GOP Congressman Won’t Extend Middle Class Tax Cuts To Avoid Giving ‘Control’ To Democrats
Source: Think Progress
Earlier this week, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) sought to overcome the GOPs resistance to voting on a Senate-passed measure that would extend Bush-era tax cuts to middle class Americans by introducing a discharge petition that, if signed by 218 members, could force the House to take-up the measure. Some Republicans, weary of the overwhelming public support for raising rates on the richest two percent of Americans, have urged the GOP leadership to allow the vote, but have yet to formally sign Pelosis discharge. Republican leadership continues to insist on extending tax cuts for all Americans, while President Obama said he would only sign legislation that would maintain reductions for individuals who earn $200,000 or less and couples who make $250,000 or less.
But in a recent photo-op with constituents, Rep. John Duncan (R-TN) explained why Republicans are refusing to give in. The Tennessee Republican admitted that he wont vote to extend tax cuts to 98 percent of Americans because doing so would cede control to Democrats.
Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/12/08/1305601/gop-congressman-explains-why-he-wont-extend-middle-class-tax-cuts-it-would-give-control-to-the-democrats/
Wouldn't you love being a Republican member of the House? You get to flip the bird to your constituents secure in the knowledge that Freedom Works and billionaires like Koch and Sheldon Adelson will bankroll your campaign.
BainsBane
(53,031 posts)It tells the American people all we need to know. Our lives and livelihood mean nothing to the GOP.
zbdent
(35,392 posts)Dole to vote AGAINST disabilities benefits, with the voice-over pointing out what they were voting against ...
Also a good one
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Remember they are the ones Romney called the greatest threat and those clowns voted for him.
Then they vote for that? Communist world takeover by Obama and the Democrats, huh?
The GOP doth protest too much, methinks,
NHDEMFORLIFE
(489 posts)I'd make this the centerpiece for an ad right now. Let's slap some high-pressure tactics on these lunatics.
haikugal
(6,476 posts)We should be hammering on this...
ROBROX
(392 posts)So we are not smart enough to set the way back machine to review why the GOP is EVIL. We are the political party of GOOD which does not talk about BAD. One of these days our party may be mature enough to remind other of the dirty tricks the GOP plays with the public. We do have the intelligence factor which means it will take a big effort to dumb down the facts so those who do not have the cognizant ability can understand right from wrong.
no_hypocrisy
(46,087 posts)SharonAnn
(13,772 posts)His father was congressman before him and there are those who think that when he retires, his son will win the position.
It seems there's a long history here of political "dynasties" and they are somewhat expected. And the same few people serve on every political or community organization in the area.
Guess they think there's only a very small pool of talent available and that none of the other 99.99 percent of the people could possibly have anything to contributes.
So, political control is held tightly and wielded forcefully. As in, "You and your kin will never work in this town again!", if you cross the Powers That Be.
Interestingly, they haven't had to worry about us Yankee retirees who have moved here because of them vote Republican. They haven't bothered to figure out this is a very Southern, right-wing, religious fundamentalist type of Republicanism.
For these people, it's truly ALL ABOUT THE POWER! Not about effective governing, not about the well-being of their country or even their community. Just POWER!
Mel Content
(123 posts)"...President Obama said he would only sign legislation that would maintain reductions for individuals who earn $200,000 or less and couples who make $250,000 or less.
apparently, President Obama needs to take a class in civics, and learn a little about our tax system- the tax breaks would be on the first $200K/$250K of EVERYONE'S income- not just people earning less than that amount.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)Mel Content
(123 posts)if the reporter is mis-characterizing what Obama said- they need to step down in favor of someone who knows the job.
TomCADem
(17,387 posts)Otherwise, why would you insist that President Obama "needs to take a class in civics":
...President Obama needs to take a class in civics, and learn a little about our tax system- the tax breaks would be on the first $200K/$250K of EVERYONE'S income- not just people earning less than that amount
Mel Content
(123 posts)I didn't put the words in his mouth.
patrice
(47,992 posts)Mel Content
(123 posts)patrice
(47,992 posts)FACT #1 about any kind of media: it interprets, paraphrases, synopsizes, some more, some less validly.
The presence or absence of quotation marks are a clue about whether a writer is paraphrasing or not.
Mel Content
(123 posts)if the reporter is mis-characterizing what Obama said- they need to be told to find a more suitable line of work.
patrice
(47,992 posts)of what "authority" delivers to us from the seat$$$$ of power.
Not sure that you should be on the internet; you may be in over your head here if you can't regard information as at least to some degree hypothetical, a degree that is significantly affected by the presence of quotation marks.
Mel Content
(123 posts)dlwickham
(3,316 posts)Mel Content
(123 posts)one has to consider the source...
dlwickham
(3,316 posts)janx
(24,128 posts)Maybe you can explain this better.
David__77
(23,372 posts)It is only the marginal income above a certain threshold that will be taxed at a higher rate.
janx
(24,128 posts)he was saying.
I don't know how one can be taxed on $190,000 if one is making $40,000.
Mel Content
(123 posts)what doesn't make sense? do you understand how our graduated marginal tax rates work...?
janx
(24,128 posts)"the tax breaks would be on the first $200K/$250K of EVERYONE'S income- not just people earning less than that amount"
This is contradictory.
