only applies if Obama was part of it!! Obama & Holder should be on trial for giving Machine Guns to the Mexican Drug cartels!!
BETTER KNOWN AS LIES.
Fool me once shame on YOU!
Fool me twice shame on ME!
Vote NOBOZO, . NOBIDEN.............2012!
nice cut and paste. I would comment but instead, i'l just cut and paste too..
Of a RWNJ chain e-mail no less... lol
Knock off the comment spamming dip@!$%#!
So let me get this straight....
Democrats - the very ones who are saying we all agree that the tax cuts for the middle class should be allowed to continue, so lets do what we agree on - are now threatening to allow all of the tax cuts to expire if they dont get the exact deal they want?
OK....I think I understand....
The tax cuts that dems have derided for years are now good in their perspective, but only for the middle class. So apparently, only some of the tax cuts are now unaffordable, but certainly not all.
After years of bludgeoning the republicans with the tax cuts, now they are threatening republicans with letting the tax cuts expire...
Unless they get the deal that they want - which actually translates to do this our way, or else.
And somehow, this is a good thing.
Is that because it illustrates how much the democrats are reaching across the aisle in wanting to work with the republicans on difficult issues? I must have been confused - I thought the republicans were supposed to be the obstructionists, and the idealogues who wont bend on anything?
I thought it was the republicans that were supposed to be dragging this country towards a fiscal cliff by non-cooperation, not the democrats....
Or perhaps it is a good thing because it demonstrates that the dems are flip flopping due to political expediency....sorry....I should have said "evolving".
On the other hand, it is fun to see the depths that the liberal/democratic double standard will allow true believers to descend to.
I haven't see anything about the latest McClatchy-Marist Poll on the Bush tax cuts.
Majority of Voters want the tax cuts to be extended for everybody. Especially those voters between 18 - 29 years old.
Of course the liberal Americans for tax fairness claim those surveyed was to stupid to understand the questions asked.
I am sure everyone wants to pay more in taxes because it is the "patriotic" thing to do. The IRS should make it easier for us to overpay.
Obama has us dangling off that fiscal cliff. Our only salvation is to elect Mitt Romney 187 days from now.
Romney has the experience and the expertise to turn this Obama disaster around. If Obama wins a second term, the damage he causes in another four years of his "policies" will be irrepairable, no matter who replaces him. We will be done.
What news show was it when Obama admitted that raising the taxes on those making $200K-$250K, (single/marriage) admitted that the tax increase wouldn't really make a big difference in revenue but it was all about fairness. Sounds like class warfare to me.
You are right! Getting increased revenue of about $80B/yr when the deficit is $1.3B/yr is like peeing in the ocean to raise the water level!!! It is all about class warfare (making the 98% feel good about sticking it to the 2%, after all they have 98% of the votes and that is the real goal)!!!
I think that the President is more interested in pushing his ideology rather than really fixing the economy. Increasing taxes on the "rich" seems to be a part of everything he proposes whether it makes any sense or not.
First things first. Without conditions to include any action of congress, the President promised the nation that the 2012 federal deficit would not exceed 229.27 billion dollars yet the President's own White House is predicting that this year's deficit will exceed 1.3 trillion dollars. The President needs to tell the nation how he is going to keep his promise regarding the deficit. With the President keeping his promise we should be well on our way to a balanced budget and then after that start running surpluses so we can start paying back all of this money that we have been borrowing. Congress needs to know what the President is doing in order to make wise choices regarding the economy. But before the tax matter the congress needs to pass budgets for this year and next year as they have been required by law. It is difficult to determine required income when you do not have a budget and hence do not know how much you are really going to need. This idea of proceeding without a budget is madness and is sure to lead to economic catastrophe. The President needs to act immediately on this issue. All hail the Chief!
It is Bush's fault!!!
But Bush is no longer in office. Bush did not force our current President to make the promises that he made. The idea that the government's injecting more money into the economy would be helpful and spark an economic recovery has been going on for a long time. Part of the effort under the Bush administration was to lower taxes which was a popular move but it did not solve the problem. Despite what Obama said during his campaign the President decided to greatly increase spending and just ignore the debt but that did not work either. Increasing money flow in the economy does increase demand for goods and services. But because so much of the goods and services that we buy come from outside of the economy the spark effect is lost, the money leaks out, and all we are left with is the debt that will have to be paid one way or another. It is not entirely President Obama's fault that the economy is as bad as it is but the President has failed to fix it as promised. I want all that the President has promised the American people.
The Republican Party is on a mission or agenda for their party and not for the good of the United States in general.
Certainly Mr. Romney is ready to do anything or let anybody else do anything that will get him into the White House no matter if it is in the U.S. best interest or not.
Mr. Romney is an "I and a ME guy and always has been. See below;
Military Members, Veterans, Military retirees;
please note that Swiss Bank account Romney PROMOTED THE DRAFT during the Viet Nam War,
then skipped out to France for extraordinary length of time when church missionary tours were limited.
When Romney came home, he sided with his dad that the whole Viet Nam War was a scam and that he was against the war.
Promoting the draft, while Americans were dying, he skipped out, then says he wishes he could have participated. His whole life has been a lie.
Romney is a COWARD, Lying, Draft Dodger, who promoted someone else to die for him, that is his way of management.
Some may want anyone but Obama, but this guy ranks with Jane Fonda and should not be given anything or elected for anything.
For those who are not old enough to remember the military draft, it was a mandatory commitment for two years that was implemented during the Viet Nam War. If your number was called, you went and served like it or not. Young people may say, I wouldn't go and they can't make me, think again.
This is what Romney promoted as if he were a "responsible citizen", then he left his fellow citizens to serve and some died for us and him. I am ashamed of him as I am retired military member, and forget about representing our country Mr. Romney.
I am one of the Military members who are against Romney, and appose his bid for president.
Oh no its Fairly Reliable Bob again spouting off about his 30 years of military sacrifice and bitterness because he never got out from behind his supply desk... Yawn....
Hey, I say let the Bush tax cuts expire, send this economy over the cliff and watch and laugh as all the entitlement dependants panic and whine... Like Romney said, the rich don't and aren't going to need your help...
What conservatives fail to understand is that taxes are too low. We have reduced revenue to the degree that we can no longer pay our bills. We need to raise taxes. However, to raise taxes on the middle class at this time would probably stall the recovery because it would take money out of circulation. In addition, raising taxes on the wealthy does not take money out of circulation because the wealthy have money in offshore accounts and the like. The money is already out of circulation. The wealthy are going to spend what they spend, regardless of whether or not they have to pay a few more percentage points in taxes. They have enough money not to be affected by the tax increase. Please note that the extension of tax cuts for the middle class is only for one year, after which it will be looked at again. The condition of the economy at that time will determine the efficacy of continued tax cuts.
The rich will not starve or quit creating jobs (if they actually do) or experience hardship if their tax rate is increased. They created more jobs before the tax cuts than they do now. So that argument just doesn't work.
Yes. It is the Republicans who are willing to drive us off the cliff. All they would have to do is agree to study the tax cuts for the rich as a separate issue and the drive toward the cliff would stop. But they won't do that because even they know that a straight up and down vote on tax cuts for the rich would be a non-starter for them. They must tie it to the whole budget package in order to sell it. Yes, they can read the poll numbers. They know that they would be seen for what they are, the mouthpieces of the 1%, and they know that it would be the end of the reign of terror against the 99% of the country.