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Subscribe to RSSAnyone thinking Republicans might be ready to accept extending the Bush tax cuts for those making less than $250,000 now, think again.
House Speaker John Boehner (R), the man at the center of negotiations with President Obama, today rejected Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole’s suggestion to pass an extension of tax cuts for 98 percent of people, declare victory, and go home.
Yuri Gripas / Reuters
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) speaks next to Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, November 28, 2012.
"I told Tom earlier at our conference meeting that I disagreed with him,” Boehner said at a Capitol Hill news conference Wednesday morning. “He's a wonderful friend of mine and a great supporter of mine. In my view, raising taxes on the so-called top 2 percent, half of those taxpayers are small-business owners that pay their taxes through their personal income filing every year. The goal here is to grow the economy and control spending; you're not going to grow the economy if you raise the top 2 percent rates. It'll hurt small businesses, and it'll hurt our economy, why this is not the right approach. We're willing to put revenue on the table as long as we are not raising rates."
Cole (R-OK) on Wednesday reiterated his call for Congress to pass an extension of the Bush tax rates for those making less than $250,000 first and then work on the extension for higher-earners later, a major break from the Republican's strategy in fiscal-cliff negotiations.
“In my view, we all agree that we're not going to raise taxes on people who make less than $250,000 dollars, so we should just take them out of this discussion right now,” Cole said after a meeting of the GOP Conference. “Continue to fight against any rate increases; continue to try to work, honestly, for a much bigger deal.”
NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro discuss the ongoing fiscal cliff negotiations and how Grover Norquist's no-tax-increase pledge plays into the discussion. Plus, what happened when Susan Rice made a visit to The Hill.
Cole, the deputy whip and former National Republican Congressional Committee chairman, first made the suggestion during a closed-door "whip meeting" yesterday, which was first reported by Politico last night. His comments have drawn criticism from those in his party.
Boehner is not the only Republican to disagree with Cole. Rep. Sean Duffy said on MSNBC’s Daily Rundown Wednesday morning that he believed Cole’s views are in the “minority” of House Republicans. In fact, interviews with other GOP members confirms that.
The lack of support for Cole’s proposal highlights the gap that persists between the White House and House Republicans with the clock ticking toward the so-called “fiscal cliff,” when all Americans would see tax increases and there would be a round a severe Defense and domestic spending cuts unless a deal is struck.
“Cherry picking provisions and rates right now doesn’t solve the problem, and they're not a serious deficit solution,” Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) told reporters today after a meeting of the Republican Conference.
Brady, who sits on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, said he is advocating for comprehensive tax reform, to be completed next year after all rates would be extended.
“I think we're strongly unified behind no tax increases on New Year’s Day,” he said.
Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID) echoed Brady’s concerns, saying he believes the majority of the Republican Conference, including himself, is opposed to the idea of decoupling the Bush tax rates.
“We have to make tough decisions about our tax rates,” Labrador said. “We have to make tough decisions about our spending; we have to make tough decisions about our deficit. Let's do that today. There's nothing courageous about saying let's raise taxes on a few people today.”
In August, House Democrats proposed a bill that would do exactly what Cole proposed, but it failed 257-170 with no Republicans voting for the bill, and 19 Democrats voting against it.
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Wait wait wait..am I on TV yet..wait give me a mirror..have to checkout my TAN and make sure its OK.
Raising taxes on "The Wealthy" (or a married couple with three children that make over $250,000.00 a year say a registered Nurse and a Union Electrician with a little OT) will raise about $64 billion.
The yearly deficit is $1.2 trillion.
The $64 billion will cover approximately 5% of that deficit so where is the other 95% coming from?
The Leftist Tax the rich ploy Barry is still Campaigning for is just a distraction from the abject failure his administration was for the first four years and continues to be now.
Fodder for the uninformed that put him back in office.
You don't speak for me. You are stringing together a bunch of BS facts (which aren't true). There is no abject failure, except by the Congress. Your ploy to upset people is useless. We see through GOP nonsense. Get a life.
And you don't speak for me, yet you did not dispute any of the facts posted don't trust me look it up yourself the truth will set you free.
Until people see the real problem there will be no solution.
Fast and furious and the subsequent cover up by claiming "Executive Privilege" is an abject failure.
The Benghazi debacle is an Abject failure.
The destabilization of the Middle East through a weak foreign policy is an abject failure.
Get it.
Here are some facts, Long Term, and sad to say your numbers are ridiculously off!
