GOP’s Latest Fiscal Cliff Offer: Permanent Extension Of Bush Tax Cuts For The Wealthy

[TomCADem]

Source: Think Progress

CNN’s Dana Bash is reporting that House Republicans have offered an untenable new deal to the White House in the ongoing negotiations to avert the so-called fiscal cliff, demanding, Democratic sources say, that the Bush tax cuts for the top 2 percent of Americans be made permanent.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) unveiled the GOP position during a “tense” phone call Tuesday night with President Obama. The offer comes as Democrats say that any final deal must include an increase in marginal tax rates for the highest income earners and a growing number of Republicans are pressuring Boehner to give-in on the inscrease.

From Bash’s report on Wednesday morning:

BASH: I talked to a Democratic source who said that a counter offer that House Republicans sent back to the White House late yesterday included a call for a permanent extension of the Bush-era tax cuts for the top 2 percent. Now you know that we’ve been talking constantly about the fact that the biggest divide between the two when it comes to taxes is that tax break for the wealthiest. And so this Democratic source, who I talked to familiar with the proposal, said this was a sign to the White House that the Republicans are either unwilling or not capable of offering something that can pass the House and the Senate and, more importantly, that the president can sign, because he has said he does not want to — he wants to raise tax rates for the wealthiest Americans.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/12/12/1323671/republicans-insist-that-bush-tax-cuts-for-wealthiest-americans-be-made-permanent-reports-say/

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Boehner's spokesman tried to justify the proposal by arguing that it would become moot anyways, since they would negotiate comprehensive tax reform later. We just need to trust Republicans.

[Warpy]

1. Who the fuck do they think they're kidding?

Not me or anyone I know.

[Skittles]

10. the fact that bush tax cuts are STILL IN PLACE

tells them they STILL HAVE A SHOT

[Politicub]

2. The bully pulpit is a powerful thing. The people responsible for raising taxes on the 99 percent

Will reap what they sow.

[Agnosticsherbet]

7. Only if people get out and vote...

Republicans seem to expect a replay of 2010, when an older, whiter population votes and minorities and the youth stay home.

And Obama has been using the bully pulpit as effectively ash he has ever used it since the election, and Republicans are offering to permanize the tax cuts for millionaires. He has successfully marshaled public opinion on his side. So far, it has meant dick when it comes to offers, though it has caused some defections.

[AndyTiedye]

17. The Bully Pulpit is the Tee Vee, and the Repiglickins Control That

There is no longer any "bully pulpit" associated with the Presidency. Not when the President is a Democrat.

That is why the Rapeluglicans fear no repercussions for what they do.

[on point]

3. Backed into the corner by the 99%. Not exactly a great place to be standing...

[TomCADem]

4. Maddowblog - "Boehner not budging on tax breaks for wealthy"

The sad thing is that the corporate media runs stories and articles asking if President Obama is overreaching by only asking for an increase in taxes on the top 2 percent, yet you rarely see articles asking the same of Republicans in light of the 2012 elections results and most polls.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/12/12/15866549-boehner-not-budging-on-tax-breaks-for-wealthy?lite

In other words, with time running out, Boehner's first offer made no concessions whatsoever. His second offer seeks to permanently lock in lower rates on income above $250,000 -- the one thing the president has said cannot be included in any deal.

It's almost as if the Speaker isn't serious about working towards a resolution to the standoff he and his party chose to create.

In the meantime, Boehner also hasn't detailed specifically what he wants in the form of entitlement cuts, nor has he spelled out how he expects to find $800 billion in new revenue without touching tax rates.

House GOP leaders told their members this morning that it's likely they'll have to work the week between Christmas and New Year's. Of course, if Boehner is still demanding a permanent tax break for millionaires and billionaires, it's hard to see the point of even continuing with the talks.

[Panasonic]

5. Denied. See you on the other side. And the gerrymandering will fail - trust us.

And lose your seats rather rapidly.

[Kablooie]

6. Talk talk talk talk talk.

This means nothing.
It's just a ploy so they can say they tried to get this and keep their base semi mollified.

