The Republican Party's top priority is to raise taxes on the poor. Literally.

[hfojvt]

4. I hate to ask (not really)

But just WHY do the CTC provisions even expire in 2017?

Because of Obama's Great Betrayal.

Anybody remember the Great Betrayal? Otherwise known as ATRA - the provision that made most of the Bush tax cuts for the rich - permanent.

Favorable treatment of dividends - permanent
lower tax rates for incomes between $100,000 and $400,000 - permanent
cuts to the estate tax - permanent

ten year projected cost of tax cuts to the richest 5% - $1.3 trillion.

And those tax cuts are - permanent.

Tax cuts for the poor - set to expire in 2017.

Remember how ATRA was sold to us? It was a great victory for Obama. Obama said so himself.

But yeah, sure, let's blame Republicans for the fact that those tax cuts aren't permanent. Because back when Obama had the frigging trump card - taxes set to AUTOMATICALLY go up on the rich, he folded like a cheap suit. Even AFTER his re-election. And then sold his Great Betrayal as a victory for the people.