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxtopics/upload/2013-Budget-Analysis-FINAL-3.pdf
We basically have two competing views for America. One says that government should be small and let businesses do their own thing unhampered, which will allow free market capitalism create economic growth. The other says that government should be as large as needed to provide for the general welfare of the people, to educate them, ensure their health care, house the homeless, take care of people in times of need, and to help provide the physical and social infrastructure that creates a decent standard of living in which an economy may thrive. If you look back to the time of the Eisenhower administration, you can see a federal government that understood that government must provide a balancing force to private markets. Eisenhower ensured education and homes for returning vets, built an incredible infrastructure of highways for commerce and travel, and raised suspicions against what he called the "military industrial complex" because he feared the unholy alliance of the military, the industrialists, and the politicians. Unions were strong, as was industry, and there was an incredible expansion of the middle class. We can't recreate those conditions, but we can adopt a view of an America where the government plays a strong role in the welfare of the people and keeps the forces of industry from rigging the game. Unfortunately, the Republican Party of today resembles a group of elitists that, for the benefit of the few, is willing to demonize the government and strip it of revenue while blaming the people themselves for the lack of economic opportunity that exists today, pitting working people against other working people by playing up the myths of lazy minorities and socialist conspiracies, and using cultural issues of guns, abortion, and religion. They have played this game since the Nixon administration and, even though the demographics have changed, seem to be sticking to this warped view of the country as if they have come to believe it themselves. I say, screw 'em. If anything, the last election proved that the people are smarter than the politicians who peddle fear. I hope that there are enough honest Republicans left to remake the party into more of the centrist force that it used to be, fiscal conservatives with an appreciation of the role that our government plays in a democratic commonwealth.
That is what the GOP stands for. The rest of your argument is just a strawman. No one I know or ever heard believes what you suggest that the GOP stands for. Your description of the GOP is simply wrong.
I have always said if Capitalism is the Invisible Right hand of the economy Democracy is the Invisible Left hand that keeps it balanced. Its often brushed under the table that schools, roads, bridges, the Army, Navy, Airforce, our Court system, our Police, our Firefighters, are the instruments that make the Free Market possible. Its the EPA that keep businesses safe from lawsuits that I would otherwise be able to exercise my right to sue if they did not establish allowable amounts of mercury in the air and other known pollutants, its Taxpayer money and the government that established the FDIC which keeps savings viable. There are so many thing that make capitalism what it is that are conveniently ignored in pursuit of ideology.
Then, please tell me what Romney meant when he said that 47% of Americans do not want to be responsible for their own lives. Or why Boehner lied and said that half of the elite 2% were small business owners. Whatever you think the Republican party stands for, they have depended on the likes of Limbaugh and his ilk to stir up hatred based on the self-loathing of people who want to blame someone for their failure to achieve the American dream and join the wealthy. More now than ever before, the Republican party represents the interests of the elite few and are willing to do anything to preserve their wealth.
Yeah I am a conservative democrat, still waiting for the conservatives to show up, until then the GOP is wackadoo as far as I am concerned.
Windy......Well, half of the "elite" 2% are small business owners. I think that Romney was wrong when he said "47%". Personally, I think that he was talking about people who wouldn't vote for him because Obama was "giving" them stuff and put the 47% in because 47% didn't pay taxes. Personally, I see the democrats representing the elites and leaving the middle class to suffer. They do that in the guise of helping the middle class, but nothing they do actually helps and all too often it hurts the middle class.
We need less taxes at the federal,state and local levels.We need less spending at the federal,state and local levels.That will fix the recession.People who are always in favor of more taxes for the wealthy are jealous.We should have a 3 % flat federal tax so that everybody pays equally and the government needs to stop the wasteful spending.
Maybe a few less wars financed on the country's credit card would help. As for the flat tax, do you really think Romney gets a W-2?
I have no idea if Romney receives a W-2. And funding less wars would help as would cutting government to the bone.The private sector shrunk tremendously in the last decade and that is what funds the public sector.Less money coming in means less spending.Both parties are guilty of spending money that the U.S. does not have.
HEAR THIS, THOSE OF YOU MAKING LESS THAN $250,000 IN TAXABLE INCOME!
The republicans will NOT unequivically lowering your taxes despite the fact that OVER 60% of Americans believe they should do so while NOT extending the Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest among us. How do you feel about that?
equivocation
You are dumb
bandjammer, you're the stupid one. The other way of stating it is that the republicans will not lower your taxes without equivocation". If you're one of those unwelcome hair-splitters or a member of the overly-obsessive spelling police go someplace else to ply your mindless chatter.