I don't believe any of the stuff we are hearing right now.

There will be an agreement and it won't be everything the GOP wants and it won't be everything the Dems want.

Taxes on the rich will go up slightly but not to Clinton levels and entitlements will be slightly modified downward.
Unpleasant for everyone but the automatic cuts in Jan. will be stopped.

That's what I predict.

[KansDem]

8. Man, if it's not Benghazi then it's tax cuts for the wealthy!

That's the extent of the GOP schtick?

This is getting old real fast!

[chuckstevens]

9. Let's Go Cliff Diving

Seriously, I've said it before and I'll say it again: It would be worth my paying $2000,00 a year more in taxes if it meant that these greedy mother fuckers have to start paying their fair share. GO OVER THE CLIFF!

[colsohlibgal]

11. More Supply Side Nonsense

The right is just so full of it and amazing. Bush "wins" in 2000 with a loss in the popular vote and a bogus 536 or so vote supposed margin in Florida - and he soon after strutted around proclaiming a mandate. Now they poo poo Obama winning by 4% in the popular vote with an utter landslide electorally.

On top of that they insist on cutting benefits for poor/old people while insisting we not cut defense even on line items the Pentagon does not want.

I have to believe they are losing support daily, if not more people are figuratively brain dead than even I thought.

It looks as if we will have to go over the fiscal Cliff Clavin and then let them vote against tax cuts for the 98% -or not and hopefully suffer the consequences of that.

[ThoughtCriminal]

12. I'm not sure he could even get that passed in the House

No sale.

[dballance]

13. Why is it the GOP is still going with

"do what we want right now and we'll negotiate with you in good faith later on issues?" They've successfully proven they can't be trusted. So why should the President trust them now.

Buckle up. It's going to be a bumpy ride over the cliff and then a crash into a wall over the debt limit. Neither of which will be a winning gambit for the GOP.

[Historic NY]

14. "Its beginning to look a lot more like Cliffmas".

[bucolic_frolic]

15. We just had an election on this issue, GOP

You lost.

Put it to bed.

[DJ13]

16. Maybe they (GOP leadership) WANT to go over the cliff?

Its been said that if the tax cuts go up automatically the cons that signed the Norquist pledge are no longer bound to it since only targeted tax cuts will be considered from that point on, so maybe their leadership sees this as an opportunity to get out from under Norquist's influence.

(Or they really ARE the deluded asshats that we suspect they are. )

[grahamhgreen]

18. Just remember a 37% rate is also a permanant tax cut for the wealthiest.

[davidn3600]

19. They are just not going to give it up

[truthisfreedom]

20. This is a lot simpler than it looks. The repukes are fully aware that driving America off the

fiscal cliff will push us into a huge depression where the most wealthy will make even more money and the 99% will continue to pay for that power shift. They WANT the fiscal cliff. They WANT the greatest depression of all time. And they plan to blame their gaming of the system on the Democratic Party (not the so-called "Democrats"... I shall never use that word again... it's Democratic Party Members and Democratic Party for me.)

[Angry Dragon]

21. the boner is done as speaker

[Ash_F]

22. hahahaahahah!

[DallasNE]

23. Boehner Will Not Be In Congress At The End Of 2013

He may hang on as Speaker in January but the outcry for his inexcusable failure of leadership on such an important issue will force him to resign. Nancy Pelosi scolded Boehner to "figure it out" and that is just the first shot. Not only is the Norquist pledge a major roadblock for compromise but so is the Hassert Rule imposed on Republican Speakers to not bring any bill to the floor that does not have a majority yes vote from Republican members of Congress. When you live by the litmus test you also die by the litmus test. Boehner is dying by these litmus tests. They certainly are not good government ideas and they will force Boehner to resign in disgrace as a colossal failure.

[DeSwiss]

24. K&R

[center]

''Your mudder is a scullery maid and your fadder smells of elderberries!!
I fart on your stupid proposal!! As I fart in your general direction. Sir!!''[/center]

[BootinUp]

25. Time to fling ourselves off the cliff:

ESPN Cheap Seats watching the old Wide World of Sports acapulco cliff diving