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Even before voters finished casting ballots in House races across the country, the Republican leadership in the chamber began girding for a major battle over taxes and spending in the weeks after the election.
Confident that Republicans would retain their majority in the House, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told POLITICO that GOP lawmakers would reject any new taxes on households in the highest income tax bracket.
"We’re not raising taxes on small-business people," Boehner said. "Our majority is going to get re-elected ... We’ll have as much of a mandate as he will — if that happens — to not raise taxes."
Al Behrman / AP
Speaker John Boehner talks with reporters outside Ronald Reagan Lodge after voting, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in West Chester, Ohio.
Consider Boehner's comments the first public salvo in a coming battle over how to best address the so-called "fiscal cliff," the mixture of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts set to take effect at the beginning of 2013.
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The fiscal cliff involves the expiration of the 2001 Bush tax cuts for all tax brackets and a two-year payroll tax cut, both of which are scheduled to sunset at the end of this year, barring action by Congress. Also set to take effect are the automatic spending cuts set forth in the 2011 debt ceiling deal, which were designed to be so distasteful that lawmakers would reach a compromise on how to best address mounting U.S. debt.
A standoff between the Obama administration, a Democratic Senate and a conservative Republican House of Representatives yielded no deal, leaving the fiscal cliff in its stead. Economists have warned that, if nothing happens to change those deadlines, any economic recovery would be imperiled. Moreover, the cuts fall heavily upon the defense budget, a cut which military leaders have warned could endanger American security.
GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan votes at the Hedberg Public Library in Janesville, Wisconsin.
This gridlock might dissipate if voters elect Romney as president on Tuesday. But if Obama wins a second term and the Senate stays in Democratic hands, the stalemate that helped produce so much disillusionment and nastiness this election could rear its head again in the coming weeks.
"You have to do something, and the best way to do it is by growing the economy," California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the Republicans' whip in the House, said Tuesday on MSNBC. "Now, we are going to have a fiscal cliff between now and the end of the year -- from the debt limit to the looming tax increases to sequestration. But all those ideas have been passed by the House to solve those. It's the Senate that has not acted."
That rhetoric might sound familiar to any reader who has tracked the incessant bickering between the Obama administration and Congress over the past two years.
But amid the bluster that has begun to emerge from Capitol Hill, President Barack Obama's team seemed more upbeat.
Before the president made his way home to Chicago, he made one final campaign stop where his journey to the Oval Office began – in Iowa. Obama Senior Adviser Robert Gibbs discusses.
"This election, when the president's re-elected, should break this fever of Washington gridlock," Obama adviser Robert Gibbs, the former White House press secretary, said on MSNBC. "It's time that Republicans come to the table and understand that we've got to get something done on the big pressing issues of our time."
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So uhmm no one decided to vote out the extremist nutjob GOP of both house and Senate? How stupid are Americans these days?
It is not outside the realm of possibility that the GOP will lose their House majority, but it is not likely. It is much more likely that their majority will be greatly reduced. That would send a powerful message to the rest. I think they would be more inclined to co-operate.
The night is young. and
The Moon is Down
John, I hope you are right. It seems as though getting to that inclination, will be tougher than moving a mountain.
Stupid enough to keep voting for moronic democrats.
The pendulum swings both ways.
How stupid are we to keep the democrats in congress that are refusing to be responsible and are spending our country into oblivion.
Way to compromise. I'm not surprised though. Obama and most dems are willing to make cuts that will make the people on the left upset in exchange for also raising taxes a bit on the wealthy so that there is shared sacrifice, but republicans all signed that stupid Grover Norquist pledge and are being held to it and they will not compromise on any kind of tax hike, even though the majority of economists and quite a few big businesses and wealthy folks have come out and said that raising taxes needs to be part of the deal in order to get the deficit under control. Repubs are the obstructionist party though, so it's just par for the course.
Grover Norquist will go down in the history book as a traitor to his nation.
With the recent recession, I would hope many Americans have realized the necessity of increasing income (raising taxes) and reducing spending is necessary to balance a budget, and is much more effective than doing just one or the other. I don't make a lot of money, but the tax cuts expiring wouldn't put me in the poor house.