That's because you're an elitist and you're comfortable with the maldistribution of wealth that we have in this country.
@windy: Is that what you call it? If so, I'd like to know what your definition of 'maldistribution' is.
Both sides redistribute wealth. Look at the 401K, the GOP redistributed money I could otherwise put into home ownership and basically forces me with high penalties to turn it over to hedge fund managers until I am an old man. I can literally give them my money, and they can loan it back to me and make me pay intrest on my house, with my money, but I cant pay off my house. I have to give it to the banks, so they can hold it. Dont give me this re-distribution BS, they all do it. All I will say is, Id rather a little bit more be re-distributed back to me. Thats why I am a democrat.
Chris, looks like you stumped Jack!
@Bruce, if you had read any of my previous posts you'd know that I agree with him. Duh!
Get the job done. No more bitching.
Ah ... Now I understand. The GOP wants ALL the pie. Nice job Boehner & Cantor. Not.
They'll probably wait until sometime during the last week and pass something. My guess is the democrats will give in a little they always do.
The cost of one of the Biologics such as Enbrel runs about $26 to $30k a year.
Under Obamacare the Flexible spending account is capped for the year at $2500 previously there was no cap but some plans imposed a $5000 cap.
If your employer offers an 80% plan your end of the bill is $5200 to $6000.
Subtract the $2500 pre-tax dollars and your income just increased $2700 to $3500 thus increasing your taxes $350 to $400 at a 13% tax rate.
That's a nice car payment or food, Heating bill, school clothes for the kids..... well you get the picture.
The First Obamacare tax hike.
This is part of the bill I certainly do not like, but the bottom line is that it had to be paid for. Now you can continue to do what we have been doing. NOTHING, and offer a little bit more protection for the very few that can pack 10-20K away in an FSA, OR, you can shave that in order to pay for a much greater safety net that I think exceeds the car payment or heating bill (NOT typically what people with 10-20K a year in an FSA worry about). In return, everyone, including the ones who take a 300 hit, are guaranteed, that diabetes or high blood pressure will not keep them slaves to the idea of a corporate group policy as they would not be able to purchase insurance otherwise, maybe in pursuit of starting their own business. GOOD DEAL.
Additionally, you can make up for that cap by IRA's, stuffing more money into a 401K or Sep, or putting money into your business. Lets not pretend people maxed out on 401K contributions are sweating the heating bill, no pun intended.
Chris,Your idea sounds good on paper for those earning a living wage.I have healthcare from a former employer but am now self employed.Having to claim the money SBC contributes towards my health insurance a income is going to kill me.My increased monthly contribution means that I will be lowering the heat in the winter and air in the summer.And once again I have healthcare that I can't afford to use.I am barely making ends meet and can't contribute to an IRA.Add on the guy who broadsided my car last month,whose insurance company is refusing to pay the claim.That is real life happening to the sole business owner who has themself been pushed over the fiscal cliff.
How do you righties justify your party's refusal to cut taxes? They are so against taxes, for everyone, [they claim!] that they signed Grover's pledge, now they refuse to do this?
The republicans are for lower taxes for everyone, that's everyone in the 1% that is?.
Looks like more losses to come in future elections.
Now for over a year I have read about our economy and how sacrifices have to be made to assure the growth of our country. I would like to know EXACTLY who is going to sacrifice to keep America going? It sure as hell isn't going to be the wealthy...the ONLY group that a sacrifice wouldn't be felt. Can't raise taxes on the 47%...not enough revenue there. Can't raise taxes on the 53%, these guys can't be touched without bringing down Hell's wrath upon those that advocate for that. Well...there's the old, and there's the disabled, and there's the children, and there's the mentally incompetent, and there's all the children of rape, incest, coke & alcoholic parents that get benefits. We could just do away with all that spent on the sorry a**es that refuse to work. OR! Get ready...we could reduce to a minimum the salaries AND PERKS paid public servants that are worth over 1 million $ in assets and all Americans with money piled up in off shore accounts. You know how welfare is based on need?...these guys would be paid the same way...need. How bad do they need. Now that's the sacrifice I would like to see. And no...I am fortunate enough not to need government help. I saved all my working years through a great government plan, so I will be OK. Unless of course, the suits decide that they need mine and thousands and thousands of others like me, retirement savings to covers their salaries. Then I'm screwed.
