2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: DNC shields Hillary Clinton from debate stage [View all]MaggieD
(7,393 posts)Can you clarify what you found objectionable?
Q: Would you take a pledge of no tax increases on people under $250,000?
OBAMA: I not only have pledged not to raise their taxes, I would cut their taxes. We are going to offset the payroll tax, the most regressive of our taxes.
CLINTON: I dont want to raise taxes on anybody. Im certainly against one of Senator Obamas ideas, which is to lift the cap on the payroll tax, because that would impose additional taxes on people who are educators, police officers, firefighters and the like.
OBAMA: What I have proposed is that we raise the cap on the payroll tax, because right now millionaires and billionaires dont have to pay beyond $97,000 a year. Now most firefighters & teachers, theyre not making over $100,000 a year. In fact, only 6% of the population does. And Ive also said that Id be willing to look at exempting people who are making slightly above that.
Q: But thats a tax on people under $250,000.
OBAMA: Thats why I would look at potentially exempting those who are in between.
Source: 2008 Philadelphia primary debate, on eve of PA primary , Apr 16, 2008
Bipartisan commission, like in 1983, to address crisis
OBAMA: [to Clinton]: I think we should be honest in presenting our ideas in terms of how were going to stabilize the Social Security system and not just say that were going to form a commission and try to solve the problem some other way.
CLINTON: I am totally committed to making sure Social Security is solvent. Youve got to begin to reign in the budget, pay as you go, to try to replenish our Social Security Trust Fund. And with all due respect, the last time we had a crisis in Social Security wa 1983. Pres. Reagan and Speaker Tip ONeill came up with a commission. That was the best and smartest way, because youve got to get Republicans and Democrats together. Thats what I will do. And I will say, #1, dont cut benefits on current beneficiaries theyre already having a hard enough time. And #2, do not impose additional tax burdens on middle-class families.
OBAMA: That commission raised the retirement age, and also raised the payroll tax. So Sen. Clinton cant have it both ways.
Source: 2008 Philadelphia primary debate, on eve of PA primary , Apr 16, 2008
FactCheck: No, teachers & police wont pay if cap over $102K
Clinton exaggerated when she said that lifting the cap on wages that are subject to the Social Security tax would impose additional taxes on people who are, you know, educators here in the Philadelphia area or in the suburbs, police officers, firefighters and the like.
In fact, only individuals earning more than $102,000 a year would be affected. A spokesman for the union representing Philadelphias public school teachers tells FactCheck.org, There are some affluent suburban districts where only the most senior educators with a masters degree and probably 25 or more years of experience whose salaries might approach 100k. However, I think thats a very small number overall.
As for Philadelphia police officers, an officer would have to work more than 1,200 hours of overtime in a year to push even the highest base salary above $102,000.
The Clinton campaign pointed to budget figures showing that principals of Philadelphias large high schools earn $111,500 on average.
Source: FactCheck.org analysis of 2008 Philadelphia primary debate , Apr 16, 2008