Oh you laughable lib. Your feared-by-no-one Senate leader Harry "Cadaver" Reid just spewed some verbal diarrhea a couple of days ago that he would never work with Romney if he became president. Typical sanctimonious libs. God I hope you lose big.
If you think this is a "win" situation for any side than you are quite naive. Our economic challenges are huge, either party has it's work cut out. These last 4 years have been filled with political jousting. It's time to get serious no matter who lands in the WH.
The question is who's got the balls to do the right thing as opposed to doing the bidding of ALL special economic interests?
Let us not forget why the economy didn't recover faster. Republicans pledged to take the nation down in order to make President Obama a one term President!
WHY DON'T RT WINGERS AND REPUBS BRAG ABOUT HOW THEY DELIBERATELY PREVENTED THE ECONOMY GETTING BETTER FASTER?
REPUBS CAUSE THE ECONOMY TO GROW SLOW, THEN WHINE THAT IT IS NOT GROWING!
RYAN SABOTAGES THE ECONOMY. REPUBS BLOCK BRINGING OFFSHORE JOBS BACK TO AMERICA.
REPUBS DO THEIR BEST TO MAKE AMERICA WORSE!
From dailykos.com 9/6/12 by keepemhonest Story : MAtt APPUZZO FACT CHECK THIS.2009 PAUL RYAN PLOTTED TO SABOTAGE THE ECONOMY.
FACT 1. In Robert Draper's book, "Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the U.S. House of Representatives" Draper wrote that on inauguration night, 2009, during a four hour, "invitation only" meeting with GOP Hate-Propaganda Minister, Frank Luntz, the below listed Senior GOP Law Writers literally plotted to sabotage, undermine and destroy America's Economy.
FACT 2: Draper wrote the guest list included:
The Guest List:
Frank Luntz - GOP Minister of Propaganda
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA),
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX),
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX),
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA),
Sen. Jim DeMint (SC-R),
Sen. Jon Kyl (AZ-R),
Sen. Tom Coburn (OK-R),
Sen. John Ensign (NV-R) and
Sen. Bob Corker (TN-R).
Newt Gingrich
Repukicuns have kept their pledge and kept America's recovery as slow as possible. They proudly and publicly say they want our president to fail which clearly means they want America's leader to fail. And, they call themselves patriots!! The only patriotism they show is for themselves - the 1%
VOTE DEMOCRATIC 2012 and BEYOND!
mt.....thats funny. The dems are willing to compromise....since when?
Even if Obama is re-elected, even Plastic Pelosi knows the libs don't stand a chance in hell of taking back the House. Taxes will not be raised - period.
I see our resident GOPers are announcing returns in big capital bold letters. Get a clue, we already know Indiana is a red state.
Chickens, pre-hatched, counting... not wise.
In the 21st century, the United States government could best be characterized as a government of fools, by fools, for fools.
Then how do you propose we pay down the deficit? It will take a concerted effort on ALL fronts.
Libtards and Teatards are Retards who wear Leotards.
Watch them dance the dance of fools, at your expense :))))
Boooahh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !
Here is my challenge to the 1% ers. I'm looking at you Adellson. If your man Romney gets elected and in turn you get to bring your off shore revenue in to America tax free, and you get to keep your Bush tax cuts, and you get EPA regulations loosened in order to increase your bottom line.
Are you still going to sit on your wealth and only circulate it around the uber wealthy merry go round?
Or, are you finally going to give a little something back like creating more industry here at home? Ya know the home that Romney is going to give your free reign over?
You people are going to turn this country's government into an Oligarchy.
That never ends well.