Where were all these Conservative repubs. when George W....was spending us into this deep crevice????? All of a sudden their concerned.....When did the Bush tax cuts begin...somewhere in approx 2003.., so apparently not taxing the upper 2% created more jobs....So, at this time we should open the borders so we could fill all these jobs that were created by the tax cuts......WHERE ARE ALL THESE JOBS ...THE JOBS.. THESE jobs that the lower taxes were to have stimulated......
The Dems blew it up when they controlled Congress from 2006 to 2010.
Except they didnt. Google it, they had supermajority for 6 months.
If they actually get the job done early that just leaves us with one less thing to complain about, I sense boredom :)
Boehner is obviously inept as a negotiator to say the least. Political Hacks are useless when the chips are down.
Mr. Speaker of the House. The budget cuts should start with you and anyone that has been in the House half as long as you had. First, we need to cut out that retirement pay you feel you are entitled to. Second, cut that health care out that you feel you are entitled to. Third walk the walk that you talk. You are a elected offical, you need no housing perks and cars and per diem. Let us start with you, you walk the walk you talk Boehner. Put your retirement money in a fund on WS since it is such a good idea.
Why am I not surprised? The Republicans are up to the same old same old. More stalling around trying to kill the economy for the continued benefit of the overly bloated ultra-wealthy .01%. It's pretty obvious who Boehner and his Republican cronies answer to, and it's not the American people. Two big thumbs down to the GOP. We'll just keep booting them out of office until they are all gone and the rest of us can get the country back on track without their interference.
Not rich? Looks like you'll have to wait until the rich get theirs first, and we'll see what is left for you - the bill for the national debt.
Can Seal Team Six make a midnight visit to ALL of the House & Senate GOP Terrorist Morons? - Please start with Chief Moron & Thief Boehner and don't forget Cantor. Time to eliminate the greatest threats to America today!
If we All want to make a Difference...let sign a partition to make changes R included...
I am so Pissed Off that the Senate is Paid Big Buck for Results...Well, How are they doing my friends...Both side are not created Equal...
What a shame for Everyone...
I Want To Make A Difference...anyone on Board...
Let send Emails to those not on the Bus if we can access their Office someone here know where knows how and lets make sure the President is CC'd on all memo...
First of all, lets not forget. This tax cut extension is for EVERYONE, EVERYONE gets the first 250K. I can't believe the absurdity of the way this was packaged. Making the rich pay more of their share? You need tips on marketing this. You ask Americans if they would go for 250K in income with the tax extensions but after 250K it expires, so we can CONTROL OUR DEBT. You would see 90 percent in support.
Good point Chris. It's something that is rarely stated despite it's importance. Btw, despite the lack of good information flow American taxpayers still favor a balanced approach to reducing the deficit, and that includes raising taxes.
I'm continually amazed that republicans can keep trying to make the point that trickle down works where in fact there is not one iota of evidence to support their contention.
I agree. The problem is that we are doing nothing to control our debt. That tax won't even make a bit of difference. There have to be cuts, but the democrats are refusing anything meaningful.
The undeniable fact remains that the vast majority of Americans favor an increase in taxes as a part of a balanced approach to reducing the deficit. During the first six months of this year 19 different polls confirmed that and since June those results were repeatedly confirmed. It's time to move ahead in a direction that reflects the will of the people.
Republicans have agreed with that. The problem is that democrats are unwilling to cut as part of a balanced approach. Republicans offered $800 billion in new tax revenue last go around and Obama shot it down. A vast majority also favor a balanced budget and true spending cuts. Lets move ahead in the direction that reflects the will of the people.
@putamericafirst: Not true. Obama has indicated that he's intending on backing cuts in entitlement spending to the tune of $350B despite the will of his supporters. I call that REAL compromise as opposed to republicans who have steadfastly held to a no-tax increase approach.
Congress/Senate and Republicans especially, need to QUIT TALKING ABOUT ENTITLEMENTS until they pass legislation that: rolls back their pay raises, eliminates their special medical insurance and retirement benefits, along with their medical insurance after "retirement". Talk about ENTITLEMENTS....they need to understand that they are entitled to, and deserve no better than, their AVERAGE constituent. GET REAL AND GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!!!!
They did that about a decade ago for the most part.
Put...
Explain then the health care, the salary increases Congress votes for itself.
Say....there have been a few increases....but they have been reducing benefits for the past 10 years or so. Now you have to work much longer to get the same benefits they used to get.
Drunk a$$ boner don't know what he is doing. He been sucking on too many tea bags.
I remember that not too long ago a White House insider suggested that amateurs should not play poker with Obama. Boehner and Canter are definitely amateurs.