What does this even mean?
The proposal is to extend the Bush tax cuts for people making less than $200K in gross annual income.
Mel Content
(123 posts)the proposal is to extend the Bush tax cuts on the first $200,000 of EVERYONE'S income.
if that's too difficult to understand, perhaps you should take a class in civics.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)The tax cuts to be retained are on the FIRST 250K of income.
That means, if you make 1 million per year, you keep the lower rate on 250K of it.
The reduced rate for income up to 250k is for everyone, whether you make 50 thousand or 50 million.
BainsBane
(53,031 posts)And has repeatedly made the very point you accuse him of not knowing.
Mel Content
(123 posts)since i wasn't there- i have to rely on what those who were, report.
janx
(24,128 posts)Mel Content
(123 posts)what i commented on was taken directly from it.
BainsBane
(53,031 posts)And it is a commonly repeated one, but to insist the President needs a civics class is ridiculous. I'm not sure if your problem is in how you wrote the post or in your understanding of the article.
Mel Content
(123 posts)other people seem to, however.
BainsBane
(53,031 posts)That must cause a lot of misunderstanding.
high density
(13,397 posts)The GOP just says "OMG JOB KILLER!" and instead of responding with the facts, the Democrats have no response.
Mel Content
(123 posts)apparently not.
blackspade
(10,056 posts)Do you have a problem with raising the rates on income over 200K/250K?
If so, why?
Mel Content
(123 posts)my point is that too many people don't understand how our marginal tax rates work- apparently including supposed "journalists" that cover President Obama for ThinkProgress.
please don't tell me that i have to add you to that list as well.
blackspade
(10,056 posts)I made no conclusion.
I asked you several questions.
You answered one of them.
But you are still blathering on about marginal tax rates and folks lack of understanding.
So what is your point?
Mel Content
(123 posts)my point's been made.
blackspade
(10,056 posts)But I guess that is your position?
I just asked the question.
janx
(24,128 posts)It's appalling.
Cha
(297,178 posts)so well. Evil Persists but it does get wiped by good when they least expect it.
AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)The President, we have been assured, doesn't have real power in the presence of Republican opposition.
If he otherwise had real power, he could pick up the phone, call Rep. John Duncan (R-TN), and tell Duncan that he was going to have to start closing every military base in Tennessee -- starting with the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Duncan's district.
Unfortunately, however, our President is apparently just a figurehead who can take no action without the approval of Republicans.
calimary
(81,220 posts)Turbineguy
(37,322 posts)isn't?
Obama still has the powers the repubs gave to Bush. He could probably send them to Gitmo.
You have to wonder about the logic...(or lack of)...
The Wizard
(12,542 posts)They are self destructive and don't give a damn about who gets hurt from their intransigence. The only solution is to make a stronger effort to remove them form office in 2014.
They may have the majority but the raw numbers show that the majority nation wide voted for Democrats.
DearAbby
(12,461 posts)Make Bob Cratchet work until he is 70, just dont tax dear Scrooge.
Cut medical costs to Tiny Tim, please dont tax dear Scrooge.
Take the food off the Crachet table, For the love of money dont tax dear old Scrooge.
This is a losing battle for them, they are going to cling to the wealthy to the bitter end. Imagine if the GOP fought this hard to defend your tax cuts...whats that? They are using them as a lever? Middle class is now a pawn in their party game?
janx
(24,128 posts)Great metaphor, by the way.
judesedit
(4,438 posts)Don't worry the 99% of this country whose taxes are raised due to Republican greed, will rise up. Obama should DOUBLE the amount of the increase in their taxes every time they stall and obstruct. They'll come around. By the way...we are all paying the least tax in 30 years. The 1%-ers are still paying less even when their goes back to being what it was during Clinton. I believe they're paying 37% or so when it used to be 91% at one point. Wake up, people. The GOP knows it will help the country immensly automatically, so they don't dare want it to lapse. All of the people will know the truth and that they've been lied to all of this time.
titanicdave
(429 posts)with 98% of the American people's lives.......typical repug bullshit
fascisthunter
(29,381 posts)GiaGiovanni
(1,247 posts)?
fascisthunter
(29,381 posts)Would you marry me?
GiaGiovanni
(1,247 posts)McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)They are already digging their own graves for 2014.
love_katz
(2,579 posts)Let's help them dig!
I am sure many of us would happily ahem....trickle down on their graves.
snogwabble
(2 posts)The problem is that the huge US Federal debt is there. George W. Bush created it when he was President when he had the ' moral high ground ' with 9/11. He incompetantly over-spent on fake patriotism, and he slashed tax for the affluent, in a frenetic Class War. The debt is now out of control. The Democrats have the financial know-how to fix it, and they have the Presidential Office, and the Senate. But the crumby Conservatives have the Congress, and the Conservatives will simply backslide, obstruct, put on righteous conservative attitudes and airs, which are all crass and totally phoney, but they will do this to greedily hang onto their ill-gotten wealth, and indeed continue to raid the Government till in uniteral bargaining relating to House trade-offs. The conservative piggery also have the Fox media entirely behind them, and a declining intelligence quotient across the broader American population.