If Romney is NOT elected, federal prosecutors will continue investigating the multi-billionaire Adelson who will pocket a fast $1.9 BILLION (if he were to give just $100 MILLION to the Repubs as he promised)... that's just what's waiting offshore right now. His TAXFREE cashflow will continue FOREVER. Adelson was trying to bribe foreign officials in regards to his casinos off the CHINA mainland. I would dearly love to see Mr. Obama win, if only to see Adelson put in a cage for the rest of his morbid life. If you visit some of his lovely casinoes perhaps you will find some of the appliances made at the CHINA appliance factory that MITT ROMNEY invested in thru Bain Capital. Yes, a 6% interest and they make marvelous profits by only paying 39 CENTS PER DAY to each employee who is provided housing with triple bunkbeds and about 100 women to share VERY limited bathroom facilities. Yes, with MITT in charge, America can enjoy the same generousity of the super wealthy like Adelson and the guy with the secret tax returns, MITT ROMNEY. He didn't show them in 1994 running for senator, in 2002 for governor and now while running for PRESIDENT of the U.S. Who are we, but the lowly voters who were burned by a ripoff election in 2000 with "Dubya" who ran up monster debts and now we're experiencing the fairness of Republican politics... it isn't the details that count in MITT'S plans or his tax returns or the "missing" financial records of the 2002 Olympics just "TRUST HIM." And, you can trust him to finish what DUBYA started. Boo-yah!
The New Republican Mantra...Save the Whale.....taxes! I personally hope President Obama wins the election and lets the damned George Bush temporary tax cuts from 2001 go the way of the dodo bird!
And all you folks who somehow believe the rate increase you are about to get because the Republicans refuse to increase taxes on the rich and will seek to put the blame on President Obama's shoulders, maybe you should look in the mirror and blame yourselves for supporting the Republicans, while they are on this anti-Women, anti-poor, anti-Middle Class, anti-Science, anti-evolution, anti-Global Warming fantasy they refuse to deal with, just so the Koch Brothers can pump funds into the Republican Party and launder money into California Politics, which I hope they will get some jail-time over!
Why shouldn't the millionaires and the billionaires give more because they make more? Why should Apple pay less than 1 per cent in US taxes for the 85 billion they have made from selling the Iphones and accessories overseas?
Just think what our government could pay down if we could depend upon the hidden money in the hidden LLC's in the Cayman Islands.....we could pay down the deficit!
Boner stakes out the no compromise position knowing he can count on the MSM to keep saying "both sides are guilty." It's time to think that through. Reality says when you threaten no compromise, you cause the gridlock.
In early December I hope Obama holds a news conference and tells the US that due to the fact that the people who negotiated the agreement and have been unwilling to make the necessary decisions, the early months of his second term in 2013 may be hard but when the new congress comes in there will be agreement and changes will be made for the good of the country. On a taxable income of approximately $50,000, I pay about $11,000 in combined state/federal/local income taxes. I am willing to accept paying another 5% if that helps the situation.
You won't pay any more no matter what happens. The president is talking about taxing any taxable income over $250,000 an additional 3%.
It won't help. It NEVER has. They have and will spend it and want more and more. Cut government spending first.
The president is holding all the cards in this fight. If Boehner doesn't compromise and all the taxes go up on January 1. He will be blamed and forced to cave anyway. He knows it but he is trying to hold on to his speakers job. I doubt he will be able to succeed and he will lose it to Cantor.
Its one thing to say this is what I stand for, it's something else to say this is what I stand for and if you don't like it tuff @!$%#! I was very disappointed today when I went to vote in my district and I saw no one was running against Boehner. What the hell happened fellow democrats? Did you just decide we all liked the alcoholic?
Ask a serious question in response to a moronic GOPer remark on here and it's crickets crickets.
Natch.
Too true Sir. Boner announcing he will never relinquish his role as A-Hole in chief.
Boehner's comments reflect that he and his gang are what is terribly wrong with this country. Small business owners and 80 CEO's of Fortune 500 companies agree with the president's policies unlike Boehner and his tea buddies. Simple, Boehner is the leader of the pack who has been choking this nation's economic growth by pledge to an extortionist. Boehner and his gang have held our nation hostage for an elite few. I have never known any fellow American to obstruct or prevent their neighbor, town, county, state, or this country to prosper. When I grew up people who did such things were called Communists who gained control of every breathing moment underhandedly. America never negotiates or honors extortionists especially those against our country. All those who signed a piece of paper pledging allegiance to Norquist need to be fired and investigated. Their signature is an anti-American endorsement by political extortion. Norquist is a nobody with a piece of paper that he threatens as blackmail. Horquist actions exemplify what communist leaders did in the past. Boehner has proven his stupidity to fall for such tactics. They have held the people's government hostage for too long and a special prosecutor is long over due looking into this bunch.
Mary....that is such a lie. Less than 20% of small business owners or fortune 500 companies like Obama. Obama's policies kill economic growth, not Boehner.
Not true Mary. Just not rue.
boehnor answers only to money.
Hey Canary, do you feel better?
You must be unemployed and collecting the last of your 99 weeks from the coal mines closing because Obama doesn't want coal so I sure hope you can eat dirt after it runs out.
Just think, if Obama and his Momma wins you can count on 4 more years of NOTHING!
Boehner can't cave in if he does its the end of the Republican party. Cause if taxes go up on those who make over $250,000 per year, and the economy fairs well and we reduce our indebtedness, then the Republican party will have lost the argument on lower taxes grow the economy, and their economic ideology because a moot point.
Great Bipartisanship. Boehnerhead calls it a mandate that the House retains the house. How about the Democrats seeing the Financial Cliff as being a albatross for the Republicans. Boehnerhead is hoping to kick the can down the road. If Obama wins, isn't that a mandate for Obamacare?
The Republican Party has become a wearisome fraternity prank, assured membership, only by agreeing to debasement in the extreme will they gain GOP loyalty at the expense of humanity. There is much to gain in being able to dismiss GOP, without a breath of argument, talking to them makes you a fool.
That was stupid.
What is the matter with you idiots? There's nothing wrong with NOT raising taxes on ANYONE. You just follow the big spending leader and yell "let's get "revenge" on the rich." When the cry from ALL Americans should be "let's cut the spending FIRST. NOT slow it down. CUT it. What part of there is no money do you idiots not understand? The taxes you are screaming about won't pay the stupid lunch tip. STOP SPENDING!!! Come on everyone. STOP SPENDING. It is actually beyond any understanding I can muster as to how people think they can spend more than they make and get crazy violent mad when the money runs out. Someone please explain how you spend more than you have. Not a democrat out there can explain to me how you spend more than you make and make sense. (Last two words is the trickiest part)
Joethejust,
If you are so smart, tell us what specific spending you want us to cut. If you add Social Security payments, Medicare and Medicaid, Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans benefits and the interest on the national debt, you've included 90% of the federal budget. If you take all of the rest to zero you still have a near trillion dollar deficit.
Let me test your commitment to not raising taxes on some folks. Suppose that Congress raised capital gains tax rates to the same as ordinary income and then used the extra revenue to lower the rates for everyone on salary. Would you like that, or would you prefer to continue subsidizing the nice low rates Romney enjoys?
Cut:
SS
Medi-Scare
Medicaid
Defense
Homeland Security
VA
and all other parts of the budget.
Then, just think Demoncats, you won't be wasting so much of your tax money (those of you who do pay) on interest on the debt...right now a good chunk of your tax money goes just to debt interest and not to any of your fave handout programs
We Draw a Hard Line, Demoncats. A Very Hard Line.
But, yah, drop dead on any budget increases or any other plans you have, even if Obama wins, unless you can get our agreement in the House. The fruits of our 63 seat victory will be enjoyed for a long time. We'll have the House till 2022.
All of you diehard Obama haters probably missed it, but the CEO's of 80 major corporations recently went public advocating a combination of tax increases and spending cuts as the only way to address the debt crisis. They have recognized that it is impossible to cut spending enough to reduce the deficit without causing huge problems for the economy. Now some very smart business leaders have realized that the balanced approach advocated by Obama is the right strategy. All of you Tea Party economic illiterates keep supporting the Bush strategy that almost destroyed the economy. Is there another word to describe that other than insanity?
Hey, dumb Demoncat...you guys always talk about cutting govt along with raising taxes, but you never get around to the cutting part of that equation......so make some big cuts, then we'll talk about some tiny tax hikes, across the board, shared by everyone.
Ever hear a parent at Western Union tell the kid on the phone,
" I ain't sending you no mo money till you cut your spending".
lol jdbird, nice......had a relative that worked at one of those, so I get the general gist here.